Chicken bald back

[mullethunter]

My mum's neighbour used to have chickens for the eggs, but the run has been empty for a year since the fox dug into the run at night and got the last lot.

 

At the weekend she got 3 rescue hens, and they have already been taken. She knows the fox (who is presumably feeding Cubs) can and will dig into the run at night, but told my mum she doesn't shut the chickens safely into their house at night because she doesn't want to have to get up early.

 

It makes me so angry and sad for the chickens. Even if she didn't want to shut them in she could have got a more fox proof run but made no attempt at all. I don't know what she thought was going to happen.

[jimnpaula]

That's awful. I wonder if the rescue should be informed? It doesn't sound like she's that bothered about the safety of the animals in her care.

[Beantree]

I agree that is pretty disgraceful Mullethunter. I know someone who couldn't be bothered to go outside when it was -15C and shut the coop up one evening. The three Orpingtons in it froze to death overnight. She then had the audacity to ask us if we would sell her some replacements!

[gavclojak]

Incredible isn't it. Occasionally we have people turning up at rehomings saying they have lost there hens to foxes, I very politely say "have you now fox proofed" and I gently remind them it's is our responsibility as hen keepers to keep them safe.

[Cat tails]

Knowingly keeping hens in a run that isn't safe and has proven a problem in the past is just neglect! Poor hens...

[Luvachicken]

Poor hens indeed.

Such a sad story.

Any hens she has will all meet the same end unless she does something about it.

 

Even if she gets up to let them out at 7am she could still go back to bed afterwards

[Grandmashazzie]

I would definitely let rehoming know in case she turns up again. Poor wee hens, it seems worse some how. They had a horrible life and were trusted to this woman in the hope of a chance of normality and they end up as dinner for Mr Fox unforgivable when she knew her run was'nt fox proof.

[Cat tails]

Poor hens indeed.

Such a sad story.

Any hens she has will all meet the same end unless she does something about it.

 

Even if she gets up to let them out at 7am she could still go back to bed afterwards

 

That's what I do! Although it is more like 5:40 right now...

[mullethunter]

That's how I feel Granmashazzie. I'll try to find out where she gets them.