The Poultry Keeper

Aussie Chick · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:29 pm Post subject:

Julia I'm so sorry to hear this...our thought are with you.

merlin · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 114 Location: Hertfordshire

So sorry to hear of your loss, I hope your remaing lady survives.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Jooles
Just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear your news too.
Please take on board people's empathy and sympathy.

I'm sure you are beating yourself up with a big enough stick already without being made to feel worse.

"there but for the grace of god, go I"

Hugs
Debs
x

mojo · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:19 pm Post subject:

hugs from france ........chin up

Knobby · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear your sad news......BUT.......PLEASE dont let it put you off replacing them.....the best thing you can do is get some more quick !!

I have 6ft fence all around my pens.......But I just know one day I will find a fox has managed to get in !!

poultry poofs · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:30 pm Post subject:

Its a shame that someone feels churlish enough to lecture you over your error as if the loss itself isnt bad enough, hey ho thats people.You did your best and be thankful that the girls you had lived a good life while with you.
If a fox is determined enough no matter what measures you take at some time will be insufficient.We have had them chew through the shed and tear out the weld mesh. one took a duck and a few weeks later a turkey no less then 50 feet from where we were working and no amount of agression and chasing would deter it until it finally dropped the birds necks broken through on both occasions.We have all done it,left the pop hole open in a secure run on a hot night thinking of their comfort or left it open in error when busy on a dark wet windy night or when someone comes calling at the wrong moment, its just one of those things.Sad but true.

Think fondly of them and the pleasure they brought you and that you gave them and move on, get some more,the loss is absolutely not your fault and makes you no more unfit to own animals than anyone else here,so please dont beat yourself up over it.

kindest regards Rich

mojo · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:49 pm Post subject:

take heart..........there is only one thing worse than a fox and that is that fox s dad...they are villians

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7348 Location: isle of lewis

i'm really sorry to hear your sad news i know it's so easy to forget or to think they'll be more comfortable and we all have accidents,as mojo says chin up
suz

jooles · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks again everyone. And Rich, thank you for what you have said.

It is a comfort to share my loss with people who understand.

My one remaining girl (Vanessa - Bovans) has taken some interest in food this afternoon and has had a drink. She is very wobbly and obviously shocked. Her comb is, I think, slightly less pale than it was this morning. I'm hoping that she will come through it and then I will have to get her some new friends. At the moment she is indoors with me in my office.

Tony (OH) is outside right now re-securing the run and making sure it is not going to give way to a fox.

I'm going to save up for an automatic door opener but, until then, the house will definitely be closed every night.

stamina · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:48 pm Post subject:

Good to see your looking to the future jooles. As Rich said, don't you be taking lectures from anyone. I've kept poultry for over 50 years and while I've learned a lot, I still have a lot more to learn.
While I am saddened for you for your loss, I'm pleased for you that you are not going to be put off from the pleasures of keeping birds in the future
Regards
Stamina.

AngieC · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 71 Location: Dorset

{{{Hugs}}} Jooles - been there too & learnt my lesson the hard way, not realising that foxes can turn swivel catches quite easily - we now have bolts on everything & the girls aren't let out until we're up. Glad Vanessa seems to be perking up - if she's made it this far, it's a good sign.

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

Jooles,

So sorry for you Crying or Very sad

I know what you are going through - It does get better i promise you. You sound as if you are taking all steps you can to prevent it happening again.

Auto pop hole - superb.

Keep at it Wink

Andrew · Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:57 pm Post subject:

A terrible loss but please get some more and give them a good home too.

We all learn something everyday, I'm sure I make mistakes and errors with my girls, but hey that's life, and we know you care, after that the rest is academic. de facto you are a good chicken keeper!

Cheers,
Andy

Fenn · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 2292 Location: Shrewsbury

(((((Jools)))))

There but for the grace of the gods, etc... Sad

I do lock my girls in at night, but I'm going to have to leave the pophole open whilst we're away for 4 days in May. The lady who's looking after them can only get down once a day, so it has to stay open or they don't get out Confused

Don't beat yourself up, they had a good life. xxx