The Poultry Keeper

Dorset Poultry · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:41 pm Post subject: I HATE foxes

after three months of seeing no foxes they are suddenly back in full force. Firstly they came last Monday and made off with all of my quail bar one lonely and frightened little boy. Secondly my only gold lace wyandotte was sat on her first clutch of eggs (welsummer) and was doing really well, i moved her into the broody coop when they started pipping, next morning one eggshell and a big pile of feathers. Now i go down to let out the ducks only to find two ducks and a drake already waiting for me, an even bigger pile of feathers and a broken door on the duck house. no sign of my four beautiful girls. I cannot describe how upset and angry i was, they were only just a year old. what annoys me most is there are literally hundreds of rabbits for them to eat, even my dogs caught one yesterday and they are slow and fat. i have never lost any animals to foxes and now all my favorites go in the space of a week so much for bird flu killing them

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Wow
that's awful for you Sad

mojo · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:53 pm Post subject:

that is terrible but foxes raise their cubs early in the year so thats why jan.feb march are usually extra bad months.sorry that doesnt help you but might remind others to take EXTRA care.....so sorry for you........mojo

debcat · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:55 pm Post subject:

really sorry Crying or Very sad

I am so glad we don't have foxes here

CP · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:39 pm Post subject:

Oh DP, that's so sad! Crying or Very sad

To lose so many is such a shame. Crying or Very sad

They do have their cubs early, so now is a bad time for foxes. Everyone be on your guard! Twisted Evil

Knobby · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:27 pm Post subject:

Oh what a shame Crying or Very sad

My thoughts are with you !!

Dorset Poultry · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:54 pm Post subject:

just had an emergency replacement duck house delivered from Flyte-so-fancy. They have been absolute superstars only £5 to deliver on their day off, and at 7pm. spoken to our local farmer and it seems that most of the farms round here have filled in their sets with slurry meaning more foxes trying to cram into the organically run farm next to us, explaining the sudden spate of fox attacks

Knobby · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:28 pm Post subject:

Anyone know how to track down/identify a fox home ??

CP · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject:

Follow your nose? Confused

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

So sorry to hear of your losses. And a big pat on the back to the new duck house suppliers. A bit like the ones that helped out Nigel and Stephen when someone stole their energiser.
Just proves there are still good suppliers around for whom making the last penny out of you is not the priority!

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

I fully sympathize with you - having just lost an oven ready to one.

I can't imagine how bad you must feel having lost so many in such a short space of time.... Crying or Very sad

When is the breeding season for foxes as i am hearing an awful lot of screaming outside during the night at the moment?

Knobby · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 8:50 am Post subject:

I always thought breeding season was from anytime now....have always been told to be speacially careful in March by my local Farmer !

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

That would fit with the sudden increase in noise and activity then.

Thanks Knobby

mojo · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:16 am Post subject:

the first three months of the year are cubbing time according to where you are so take EXTRA CARE now and for the future.......mojo.........p.s. for folks hhunting fox holes look like oversized rabbit warren but smell sour

rubychik · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:18 pm Post subject:

so sorry it must be devastating. sad1