The Poultry Keeper

mcleod-girls

bad news, my friend Janet (mother to chicken mad Jess who got my lot started) is away at her mothers funeral, we are on chicken duty. went round at 9 last night to lock them in, caught a fox stealing off with one. went to check chicken shed, only 8 hens and lots of feathers all around outside. she has (had) 26 and two ducks, we were devastated. Sad

Have been back today found 4 more wandering around. Also mother and last surviving baby chick are fine thankfully. I cannot tell her today, but will have to pre warn her. Keep hoping some more may turn up. Sad

Could a fox kill 12 hens and two ducks in an afternoon? will it return? should I keep them locked in for a few days? Sad

anna

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1843 Location: norfolk

Yes, yes, yes - keep them shut up! Monsieur Reynard will be back. Foxes are killing machines and can easily kill 26 chickens in an afternoon. They won't do more than bite the heads off and then leave most of them. I am so sorry it has happened to you - such an awful thing when you are looking after someone else's chickens.

Kate

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2478 Location: South Cumbria

Yes keep them locked up because it will come back, hopefully they are secure cos they will be feeding cubs and need lots of food

bantam cock · Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Leicestershire

Last year a fox got into my keeper friends rearing pen and killed 197 poults in 3 hours or less as he'd checked them at 8.00am and returned at 11.00.

Vixens with cubs this time of year will know where all the poultry and game birds are reared/ kept.

mcleod-girls · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:29 pm Post subject:

wow, thats incredible. we have managed to get 12 into the hen house, then one ran through my legs as I went in to top up water! that leaves three up trees, and mum and chick in nursery. not many to come home to out of 26. very sad about the ducks Sad

have spoken to my friend today, she is home tomorrow. we have kept 12 eggs at room temperature for her to put under a broody if she can, which we hope will be fertile, Strut the cockerels last Sad

mcleod-girls · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:43 pm Post subject:

another hen turned up today, no sign of ducks Sad

that makes 16 survivors out of 26, not as bad as first expected, they are desperate to get out, trying to get into shed with food and water was fun!! will be glad when she is home.

mcleod-girls · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 8:23 am Post subject:

bad news, he was back last night, four more are missing. They took the decision to let them roam through the day and keep checking them, they are now going to keep them in henhouse constantly. jess's dad is home tonight and he will try to shoot it.