Fox Attack!!!

[yoanbob]

we were up with the girls till about 6.30pm yesterday, came inside,had a bath, pottered about, went to put them in at 9.30ish, 1 body, two missing and one badly wounded.
the chickens are fine, just the ducks, bloody thing has had all 3 babies, and had a go at our elsie, the first one we had, took her to emergency vets, picked her up this morning, if she survives the next 48 hours she might pull through, shes in a bad way, not sure if she can swallow, feeling very sad.

[Headfry]

Yoanbob,
I am so sorry to hear of this.
I will beam over all my love for Elsie!
and big hugs for you guys! I don't have hens at the moment but I would hate this to happen to me. they become part of the family.
Please let me know how she goes please.
Kind regards HF

[shirlthegirl43]

Oh dear. I hope you don't suffer fox attacks ever again. We lost 30+ chooks one time - all bodies left behind too which was the most devastating thing. Hope the injured one recovers.

Hate to say it, but you will prolly have to keep them fenced in now as mr fox knows they are there and will be back.

[madderbat]

Healing vibes heading your way.
It is such a blow when things like this happen. Hope things settle down and Mr Fox gets his comeuppance (but he's probably trying to feed cubs too....)

[yoanbob]

thanks guys, just before easter last year it happened first time, elsie was only survivor, a few weeks later we inherited lottie and elsie, so yes the fox proberbly has cubs as this time last year i saw a mum with 2 wee ones.
they are fenced in 6'plus all round but it must have been breached, going to cheak with bob when he gets home, till we find it they are indoors, elsie needs to be in till at least wednesday anyway, if she lives that is.
thanks for all your kind thoughts, will tell elsie your all routing for her.
got new jar of marmite to feed her marmite butties soaked in milk (vit b12 good for stress) hope she makes it, its not a nice way to go. we were hoping she'd live out her dotage with us, (shes 5) always wants a stroke and a cuddle. will update later after next lot of antibiotics, just leaving her to rest at the mo. plum duck was unhurt but as she saw her babies massacred she could suffer a heart attact anytime in next 48 hrs.

[Waffler]

Aw! I'm so sorry to hear your sad news . See this is why I'm not allowed chooks or ducks, and I have to admit I've resigned myself to buying free range eggs from up the road instead.
I hope Elsie pulls through - I'm thinking of her and you!
Load of love!

[JennieAtkinson]

Love to Elsie YoanBob- was really saddened to read your post.

[denise]

Really sorry to here your horrid news yoanbob. My sisters ducks nearly got foxed the other evening my nephew was around thank goodness - they are confined to base now unless someone is in the garden.
i hope your wee one pull through love and strokes coming her way.

[yoanbob]

Well shes had her antibiotics, but still hasnt eaten anything, her wounds are on her neck so could be still too swollen. if she doesnt eat tomorrow will have to force feed, dont know how long i want to do that, might be better to put her down, but like the vet said, shes made it this far we owe it to her to give her a fighting chance.
plum duck very forlorn and not herself tho she has managed to eat a little. they are snuggled up, Elsie in her favorite corner of the shed, facing the corner tho which she never did before, proberbly scared and trying to protect her wounds, plum nestled in giving comfort. bob found the breach and we have been round and strenghened other areas again, still going to keep them in unless acumpanied for a while.
chickens were sorrowfull this morning but seem to have forgotten already, we think they had put themselves to bed as they go in much earlier than the ducks, so proberbly didnt see anything, but they would have heard and they know someones missing.
Heres hoping she makes it through the nite.
next update tomorrow
thanks for all your kind words.

[daisychook]

Just to say, we are thinking of Elsie too, bless her.
Fingers crossed she comes through.

Hope you are Ok too, its not a nice thing to go through.

Take care,
Daisy x

[kirsty b]

I hope Elsie pulls through. What a horrible thing to happen to her and plum, and you too.

Kirsty

[laura g]

so sorry. a terrible time for you - hateful to see animals suffering. the very worse thing in the world. I hope she pulls through - mad question but i dont suppose you can give ducks rescue remedy????

[Mrs Dobby]

Sorry to hear of the attack Yo, hope Elsie pulls through and that everyone else is ok, you're in our thoughts!

[yoanbob]

thought about doing that yesterday but she was so distressed, didnt want to upset her any more.
also its seeped in alcohol, she hasnt eaten all day and shes on huge amounts of antibiotics. so will just keep trying the marmite stressed poultry remedy, poor thing.

[yoanbob]

thanks suzanne