bad day

[raine]

what a horrid day. 2 of my girls have just been killed by a fox. Bertha and Lucky(!). Bertha was our eldest which makes it a bit sad. I'm so cross with myself. We saw a fox about last night (don't normally see them as we live near a forest). When I got home this afternoon I let them out into their large pen, which doesn't have a roof. They hot hot potatoes and were having a great time. Oddly enough, yeterday we let them freerange as normal and we were saying how healthy and friendly they were. We also took a film of them in the snow. :Trouble is- what do I do with Zelda (We're renamimg her Zelda, warrior chicken) She's on her own. Will the fox come back now it knows she's there?

[MaureenHall]

I'm so sorry to read about your girls Raine, fox attacks are everyone's nightmare and the memory of them unfortunately never goes away. Yes, I think the fox will be back, even just to have a look to see if his "larder" has been replenished. Try and fox-proof the area as best you can and get some more friends for your other girl. Good luck, and ((((((((((((big hugs)))))))))) hun

[raine]

thanks for your reply. Zelda is now in the secured run- with extra barricades!! but I'm a bit worried about when I go to work tomorrow....

[Glutton4...]

Oh poor you, and poor Zelda

If you can make it fox-proof I'd get her a companion asap, or she'll be lonely.

[RedThorn]

we had a fox attack about 5 weeks ago. Know how devastating it is, really sorry for you all and Zelda

[binley100]

I don't keep chooks but I know how you must be feeling. My neighbour lost some of his to a stoat on two seperate occasions it was awful. Sympathies and hugs to you and Zelda. She must be feeling lonely and scared . XXXXX

[raine]

Aren't you all lovely. Thankyou for all your replies. We are working on a new style pen and then we will definitely get some more.

[petal]

I am considering getting electric fencing, I think we have just been lucky until now. Mind you, there is a gamekeeper nearby who seems pretty busy with his gun so perhaps foxes are scarce here?? finger crossed....

[Suechooks]

So sorry Raine
Big <<<<<hugs>>>>> for you and Zelda.

[frias]

What a horrid thing to happen. I think we all fear a visit from a fox. I have a fully enclosed run and electric fence for when the girls are on the lawn but I still worry about them. My neighbour had a fox trotting around her garden at 6.30 am yesterday. She was sat quietly having a cigarette and he didn't even notice her. I've checked for footprints in the snow to see if we've had a visit which strangely we haven't although I'm sure foxy must know the girls are here.

[tlck9]

Very sorry to hear this, with all this snow I have been checking for foot prints, we have certainly been visited

But my biggest problem is what is making these tracks, we have what looks like fox prints, something like a small deer (but only 2 padded print) and some other ones

[RedThorn]

Can anyone tell me the output voltage of the electric fences please...... have an Idea that could help others....

[kirsty b]

Don't know about fences RT, but sorry to hear about that raine. Been foxed a couple of times and was devastated.

Hasn't put me off though, plan to add a few more ladies to my little flock of survivors in the spring.

[pipscariad]

Poor you, and your poor hens, esp Zelda now. It's every hen keepers nightmare, and has given me sleepless nights now and again worrying about it. Bad time of year, esp with the cold as there's not much food about for the foxes.

If you can afford it I'd investigate some electric fencing - I have it round my eglu, and I'm coming up to two years fox free now, (I always feel I'm tempting fate typing that, eek) - there are a lot of foxes about too...

Once you're more reassured that you have a fox proof set up, Zelda will be overjoyed to have some company, and you will always have happy memories of Brenda & Lucky.

Just re-read your post again - is there any way that you could section off part of the large pen and roof it over as a temporary measure - better that Zelda is safe with less room for the moment? Good luck.

[Suechooks]

Can anyone tell me the output voltage of the electric fences please...... have an Idea that could help others....

When I use my tester RT it reads between 4000 and 5000 volts. That's run off a leisure battery and is 25m long poultry netting. I can get that reading the full length of the fencing. I have a roll of narrow damp proof membrane under it to minimise leakage via stray vegetation.