Mr Fox is about!

[Snadger]

Arrived at the allotment to find a small pile of feathers near entrance and feared the worst. On looking closer the feathers weren't the same colour as my chooks and they were all up and about.
On speaking to my allotment immediate neighbour I found out what the feathers were!

He had two rather nice chooks, a Light Sussex and a Black Hamburg billeted with a duck in his polytunnel. Mr fox had (quite easily I would think) chewed a hole in the side of the polytunnel and killed and taken all three!
These were 20 foot from where my 13 chooks are billeted so it is quite worrying! Hopefully the precautions I have taken will safeguard them!

[di]

Such a woory isn't it!Not anything I can think to say to stop the worry...we can only do our best!
Each time I go to the lottie I have a little warm feeling when I see the girls are O.K.

[Nicos]

Glad your girls are fine.
Sorry for your neighbour though.

My electric fencing is arriving this week-and I am very excited...although I lay awake last night wondering where the best place to put it so the gals won't fly out , nor the foxes jump in from gateposts etc..yep...they are definitely a worry!

[Flummery]

It's sad that they have to live in the chook equivalent of Colditz Castle before they are safe. Still, safe's better than sorry. I'm glad it wasn't your girls - how disheartening for your lottie neighbour though.

[HayleyB]

That's a real concern though 'cause old Charlie will know your girls are there, I'm sure you've got them well secure knowing you Snadge

[Hans Mum]

sorry for your neighbours girls, and am sure yours will be extra secure now you know he;s on the prowl

[Sue]

Hi
Now the sun is so warm, the hens are often sunbathing when I go to see them. So instead of five hens all trying to peer round the side to see what's up its - silence.
Always gets me worried and as I get nearer perhaps one little head will peep out from behind the hen house and there they all are in a heap - worry over!

When we had all that snow I was agast to see the fox tracks not 2ft from my henhouse door, seems as if I've plonked it on a fox equivalent of the M1.

So far though, they've been safe (am touching wood)

Sue

[BilboWaggins]

Something I once read here (sorry, do not know whose wisdom it was) has really stuck in my mind and that was "the fox only has to get lucky once, you have to get lucky every single day".

As Flummery says, such a shame they have to live in Colditz in order to be safe. Fingers crossed for everyone's girls.

[Snadger]

Well they were fine this evening when I left them. It's hard, but necessary to prepare yourself for the worst as Reynard is just trying to feed his/her young like any other good father/mother.

Whether I would have such a benevolent approach or become embittered if mine were killed, I'll never know ..........hopefully!

[-pat m]

Well they were fine this evening when I left them. It's hard, but necessary to prepare yourself for the worst as Reynard is just trying to feed his/her young like any other good father/mother.

Whether I would have such a benevolent approach or become embittered if mine were killed, I'll never know ..........hopefully!

You know you wouldn't Snadger!

It is over 6 months since my loss 11 chicks and chickens n-and I am not sure weather it was a dog or fox due to the carnage that was left. I never see a fox around me we have a very active pheasant shoot in the fields that my paddock backs onto - But when driving I get filled with hatred when I see one which is sooooo unlike me- I am an animal lover and always felt it was nature until that fateful day! Also what a fool I was - I billeted mine in the poly tunnel after the attack - as if that was some sort of protection!

sorry you your neighbour

Pat