MummyHen Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 +++++++Warning ++++++ read with caution That sounds very ‘news of the world’ but very sadly it’s true The most awful thing happened today, after 5 year of keeping hens and not having any fox problems today a fox struck. There was a huge really healthy looking fox in the garden this morning (7:30)sniffing round the cube. Hubby rattled the back door and it shot off. However, I noticed a lot of feathers, the thermal jacket was on, nothing had be disturbed but under the cube were loads of feathers and red – small bits of red. Both girls sleep in the nesting box so quickly opened the port hole – both girls looked fine. But all was not well, hubby picked up Peg and she was missing half of her right leg – I can only assume that the fox managed to grab it from underneath perhaps it was poking through the small vent in the bottom of the nesting box - just awful. Looked at Blackie and she too had been mauled but not as bad she had a missing toe and had a broken leg. We had to do the most humane thing and put them both out of their discomfort. Hubby spent this afternoon cleaning out the WIR and cleaning the cube. There is no damage to the underside of the nesting box – nothing no gnawing marks nothing. At around 5:30 this evening the fox was back it was quickly chased off but I’m sure it will be back. Now I’m worried about the cats being out in the garden. Today has not been a good day - bye chicky girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 How awful, I'm so sorry . Poor girls . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Mummyhen that is truly horrific story. You definitely did the right thing. Poor girls. I wonder if there's something Omlet can change in the design to stop this happening again. I would think your cats will be fine. I doubt a fox would be able to sneak up on a cat so even if one did have a go the cat would get away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 What a horrible experience! At least your girls didn't suffer for long. Cats are not a prey animal. So their behaviour is far less likely to entice hunting behaviour from foxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I'm sorry. That is very, very sad indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 So very, very sorry for your loss. I am a bit lost as to how the fox got them as I don't have an Omlet set up. I gather your coop is outside the run? And I think you are saying the fox got to them via a small gap in the nest box? If so the design needs tweeking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Oh poor you, how horrific. I'm so shocked a fox was able to get to them through the cube! Good for you that you were able to cull and not her suffer a second longer than she should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Hen Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I'm so sorry! I can't imagine seeing my chickens like that and handling it as well as you did. It is making me nervous about the security of my new Cube! No foxes here, but lots of raccoons (and coyotes and hawks), and they are very cunning predators. Best wishes to you going forward from this unfortunate event! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 That's a sad tale Mummy Hen, but I wonder if it was a fox at all? There was a post on here a while back called 'Foot Trauma' I think? Seemed the culprit could have been a rat which got in through a drain hole and ate the feet off a hen in the night. The sighting of the fox may be co-incidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 I'm so sorry! I can't imagine seeing my chickens like that and handling it as well as you did. It is making me nervous about the security of my new Cube! No foxes here, but lots of raccoons (and coyotes and hawks), and they are very cunning predators. Best wishes to you going forward from this unfortunate event! I think if you keep the run closed at night, you'll be fine. Maybe in your case, I would change the pin that locks the run doors to an actual lock. Raccoon fingers are quite nimble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Sorry to hear about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 How awful. I have wedged a piece hose pipe in the nesting box drain gap. I don't understand why omlet have such a large gap, all the bedding falls through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 What an awful thing to happen, so sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Must have been horrible for you to discover - much hugs and sympathy. I also don't understand why the gap is so large. I assume it's for drainage/ventilation, but there have been quite a few stories on here of not dissimilar problems I have some scrunched up paper loosely wedged in the vent in my nesting box, covered with a piece of card before the straw goes on top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKMARCH Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 I'm sorry to hear the sad news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 That's a sad tale Mummy Hen, but I wonder if it was a fox at all? There was a post on here a while back called 'Foot Trauma' I think? Seemed the culprit could have been a rat which got in through a drain hole and ate the feet off a hen in the night. The sighting of the fox may be co-incidence. I remember the post beantree, the poster was convinced it was a rat but eventually turned out to be a stoat I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MummyHen Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 Thanks for all your kind words It was definitely a fox, we live in suburbia, no rats or mink; the fox was around all yesterday evening sniffing about; hopefully it will realise that there's no longer any food. There are similar posts about hens missing legs - with no sign of a break in We had plugged the hole with the foam from a garden kneeler but the fox had pulled that out. I will be cutting up a plastic table mat and fitting it in the nest box - if I get any more chicken Similar sad tales http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=89064&hilit=nest+box http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=84158 http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=96945&hilit=Foot+Trauma http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=86789&p=1185704&hilit=foot+injury#p1185704 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Oh I don't doubt it at all, before I got hens I watched a YouTube clip of a fox getting under a fence to get to some hens, sounds morbid but I think anyone building their own run should watch it. Once again, I'm so sorry for you, it must have been devistating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Much as I love my Omlet cube I do find Omlet are deaf to any criticism. The hole in the nest box is ludicrous as are the gaps where the poop trays slide in, ventilation should be at head height or higher not at fluffy bum level. The cube ladder that most people just remove is another thing that comes up time and time again in the teething trouble section. I have blocked off the nest box vent with duct tape. I am so sorry to hear of the fate your girls suffered and full respect to you for ending their suffering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 I agree with you MrsB....the ladder always gets a mention and I'm sure with a little tweeking the issues could be resolved, how many times have we had a thread about slippery ladders? The massive gap at the bottom and many other issues! We have had to make a ladder to go over the cube one as my ex commercial's couldn't manage it, but I'm sure it's not just ex batts that have trouble. I have also blocked most off the nest box hole and just allowed a very small gap as I was losing so much bedding through the hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolly Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I'm so very sorry to hear about this. After reading similar stories on the forum, I've now got a flexible chopping board cut to cover the length and width of the hole in the nest box, secured with 2 long bolts through it and washers and wing nuts underneath. I know this can potentially harbour mites as its another place for them to hide but I regularly remove and clean it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 My god, that is so awful to have happened - so sorry x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Oh Rachel, How terrible, both for your poor girls and for you too. How very brave of you to have delt with this, couldnt imagine how you felt. Hope things are better now, and Mr Fox is no longer around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...