The Poultry Keeper

shelly · Joined: 20 Nov 2005 Posts: 29 Location: Glastonbury

hello,

I have been watching the posts Shocked

and I think there are some two legged foxes, in Somerset Evil or Very Mad

.
I am making A GUESS Wink

but I think they are using the poultry websites to check out stock and then move in on it and steal it.

Due to the summer sun and being out in it a bit (phew it's been hot out there) I have gone barmy and have adopted a super sleuths hat (what was the name of that lady who solved the mysteries in all the tele mysteries Question

) Ah don't know! I'm just a younger better looking version though Wink

Anyway if there is anyone out there who has had chickens stolen can they reply to this post and then we can work out their traffic route (as I think one is forming) and possibly take precautions along that route/routes?

So all you two legged foxes, watch out Twisted Evil

From Shelly

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

I'm inclined to agree with you Shelly (Miss Marples). It could also be that these foxes are taking bird to order.

mojo · Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:48 pm Post subject:

suggest anyone wanting inform Shelly does it to her byPM ..now need to tell anyone else who might take advantage..........just a thought if nasties are reading here.......mojo

chrisk · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 13 Location: Derbyshire

Its just a thought, but we lost a pekin to a hawk or something the other week. We put them in the front garden for a change and a bit later our cockerel was crowing madly, (as he does when he wants our attention). We couldn't find anything wrong, but soon noticed one of the ladies was missing.
My better half had seen a large bird of prey earlier and when I went for a walk later we found sad pile of pekin feathers.
We have seen a bird of prey take a sparrow in the front earlier on in the year, but hadn't thought it a danger to our chucks - before
Shocked

mojo · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 6:50 pm Post subject:

birds of prey (raptors) vary in size and so does the prey they take,,,,,,,,a kestrel will take a vole and a sparrowhawk a pidgeon or a bantam.........also Herons will take chicks and ducklings at a gulp they eat mallard etc duckings by the score ..........hummer plastic strips and old cd discs hang up will make them go elsewhere also kids windmills the plastic sort that make a noise work too

shelly · Joined: 20 Nov 2005 Posts: 29 Location: Glastonbury

Definitely not hawks, these foxes are really cool Cool

, they can drive.

I just hope that the prices they are demanding cover their petrol costs.
Bah, how silly of me Rolling Eyes

, I forgot that using the motorway cuts down on petrol consumption Wink

.

We have a sparrow hawk take small birds my garden, but it must be really upsetting to loose any chicken to a predator whether it be winged, furry and smelly, or just two legged.

See ya

From Shelly

CP · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:09 pm Post subject:

I just can't believe that there is any sort of market for the stolen birds that's worth the trouble of stealing them. Confused

I mean, apart from the really rare breeds, most are quite readily available throughout the country & they aren't that expensive - chicken feed, one might say!

Guess it must be their mentality - "it's there, it doesn't belong to me so I'll nick it & see if I can sell it to someone."

I just hope they get their just rewards! Twisted Evil

(& we all know what we'd like to do to them, don't we? Twisted Evil

)

mojo · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:57 am Post subject:

dont know uk prices but here you could get a fair size income from stealing and selling..............scraggy old hens (in towns) cost 7 or 8 quid and something just nice is 20 quid..........pure breeds the sky is high

stamina · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject:

A few years ago I had pen of really good quality Australorps,
6 hens and 1 cock. I had turned down quite a bit of money for them.
I had a short period in hospital and the person who was looking after my birds had the unpleasant task of telling me that the fox had taken the Australorps. When I got home I was surprised to find that although I had 15 pens of birds, including 3 pens of Australorps, the "fox" had only taken the pen of really good birds. The bu**er had also "borrowed" a crate to take them back to his cubs.
It made me feel very sad to think that someone who obviously knows me, new that I was in hospital and new where I kept my crates, would take advantage of the situation.
I'm afraid it's just a reflection of the times we live in.
Stamina.

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

That is so awful Stamina ~ did you ever know who the fox was?

CP · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:11 pm Post subject:

That's terrible Stamina! Twisted Evil

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7153 Location: isle of lewis

that's awful Sad

suz

mojo · Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 5:32 pm Post subject:

makes you want to buy a rifle doesnt it

stamina · Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:12 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your concern.
Yes I did know who took them.
I arranged for someone to borrow them back for me, just so that I could take a 'photo of them standing on their crate( I'm sure you understand) Laughing

We made a super Christmas Card (with 'photo) and sent it to him. He always avoids me now when he sees me coming. I wonder why? Wink

Stamina

NannyP · Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject:

What excellent retribution and no violence was needed Laughing