smartrus Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 I have been away from the forum for a while but feel I need to share my heartache with those who understand. I went out to feed the chickens to find the most awful sight. Those of you who have experienced this will know how dreadful it is. The fox has been in and taken my 2 bantams without a trace and killed two others including my favourite hen of all Penny. She was the most affectionate full of character hen I'd ever had. To make matters worst my two rabbits are also missing and I can only assume that they have met the same fate. I can't tell you how sad I am. If he had just taken one and been done with it I could maybe understand its just nature, but to kill and leave others just makes me cross Im not sure if you have any advice for me. I have 9 chickens left and they live in a more secure shed. They all seem fine but I had heard that foxes come back a few days later to collect? Not sure if this is true and what to do about it, I hope they wont do this during daylight hours!! First time I've this in 3 years of chicken and rabbit keeping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MillyJude Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Im so sorry, it must have been awful, We got a fox watch box after we had a fox attack and it never came back, some people have not had the same results with them though Im sure someone with more expertise will be along soon who can offer more help, Big hugs Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 You say your remaining hens are in a more secure location, regarding the girls that were taken, how were they housed? How did he get in? Was it a daytime attack? So sorry for all the questions at this horrible time but I am sure some advice will be forthcoming when all the facts are at hand x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 I had a separate group of 4 made up of misfits who all got on. They were in a purpose built house in a small run. It got through the door this time but when my sister had the house some months back a fox tore off the back of the house nails and all! We repaired it but it went for a different attack this time although I think it must be a different fox.I guess if its desperate enough it can get into just anything! The other chicken shed has a metal door. y main worry us that the fox will come back in the day now its found them? Do they do that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 I am not sure to be honest, I did have a fox in the garden a few months ago, he watches the girls and I chased him away, I fully expected him to come back but so far so good. My son lives in London and the foxes are very brazen where as the fixes in my area are still scared if people thank goodness x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Lets hope it's not one for being out in the day. I'm pretty sure it's more than one as it took the 4 hens and 2 rabbits! To get through that lot it must have had help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 I think foxes are loners, unless they have young. Wrong time of year for pups I think. They just reek havoc. I feel so sad for you. I would be devastated. I've had fox attacks, one at dusk and one at night. Also one has been spotted at night. Hopefully it won't come back during the day. Do you have a fox proof run? I got one after the first attack. The second was on some quail. I was sure the run was fox proof, but sadly it wasn't. I now have some ex bats who free range all day. They go stir crazy if I don't let them out. Have you got a dog ? During the summer I make mine stay in the garden, they're not bothered about the girls. Also if you have any male members in your household, get them to pee around the garden. Fingers crossed for you, hopefully someone here can give some more advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 To be honest you can try all the methods to deter them but the only thing to guarantee your girls safety is to ensure the run/coup is 100% fox proof....everything else is a deterrent but from what I understand they won't work on a determind fox. I understand a fox will kill as many chickens as he can regardless if he can eat/take them all, a bit Like a feeding frenzy....my local farm shop lost 15 pairs if ducks in one hit and he thinks it was a single fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Just read, foxes definitely hunt alone. Sometimes they take more than they need and bury it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 That is a very sad thing to happen to you and your lovely animals, and I'm so very sorry. I'm afraid I don't have any words of wisdom, but I do think foxes often come back for more, so you'll need to make sure everything is as secure as it can be. I hope he doesn't come back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 I'm so sorry to read this... we've had trouble with foxes too. They do tend to visit at night time and rarely come out during daylight hours unless they have young during the winter months. I eventually fitted a security light with a sensor to the outside of the chicken run facing the way I've seen them enter the garden. This is not a deterrent to a determined fox though. More to alert me of them in the garden xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 So sorry to read this, what a horrid thing to happen to you and your chooks. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 Thanks for all your advice and comfort. Unfortunately I've done all I can to make the run and house secure but can't afford to build a walk in run as it's a sectioned off part of the garden and is quite big. I know it's a risk with chickens but was unaware quite how upset I would be. I have a security light facing the hen house. I was tempted to take the edge off by getting some more hens but have decided its a bad idea due to the fact that I would have to use the small house during introductions and I think would loose them again. I will wait till the summer and see if the fox comes back. Unless I go for the all in one method and put the newbies straight in with the older ones but that is quite traumatic in itself! Thanks guys for being there.