Chicken Help Please Please Please

mum_of_4

The fox got all my chickens and some must have tried to get to the back door because there are loads of feather at the bottom of the garden. Marmite must have been taken first as I can't see any feathers from her.

We are all so gutted and upset. I guess the fox may have visited before but this time worked out a way of getting to them.


I'm now looking at the eglu cube so if anyone knows if they sell second hand or has any info let me know.

One very tearful mum of 4

mrspoons

Sorry to hear about that - I've been there twice now and it doesnt get any easier.
You would be ok with a normal wooden house which would be cheaper than an eglu and spend a bit extra on getting some wire mesh panels to give them an enclosure to run around in. As long as you put it on slabs and make sure the roof is meshed as well you should be safe.

We make sure that our 4 are locked up before it gets dark - they seem happy enough in the run during the day though.

shirlgirl2004

Sorry to hear of your fox attack.

I have a cube. They are fantastic. Our chickens have never had red mite because the cube is so easy to clean. Obviously it's very secure too. They are very expensive second hand so there isn't much of a saving to be had and people don't tend to part with them often either. If you call Omlet then they may have a reconditioned one you can buy. The reconditioned ones are usually like new because they are models that have been used at a show for a wek and then sold on. You don't save a great deal (works out the same as second hand) but as it would be almost new it seems silly not to.

mum_of_4

mrspoons wrote: »

Sorry to hear about that - I've been there twice now and it doesnt get any easier.
You would be ok with a normal wooden house which would be cheaper than an eglu and spend a bit extra on getting some wire mesh panels to give them an enclosure to run around in. As long as you put it on slabs and make sure the roof is meshed as well you should be safe.

We make sure that our 4 are locked up before it gets dark - they seem happy enough in the run during the day though.

I already have a wooden house but now think an eglu would be harder for a fox to get into, the the run that we already have is 10ft x 5ft but it was the door that the fox got open. So my OH is going to put his thinking cap on.

I know that the eglu is a lot of cash but just had a good look at it and door winds shut and as it moulded plastic i thought it would be hard for a fox to get entry.

mum_of_4

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

Sorry to hear of your fox attack.

I have a cube. They are fantastic. Our chickens have never had red mite because the cube is so easy to clean. Obviously it's very secure too. They are very expensive second hand so there isn't much of a saving to be had and people don't tend to part with them often either. If you call Omlet then they may have a reconditioned one you can buy. The reconditioned ones are usually like new because they are models that have been used at a show for a wek and then sold on. You don't save a great deal (works out the same as second hand) but as it would be almost new it seems silly not to.

Secure is what I was thinking. I'll give them a call as you never know. They aren't open until after the new year so at least I'll have time to think.
I have to admit it would be nice to have a bright colour and does look very easy to clean. From the little clips it also looks like you don't need to use straw???

BillScarab

If you have a wooden house it can still be a bright colour! Did you have a bolt on the door the fox got in through? This is the one I made for my three girls.



And here are tthe girls



One Light Sussex, One Silver Sussex and one Buff Sussex

shirlgirl2004

mum_of_4 wrote: »

Secure is what I was thinking. I'll give them a call as you never know. They aren't open until after the new year so at least I'll have time to think.
I have to admit it would be nice to have a bright colour and does look very easy to clean. From the little clips it also looks like you don't need to use straw???

Well obviously you need something in the nest but on the trays you don't need to have anything. I do, I use Hemcore in the trays because it is very absorbant and stops smells/flies. It means when I clean the tray at the weekend everything just falls off and no scraping is required. It also dries very quickly unlike wood so you aren't leaving a damp house for the chooks to sit in overnight. Mine gets jetwashed about once a month which keeps it looking almost new.

My friend has an Eglu (not the cube) and she has a springer spaniel that when she first got them was desperate to get to the chooks but failed. He did mark the outside of the Eglu but no real danage was done so it must be pretty secure.

mum_of_4

The fox got through the wooden door which goes into the run than got into the house which i have to admit doesn't have a bolt and couldn't because of it's location. You just slide the door down. The door on the outside of the coup is secure and padlocked but the house is now damaged so they must have put up a fight inside.

I'm guessing that he took one from the house and the others ran for it to the bottom of the garden to get us. Which would explan why the feathers are by the back door. Snowie must have been hiding behind the waterbutt as that's by the door and there are feathers there. Although hidden the fox would have been led by smell.

It's worse knowing they were so fightened and trying to hide.

ChequeredFlag

Mumof4:

Sorry to hear your news, I feel gutted for you. You have been so kind and helpful to us all - sending out your plot plans - it doesn't seem fair that this has happened. I can fully understand that you had become attached to your chickens, it is heartbreaking when something happens to them. But rest assured and take comfort from the fact that they obviously had a good life with you, being looked after well and not mistreated.

Thinking of you, take care

ChequeredFlag

mum_of_4

ChequeredFlag wrote: »

Mumof4:

Sorry to hear your news, I feel gutted for you. You have been so kind and helpful to us all - sending out your plot plans - it doesn't seem fair that this has happened. I can fully understand that you had become attached to your chickens, it is heartbreaking when something happens to them. But rest assured and take comfort from the fact that they obviously had a good life with you, being looked after well and not mistreated.

Thinking of you, take care

ChequeredFlag

i've decided that I'm going to save up for the eglu cube. I know it seems pricey but it's not that much more when you look at some of the house you can buy. It will be a lot easier to clean and the door into the run is a lot stronger so even if a fox get's into the run at night the house will be really secure. Just been upto the top of the garden to shut the chickens in:rolleyes:

Lets face it I work hard not spending money on food so I should be able to spend without feeling guilty, plus it's me that does all the cleaning out and spends the most time with them but I don't think I'll tell my OH the cost.

oh and I will be getting a very bright colour. No boring green for me