The Poultry Keeper

black rocker · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 67 Location: NEWBURY

tuesday we lost our first hen to a fox Crying or Very sad

it was one of my black rocks, and this is the first time since we got them we hvae had a problem - thats almost 2 years. there was no trace other than a few feathers in the woods.

some may think me complacent as they free range completely, but as we have a gamekeeper on the estate he keeps the foxes down.

thing is, earlier (about 1/2 hr ago) the oh was walking the dog and heard a commotion, ran to the woods and lo and behold, there was a big fox with my BIG buff orp cockeral in his mouth!! (full size) OH took a swing at the fox (he really got that close) and he dropped it and ran off. Think b/orp is ok, but they have all hidden now for awhile.

OH is going to let the gamekpeer know, but its not really his problem that our hens have been attacked, but maybe he will deal with it to keep his pheasnts/sheep safe.

in the meantime will have to keep them all in,but we have an ark with run for the banties (so tahts ok) but the big chooks are just in a shed, light not great or air, so will have to hastily construct a run of some description Sad

otherwise they will become very miserable. GRRRRR really gutted as its the first time weve had a problem. any ideas on a quick fix - what about a "fence door" behind the main door??

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

I just always dislike reading any posts with a heading like yours. I am so sorry you lost one of your girls, and hope your cockerel will be OK. I should put some apple cider vinegar in the water at 2% 20mls to 1 litre in a non galcanised drinker ~ just to help him get over the stress.

You could make a wire door for inside the shed door, or just as easily make up a few run panels. How many chickens do you have, just wondering what size run you would need.

I made these run panels ~ they're 6' x 3' to accomodate the size of weldmesh I could buy. I used 2" x 1" for the frames. You could turn the panels on their side (which is how I had them last time) so that they stretch further.

lilly the pink · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Wiltshire

I love the brolly outside the chicken house. It looks like they are on holiday!

Re. the fox: Now he has discovered your chickens he will keep coming back so you must tell the gamekeeper and he will probably come and sort it out. Our gamekeepers don't mind at all. I called at 11.30pm when I saw a fox sniffing round my grower pen. Keepers are out and about at all hours. It's in their interests to make sure that the foxes learn to stay away and our keepers seem to jump at the opportunity to shoot anything that moves!

They set up a hide down the track, left a dead pheasant out for the fox and then shot it when it sneaked up to take it. Single shot between the eyes from 60 metres in the darK!! The shot was very loud!

I am glad your OH was able to rescue your cock. I hope he gets over it.

No suggestions regarding keeping your chooks confined, but you could ask your OH to pee round the perimeter of the property regularly. Foxes are deterred by the smell of male urine. Well, who wouldn't be!

CP · Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:16 pm Post subject:

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Crying or Very sad

But glad you managed to save your cockerel. Smile

debcat · Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:11 pm Post subject:

really sorry about your hen and hope your cockrel recovers
hope the game keeper manages to sort them out for you

black rocker · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 67 Location: NEWBURY

thanks guys, was quite sad during the week about it, and kept them all in the next day, but feel so bad keeping them in all the time - then i go and put them in danger Sad

good news x2 - buff orp bruno is ok, a few tail feathers missing, but thats it. will put some ACV in the water, not thought of that, thanks.
second bit is OH foned the gamekeeper who immediately sent someone round (apprently he had shot a few foxes already down by us - not heard the shots though). He came around 5pm, went again, came back arund 9.30 - we heard a nice loud shot about half hour after. nothing since. Hope he has got him - OH said he was like a shark in the ferns, just popped out! and if it wasnt bruno he tried to get I doubt any other would have escaped so lightly, brunos a big boy as you can imagine, and heavy even for a big fox like this one (BTW my dog was useless!!) OH says it was if he was trying to get a better hold of him when he chased him away.

so, the question is now, do i let them out tomorrow and chance the g/k has killed, and no more danger, or do i keep them in - but for how long... we were talking about a run set up, but it all takes so much time & money Rolling Eyes

not sure which way to go Confused

edited- have 3 b/r and the buff orp, and 6 bantie wyandottes (they have seperate accom to the big girls)

debcat · Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:24 pm Post subject:

could you phone the game keeper in the morning and ask if he got him?

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

I was going to suggest the same as debcat ~ just so you would know

The umbrella is to keep their food dry when it rains. The trouble is they all want to take it around with them, and they look so funny with it stucked under their wings

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7344 Location: isle of lewis

any news about the fox
so sorry

black rocker · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 67 Location: NEWBURY

i think its all clear now, not seen or heard any more, and i know if the g/k didnt get it he would have been back. All chooks ok now, just trying to decide how to build a run for them to be kept in with limited funds - like the run you have built summayah, but not really able to put concrete fixings down for any posts - any suggestions??!!!

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

I was going to suggest those metpost thingies, but not sure why you can't do concrete. Is your run on concrete? They do the metpost things to screw down onto concrete.

What I did with my other run the low one that I had last time. Was to join all the sections as I wanted them, so hinged, some fixed and then every 3 panels I hammered a piece of wood into the ground and screwed the run panel to it. With those posts all round holding it all, it couldn't be lifted up by foxy. But again it depends on what the base of your run is.

black rocker · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 67 Location: NEWBURY

not that we cant, but don't want to do concrete - we rent for one, and second, the ground i was considering using as a run area is extremely full of flint - stones everywhere, really really difficult to dig down (yeah cop out i know). I am thinking of doing this more to stop them laying in nettles/holly bushes and destroying the garden more than worrying about foxes. I think this was a real one off with the fox - i was considering attaching it to shed building, and using the hedge/fence on one side as a natural shield, therefore only needing panels on one side/end and a little bit on the other end - must take pics to help explain.... i must sound so vague/silly Embarassed

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

I would think if it is purely to keep the chickens in then you could simply make the 3' x 6' panels and screw them together. It should be sturdy enough like that. As you say if you attach it to a shed or similar that would give it some rigidity too.

black rocker · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 67 Location: NEWBURY

oh thats brilliant then thanks for that, will probably do them so theyre 3ft width and 6 high, as one of my dotties likes to fly!! really appreciate your help on this, will prob get weldmesh 30m roll 19g and get the OH busy!!!

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

You're welcome ~ if you look at my pic you will see there's a cross strut in the middle and also little corner pieces to keep they square.
Good luck