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Have you thought about electric fencing, maybe look in an auction site and see if you can pick up a bargain. I don't want to sound like the harbinger of doom but even if you don't see him return I guarantee to you that he will be lurking about and if not him then another may take advantage of an easy meal. Again I don't want to sound mean but maybe wait before you get some more until you can make sure the area if fox proof as I am sure you wouldn't want to go through this again x I really do understand how hard it is but then again it is out responsibility to ensure as much as possible that they are safe:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 Yep I will definitely wait to get some more. Will do a search for fencing that's a good idea. As of yet we have had no attacks on the other shed as I'm pretty sure it's secure and has a metal automatic door. Thanks for the ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I am so very sorry - how awful for you, just the thing we all dread for our girls. The foxes will get in and kill as many as they can in one go, as it is only one lot of energy spent. They then leave them behind and come and go as they need to, using it as a sort of store. Sorry to talk like that about your beloved pets - it must be so difficult. We had a fox move into the area within 2 days of my girls arriving. He visited constantly and lived on top of and under the shed next door for some months, just waiting. I haven't seen him recently, but he must be nearby. Your light is a good idea, but some of the town foxes aren't frightened of very much. I did chase him a couple of times, yelling my head off as I went - looked a right dope I am sure - but he ran and whenever he saw me in the garden, he would run the other way. Any means of fox proofing you can give to the house/run will be well worth it and it is the main thing you can do really. I hope things get better for you xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 Thanks I hope so. I've just been out and taken on 2 rescue rabbits and fitted 7 locks to the hutch! Take that mr fox ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Am so sorry to read this and hope he visits you more. Horrible to lose much loved pets. I know they are a fixture on the mainland but still....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Good for you, taking on those rabbits. Do not let that silly animal get you down. I had a rescue N Dwarf. She was 10 years old and partially sighted. She didn't even like humans I wanted her to spend her last days happily, so she ran around eating grass and escaping from her run during the day, and was barricaded in during the night. She lasted another 6 months. I think she was happy doing her own thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartrus Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 Our rabbits are lovely! Unfortunately the fox has struck again! Only this time time it must have been someone elses chicken as there is debris all over next doors garden but ours are still safe and sound. I am now constantly on the look out! I would love to find someone with cctv!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clucky the Great Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Foxes make me paranoid! I am really cautious with mine even now because I know the run isn't 100% foxproof and they can be very determined! I am sorry for loss and wish your other chickens and rabbits luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooLilac Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 So sorry to hear this. We had the same thing happen to us on New Year's Day 2013. Whenever I feel guilty keeping my (new) girls in the WIR, I remeber how awful it was walking round the garden in my dressing gown picking up what was left by the fox, while my children watched from the playroom. I don't ever want to go through that again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Sorry to hear of the attacks. I'm posting to dispel any myths about daytime safety and warn everyone. It may vary according to where you live, and many foxes hunt at dusk and dawn, but... ...foxes do attack in broad daylight, please heed this warning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Just caught up with this post. So sorry, I know from bitter experience how awful this is. I lost all my hens a year ago when I didn't shut the door properly one night. I then left it 4 months before getting more hens and within 2 weeks, the fox was back, dug an impressive tunnel under the eglu run, through the netting in the base, and I lost all my hens for a second time. After making the runs as fox proof as humanly possible my 5 hens have all been safe and well since August. My main advice would be to expect the fox to be back any time and take no risks. I wouldn't rule out a visit in the day either. I had never seen the fox out in the day before, until it attacked my hens in broad daylight one summer morning - luckily I was in the garden and no real damage was done. A few years ago my hens used to free range all day while I was at work, so there have been some big changes to adapt to this. On a positive note, it is possible to keep hens safe even with the most determined fox. An electric fence was a good suggestion. I have also put up a wildlife camera so I can keep track of how often the fox is visiting and any attempts it makes to get into the run. It really helps to know what is going on out there while I'm fast asleep! I've also had great success with playing radio 4 at night near the chicken run. It's not a deterrent to rely on, but the sound of human voices just makes the fox uncomfortable - very few visits and doesn't hang around more than a minute which is a big improvement on the constant harassment my girls used to get. Sorry to waffle on, but I really feel for you - it's an awful thing to happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
