Chicken in shock

[Gorsty]

Hi folks

Apologies if you've already seen this under "Mr Fox & electric fence" thread

Well, Mr Fox has been back today at 1.30 pm - I was actually on fox duty in the girls free range area which is 100 ft x 70 ft but dock spraying rather than following them around.

Suddenly there was a big commotion and he was away with Letty - I gave chase - he tried to get through the fence but I had blocked his usual entry/exit so he had to try elsewhere, dropped Letty and off he went. She is a VERY LUCKY GIRL but think she is still in shock. I gave her chance to calm down a bit before examining her but can't find any puncture wounds but she is very subdued - just sitting there and not eating after 3 hrs since the incident. Have given her a drop of my Rescue Remedy which I use when I am well stressed. Fingers crossed she makes it.

Have been trying to get a 2nd hand electric poultry net - anyone know of anyone with one they don't want? I have managed to buy a mains energiser and thought I'd found a net but the seller has changed his/her mind. Big Shame as we desperately need an electric fence!

Any advice on what I can do for Letty to get her back to her normal self would be much appreciated. Obviously all four girls are back in their foxproof mini run/house.

Watch out, watch out, Mr Fox is about!!!

Gorsty

[Polly Fouracre]

Whereabouts are you? I have spare electric netting.

[Suechooks]

Put her somewhere quiet and safe - maybe in a box of straw in a garage where she can recover without outside stimuli.

[Gorsty]

I'm at Wood Lane, just outside Audley on the Staffs/Cheshire border.

Where are you?

[Glutton4...]

Just run a line of electrified wire across/around the area. Your local country feed store or eBay will sell this (mine is orange and yellow!), together with plastic posts with a metal ground spike, that are used for Horse Paddocks. I use a few of these, placed 6 - 8' apart, about 18" outside my Heras fence, and thread 3 or 4 wires across, attached to the energiser unit. The top one is just below crutch height, so I can step over it, the lower one is about 4 - 6" from the floor, and the other(s) in between. That should do it, and be cheaper than the electric mesh kits, which, I discovered recently, have only a limited life.

[Gorsty]

Yes had initially considered the equine electric fence but then decided against it as, knowing my luck, the girls would just walk through the gap between the tapes into fox territory. That's why I decided on an electric net.

Alternatively, if I can;t find a net & have to put up a more permanent fixture ie a Heras fence or chestnut paling fence then I could always reinforce it with the equine tape. Thanks for reminding me about t.

Gorsty

[Gorsty]

Hi folks

Just to let you all know that Letty seems much, much better now. I kept her in the house last night, in a quiet room and this morning she was drinking water but not eating. Put her back with the other girls and having just checked on them, she seems almost her old self. Phew! Thank goodness!

Am still in the market for a second hand net if anyone has one.

a BIG thank you to everyone - just for being there, when I need you.

Gorsty XXXXXX