The thread I never wanted to post; Fox

[minskey]

Well its happened, I knew it would one day but its absolutely heart breaking [as a few of you already know]

I had a visit by a fox [in the early hours I think] this morning, two girls gone. no bodies, just gone.

I have an electric fence and an automatic pop hole opener. that is why I'm pretty sure it was in the early hours and not last night.

I have decided it was a fox, but I'm not 100% sure. Two girls taken cleanly. Only very few feathers. None of the other girls touched. I can see where whatever 'it' is stalked the girls and also stopped to get a better grip. No blood, just a drop or body parts. Next doors girls are in a paddock next to mine, no electric fence or anything, luckily they were not touched.

Do you think it is a fox? I expected total carnage if a fox attacked with lots of girls attacked etc.

I know it was matter of time, I live in a rural area but it is such a shame. Trouble is I know it will be back. I have put another electric fence around the existing one.

[Tripmeup]

Sorry to hear that... Keep close eye tonight in case of quick return visit

[veggiechicken]

Sorry Minskey Its horrible when it happens

[petal]

Sorry to hear this, all you can do is reinforce, like you have, electric fencing is usually very effective. The other alternative is to get someone to trap and humanely dispose of the fox, which is what I would do as they keep coming back and teach their cubs the same tricks.

[Snadger]

I don't know your circumstances but feel the only way to be safe against foxy is to have a fully enclosed run. I have also buried tin sheeting around the edge of the run to stop him/her digging under.

It does sound unusual that there wasn't absolute carnage. Were the chooks taken from within the coop and if so, how did he get in?
Really sorry for your loss.

[Feral007]

I've always wondered with those automatic doors what happens if someone gets left out because they go to bed too late?
We've lost one which got left out by accident. And another that was lost after being chased by our own dog. Quite clean tho - only a couple of feathers

[Scarlet]

Electric fence usually stops them. Is it working correctly? They don't last forever. I would be surprised it could get in if the fence is working like it should.
I have had two fox visits, the first time we went away for the weekend and my kids turned the electric off!! 2 survivors out of 30. With only a few bodies left . The second time, we had a tree cut down and the tree surgeon moved my compost bin right next to the fence - he used it as a hopping stone. They're are so crafty.

[MartinRSharpe]

Also bare in mind with electric fences the voltage going though them can be reduced when it "leaks" out due to contact with grass, damaged cables, bad joins etc. This leakage is often increased in periods of wet weather.

It is well worth getting a tester (usually about a tenner off ebay, go with one that gives you a digital number rather than the LEDs as they are far easier to read!) and periodically test to check you are still getting a good voltage

[Bigmallly]

I don't have chooks but it doesn't make me any less sorrier for your loss..............

[Nicos]

Oh dear- that's dreadful news.
I too am half expecting the day to come when our chooks are attacked.
I'm really, really sorry.

What sort of electric fence do you have? Is it a floppy topped mesh one? How heigh??
Lucky you have a second one to hand!

Could it have been a ferret/polecat/mink??

[mothhawk]

I wondered if it was mink, too, Nicos. They can get through amazingly small gaps, and generally kill by squeezing, rather than biting, so often there's no blood. Their instinct is to kill for winter storage (they are American mink and are programmed to expect severe winters and scarce food supplies), so if it is mink, it will probably be back.

[RedThorn]

Hugs, know personally the horrid feeling.
I however don't think it was a fox as the like killing for fun and leave a big mess. Does not make it any easier though, thoughts with you


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[Nicos]

Just a thought...is it worth leaving a humane trap out nearby overnight?
Something which would trap a mink?( I believe they are classed as vermin)

You may be able to borrow one from somewhere...RSPCA perhaps or a ferret club?

If you did catch one you'd need to take it to the vet to be humanely destroyed.
At least you would feel you were doing something positive to protect your gals.

If it were a fox, then you will have lost nothing apart from a bit of effort.????

[Glutton4...]

You have my sympathy. It's horrid isn't it. After my last attack, I replaced my electric fence sections with new. I also have additional plastic fence posts, that are taller than the mesh fence by about 20-30 mm, and I've run a 'trip-wire' round the top of that, and connected that to the electric fence, too. These pin the bottom of the mesh to the ground, to help discourage digging under, too. I try to leave the rest of the mesh quite loose, as that deters them from climbing it.

I appreciate they have to eat, but it's awful finding the carnage, and the survivors suffer for quite a while afterwards. Better luck next time.

[minskey]

I had a look around and can clearly track the visit by the fox. I can see where it came into my paddock, had a walk along some trees went and had a sit down and look at the chooks in their paddock next door. I have tracked it all the way down to my electric fence. I can see where is leaped over the fence and grabbed the first chook and then leaped back over the fence. It then leaped back into the pen and I'm pretty sure went at least halfway into the hen house.

A very high perch was knocked off. I think it then grabbed a chook and jumped the fence at the nearest point and walked off. It must have been big, the stride is around 80cm. I think it was early morning as one chook was very near the perimeter of the fence; I think if it was getting dark she would have been by the hen house. I also think that's why the rest weren't taken, it must have been getting light.

I now have two electric fences with a gap in between and a new battery. I know I have, and my girls have been very lucky. You always have that thought in your mind if you come home after being away all day, but It still caught me by surprise. I just hope it was quick and they didn't suffer.

Thank you all so much for your kind words, you are a lovely bunch and its very much appreciated.