More Slaughter.....

[matthew2riches]

About 5am this morning, the German Shepherd went mental, he was let out and it seems he chased someone out and up to the garden fence.

I went out about 8am this morning and found a chook dead, the one that likes to roost outside. Only one this time as whoever and whatever did it would have been attacked by Max if they were caught! The noise of the death obviously awoke the dog and he went hurtling out the door...

Upon close examination, the same happened as last time only in my garden this time, not the lottie. A small hole made into the fence and something put through.

We also found one of the outbuildings had been opened, padlock left of the floor.

Could it get any worse??? Right next to the bedroom window and it happens!!

I am at the point now where I don't want to carry on as it is almost cruel to the chooks!

[RedThorn]

know how you feel thoughts with you

[Suechooks]

Oh Matthew that's just too awful! Could it have been a fox?
I really don't know what to say to you - words just don't make things better but in a way I can empathise as I lost 2 lots of chooks to 2 legged predators. Not so distressing I know. Like you I've wondered whether to carry on - my decision was to keep just ex-battery hens as then at least I'd have made a difference to their lives whatever happened later.
If you're sure it's some sort of 4 legged predator would electric fencing be feasible? Even if the instigator is human, 4000 volts through a ferret would give it pause for thought.
Don't make any hasty decisions but weigh up the options for more security.
[[[[[[hugs]]]]]] from all of us at Suechooks

[matthew2riches]

The shed had been opened, padlock removed and left on the ground!!! Tell me a fox that can do that..........

It was someone!

[kevnsue]

I lost one of my birds on xmas eve,no signs of any struggle,someone could have taken it for there dinner or could be buzzards,i saw one yesterday afternoon while down on the plot shooting rats.

[walldanzig]

It makes me so angry my allotment was broke into last year and my plastic greenhouse burnt. I didn't want to do it any more but I carried on. I think you have to. I was thinking of keeping turkeys but I'm worried the noise they make will attract our two legged friends

[Nicos]

I think maybe you should get the police involved- it won't be a high priority I'm sure- but someone is breaking the law and should be reported.
Maybe the RSPCA could do with knowing about it?
Are there CCTV cameras available which are mock ones which don't cost much??...or you could borrow??? Worth asking around.

Maybe contact the local vets to see how many peeps in the area have ferrets registered with them? Maybe you could write a letter, put it in an envelope and pay the postage and ask the vets to post them to any ferret owners to say that this is going on, and does anyone have any ideas /info which could be helpful to the police? That could put them off.

What they are doing is, I'm sure , as illegal as bear baiting and cock fighting- and if they're not targeting you would move on to someone else.

Don't let it put you off yet- give your GS a big pat and hug from me x

[Suechooks]

The shed had been opened, padlock removed and left on the ground!!! Tell me a fox that can do that..........

It was someone!

Whoops - missed that sentence in your first message -sorry. B@$.@.ds

[its hilly]

Well done that shepherd. So sorry Matthew, you're right, the chook sounds like a ferret, but paws cant undo padlocks. Get the police..they may not be able to do much but the fact that they are seen at your house may well give pause to the villain. And (dont tell anyone) get/borrow some mains electric fence wire, not tape its more visible, and string it round the top of your fence and gate on the inside about 6" down so anyone climbing in gets a belt. The noise they make will be enough to wake the shepherd straight away. And if anyone says owt tell em its to keep foxes out. If you have a suspicion who it is then try spraying gate catches/padlocks etc with that paint that shows under infra red..then the police will hve a deffinte id. JUst remember to wear gloves yourself...

[SarzWix]

That is soooo cr@p Matthew I'd be setting up some sort of electric thing if it was me... With a "Warning - Danger of Death" sign. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

And huge pats and hugs for the GS., wish he'd caught 'em...

[matthew2riches]

Cheers people! I have been out there today and added some extra 'surprises' to the place. Can't tell you what though incase the evil b*s*a*d* read this...

[its hilly]

Go get em Matthew

[Hashette]

Really sorry to hear what's happened Matthew. There aren't any adjectives bad enough to describe the person who'd do this

[Bryando]

Setting up electric fences and somebody gets injured. They could take legal action. Therefore you would need to place signs saying there is this , therefore warning. As to say it was there to stop foxes and somebody gets zapped. Well , they way things are, compo will be ringing in the persons mind.

[Suechooks]

Electric fence is ok - farmers use it all the time and so do lots of people to protect from predators. I have it on my allotment inside the perimeter fence. It comes with a warning sign to hang on it.