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Lost nine hens last night to a fox carnage. Four brown hens,three white hens,a cross bantam and an English game bird. I feel really bad about it becuse I think it was my own fault.
I have a secure run but let the chooks out to forage round the allotment while I was there. I musn't have shut the door when I left so the fox took advantage and wiped out a lot of my flock.
I have been left with two white hens (these are the remains of hens I hatched at home) two black flighty hens which probably was the reason that saved them, one manky brown hen in full molt (four that were taken were in full lay and full feathered) and one lonely little English game hen.
Luckily, I have a large run which is four smaller runs joined together. The chooks all roost at differing places so this could account for why I've still got a few left.
I have found some of the hens, some half buried some headless around the plot but it appears that three brown hens,one bantam and a small game bird were taken.
I was half hearted about going to a poultry auction in early April but I will deffo be going now to try and pick up at least half a dozen hens/bantams, preferably bantams as they are such characters.
I bear the fox no malice as it was probaly just trying to feed its cubs. The whole blame must lie with myself.
I have a secure run but let the chooks out to forage round the allotment while I was there. I musn't have shut the door when I left so the fox took advantage and wiped out a lot of my flock.
I have been left with two white hens (these are the remains of hens I hatched at home) two black flighty hens which probably was the reason that saved them, one manky brown hen in full molt (four that were taken were in full lay and full feathered) and one lonely little English game hen.
Luckily, I have a large run which is four smaller runs joined together. The chooks all roost at differing places so this could account for why I've still got a few left.
I have found some of the hens, some half buried some headless around the plot but it appears that three brown hens,one bantam and a small game bird were taken.
I was half hearted about going to a poultry auction in early April but I will deffo be going now to try and pick up at least half a dozen hens/bantams, preferably bantams as they are such characters.
I bear the fox no malice as it was probaly just trying to feed its cubs. The whole blame must lie with myself.
^^^^ 
..and yep, we regularly hear foxes in the back field
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