Thankyou and goodbye hen 1 and hen 2

Noozan

Hi Sarah, sorry to hear of your loss. It's bad enough losing your hens and even more so when the fox doesn't even eat/take what they've killed.

Human hair is supposed to deter foxes; put some hair tied up in an old pair of tights near the chickens. I've not actually tried this myself though, so can;t vouch for it.

You can get automatic pophole openers that let your girls out at dawn (or when you set the timer) and closes the door after them at dusk. (Did the fox come in daylight?)

silverbirch_3

the smell of a male animals urine is supposed to deter them so send hubby/male friend out into the garden to relieve himself around the perimeter (make sure its dark lol) Foxes as well as been able to open many catches and bolts are also able to easily bite through chicken wire so you need padlocks and strong quality weldmesh to keep them out.

thriftmonster

I think I saw on River Cottage once that human hair in little bags of old tights can be a deterrent - you hang them round their run. I'm really sorry for you - it's the fact they just seem to do it for fun and not to eat the hens.

(oops - have just realised Noozan has posted sthg very similar - sorry)

cha97michelle

From what i've seen, you are more likely to see a fox in mid town rather than the semi countryside.

My parents live in the country - no evidence of foxes knocking about their property, although plenty of rabbits and a pack of half a dozen wild cats. I suppose the cats might put them off.

My PILs live in SE London, and a family of them live in the gaps between the garden sheds between the rows of gardens. They are even brave enough to come out in broad daylight, and if you've had a BBQ outside, try to pinch things off the table if its briefly left unattended. And yes they can jump. I've seen them up on the shed roofs to get away.

My FIL found some of the cubs drowned in a water butt, although i suppose that was 2 less to worry about.

I hope you manage to secure your pen, as from your posts, you seem to have enjoyed keeping the chickens.

Michelle

squiggles

Sarahsaver wrote:

A bloody fox got my hens this evening. Didn't even eat them, just got their heads off.
Could I have saved them and eaten them? OH said to bin them becos u don't know what the fox may be carrying disease wise. I am angry rather than sad. Oh well £4.50 each and they have provided nearly a year's worth of eggs.
Why don't they do something useful like kill cats or squirrels?
Can you eat foxes?

BTW I live in a city 10 mins from a major rail station.

I cant understand why this would be useful or is it just me

Sarahsaver

I was upset at the time sorry if i offended any cat lovers but I wouldnt keep an animal which cant be eaten or doesnt produce anything. I spose if it were a mouser it would earn its keep. I'm the same with stuff I grow in the garden, not too keen on things which are purely ornamental. Not carrying any 'dead weight' in this household!

zar

Sorry to hear you lost your hens :lovethoug We lost a few to the fox last year - not at night though, funnily enough: even though we don't always lock them in until several hours after dark a fox has never gone into the henhouse. The ones we lost were in the open in daylight in early spring (which I think is when they have cubs) so I wasn't too mad as they have to eat too. And she(?) only took one at a time which isn't so bad. I'm not sure if I would have ate them if the fox had left them, probably would have, but been very hygenic when preparing them.

We have two cocks at the moment and one of them is very handsome but a right pain at crowing and going in the wrong henhouse and bullying all the others, so we are really hoping that when the fox comes this spring it'll have him first!

Hope you'll be able to get some replacements cheaply.

Faith_2

Sarahsaver wrote:

I was upset at the time sorry if i offended any cat lovers but I wouldnt keep an animal which cant be eaten or doesnt produce anything. I spose if it were a mouser it would earn its keep. I'm the same with stuff I grow in the garden, not too keen on things which are purely ornamental. Not carrying any 'dead weight' in this household!

I felt sorry for you until I saw your comment about cats and squirrels.

Dead weight? If you lived alone you would realise how much companionship a cat can provide and you might change your mind.

Flowers brighten up a living space, cheer people up.

It must be a sad life if you can only appreciate things that are useful!

ps: I don't mean to offend you Sarahsaver

Sarahsaver

I dont exclusively appreciate useful things but this is how we live. Id rather have 100 chickens than one cat, but thats just my choice.

Sarahsaver

squirrels by the way :rolleyes: excuse me! they eat flower bulbs and dig holes in the garden, and even damage trees. I dont like the grey ones, but obviously the red ones belong in the uk and should be protected.

I am annoyed that my chickens got killed. That's all.