12 month Grow your own planting plans

mum_of_4

:rolleyes:

Yategirl wrote: »

Mum of 4 - that is awful what happened?

A fox got into the run and was then able to get into the house. It looks like he took marmite my blackrock out straight away and took her two gardens along as her feathers are at the end of a blood trail. Whilst this was going on the other three must have attempted to get to our back door (at the bottom of the slopping garden and unseen from the top of the garden). There are feathers from izzy on the lawn, then going down the steps honey's and around the patio. White feathers are at the backdoor, looks like snowie was hiding behind a bag of compost and water butt that are by the back door.

I can't put into word how gutted I am. Although they are far too pricey i'm going to get an eglu cube. Then at least i know a fox can't get into a plastic moulded coup. My Oh is going to change the door access to the run.

My poultry farmer hasn't got any black rocks or amba links at the moment so I may sit tight until the end of January.

Even went to lock the girls up this afternoon

My really nice neighbour climed over our fence and cleared all the feathers up for us when we were out as he knew how upset we where. He always looks after the chickens is 44 lives with his mum and likes a good too many drinks but when we are holiday he brings his lunch over and sits in the garden to keep them company so I think he really wanted to do it.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

ooo mum of 4 that is awfull, was it a fox? i know what its like when you lose chickens.. but not all of them in one go...

mum_of_4

My FIL reckons he might have been a few days running but last night he finally got in.

I just loved having them around, really good for the children and because we are on a hill the neighbours could see them from their back bedroom windows. The elderly lady two doors down always watched them from her window, she gave our postman some flowers to give me.

Yategirl

that is awful I am so sorry !!!!!!!!{hugs}}}}} very kind of your neighbour to clear up though..

would you be able to make a double skinned run? sort of one inside the other? make sure the outer one is sunk into the ground as well to prevent digging in. might be cheaper than an eglu.. plus... eglu's are not totally fox-proof

Yategirl

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

ooo mum of 4 that is awfull, was it a fox? i know what its like when you lose chickens.. but not all of them in one go...

friend of mine lost all her chickens in one go to a fox - - the fox kills them all because it can not cause it is going to eat them...

mum_of_4

Yategirl wrote: »

that is awful I am so sorry !!!!!!!!{hugs}}}}} very kind of your neighbour to clear up though..

would you be able to make a double skinned run? sort of one inside the other? make sure the outer one is sunk into the ground as well to prevent digging in. might be cheaper than an eglu.. plus... eglu's are not totally fox-proof

The run is very strudy and where there are joins my OH did overlap everything. The run alos goes into the ground by about two inches plus we have put a skirt all around the outside edge. The door was always going to be the weakest point.

I just thought the eglu itself is very safe, wouldn't buy their run as we already have ours .

Yategirl

just read your other thread.... i think if you can afford the eglu then go for it... it does look sturdy and secure so should be ok..

do you have a dog or know anyone who has one - preferably a male dog - can you get it to pee round the run/house? (or get dh to do it!!!!!)... scent marking from a male can help keep foxes away (not 100% obviously)...

mum_of_4

Don't laugh but I did think of that, so told him to fill a bottle I already get him to wee on the compost so I think the pressures on him now.

I do feel guilty about spending the money on the eglu but why shouldn't I. MY OH has no idea how much money I save. He has now idea about how much the holiday are that a pay for. He's very OS in that i look after family and home life i get my housekeeping and it's up to me how I spend it (or not since getting the allotment) he works and runs and trains for his country and does nothing at home. he's never been to my allotment, never even helped to put the PT up.

Little moan over:o

Nelmer

Mum of 4 ~ I have been reading through this thread with interest and was so sad to read about your chickens. I have pm'd you (i hope my timing is not to rubbish) and really want to thank you for the inspiration you have given me !!{hugs}}

Yategirl

go for it then! my dh has no idea how much I save by growing stuff nor how hard I have to 'work' to keep the grocery bills down... he know's what I spend a month but has no idea that it is v.low.... :rolleyes: must be a man thing(!)

treat yourself!