The Poultry Keeper

Hilaryp · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Buckinghamshire

My girls (Pekin Bantams) were got by the local fox last week, leaving our cockerel - Fred - totally bereft. He was rescued from the jaws of death by our dog, and has recovered physically, I think, but won't come out of his house now. I'm hoping that if I get him some new girlies he'll cheer up, but does anyone know if it matters if they're the same breed or not (I may not be able to get the same at short notice)? We're struggling to get the new Fort Knox completed before getting new hens, but don't know how much longer he'll last like this.

Thanks, Hilaryp

Bhindi · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:27 am Post subject:

Poor little man, I hope you find him some ladies soon, I dont think it will matter to him what breed you get him, but I would have thought size is more a consideration.

Good luck with Fort Knox, and with the chooks, and welcome to the forum.

CP · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:43 pm Post subject:

Poor boy he must still be in a state of shock, especially losing his girls as well. Crying or Very sad

Size isn't too much of a problem as a lot of us keep large & small together. It will depend on the area you have for them to live in more than anything. Wink

Good luck with whatever you get. Wink

Hilaryp · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Buckinghamshire

I was thinking of trying the local farm, where they have ordinary size hens, not Bantams. Fred always thought he was bigger then he is, before this episode, and I was hoping he could cope!

Hilary

Welsh Duck · Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:53 pm Post subject:

I would be careful the large hens dont pick on him as he will be delicate after his ordeal. I would have tried to put him with bantams as a first choice Very Happy

Hilaryp · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Buckinghamshire

Thanks for the advice all - I rang the farm and they think they may have some Bantams (they have beautiful silver laced Wyendottes). If not then perhaps young hens would be OK?

I hope to collect on Wednesday - and just hope Fred makes it till then!

CP · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:45 am Post subject:

Fingers crossed! Wink

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1901 Location: Cheshire

Dont forget to take the camera with you!

Hilaryp · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Buckinghamshire

I collected two young hens last night, crosses between Indian Game and Sumatran (I think he said) Very different to our fluffy bottomed girls that the fox took. Anyway, I put them in with Fred after dark, in separate nest boxes within the same shed. I checked this morning and Fred's still with us, but still in bed. He has had problems walking - he lost a lot of feathers on one side in the attack, and has a small puncture wound/scratch, but no apparent breaks or bruises. Opinion seems to be that it is a combination of shock and muscular strain. I'm keeping the pop-hole down for now, but will check Fred later in case he needs feeding again. I'll post pics when I've worked out how to and can get near enough without scaring them.

Hilaryp · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Buckinghamshire

I'm afraid Fred was too far gone for the attentions of a couple of exotic hens to save him, he passed away yesterday afternoon. I think the fox must have done more damage than I thought, because he was really finding it difficult to move over the last few days and he had severe diarrhoea on the last day.

Thanks for all the advice anyway. I'd still like to post some photos of him, he was a great character. He brought up two chicks with Ginger, feeding them as carefully as she did, letting them climb on him, and protecting them from all incomers (deer, magpies, squirrels etc). Unfortunately the fox was one incomer he couldn't fight off.

debcat · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:51 pm Post subject:

really sorry about Fred Sad

CP · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:57 am Post subject:

So sorry to hear of Fred's demise Hilary. Crying or Very sad

Hopefully he didn't suffer too much pain & at least he saw some of his own kind before he went.

Welsh Duck · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:41 am Post subject:

Sorry about Fred, at least you know that you did all you could

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1901 Location: Cheshire

What a shame, Im sorry about Fred. I hope the oher girls are keeping you busy and filling the void.

Aussie · Joined: 30 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

Are rats a problem for chickens? One of my chickens was recently bitten in the neck in the middle of the night. I couldn't work out what it was. Thought fox would have killed them all once inside. Could have been a snake I guess but as the injured chicken got away with a bleeding neck and all others were let alive I am not sure what it was. Is rats a possibility?