Thankyou and goodbye hen 1 and hen 2

funky-footprints

actually watched a program last night where one of those anti hunt lobbiest blokes said that the reason a fox kills lambs, chickens etc is because the owner doesnt look after them properly !! had to switch it off in the end he was getting right up my nose ! sorry to hear you lost your hens op !! hope mr fox gets driven over by someone in thier big 4x4 !!!

RacyRed

So sorry to read this Sarahsaver, hens are fantastic creatures.

I hope you feel able to get some more intime.

SnowyOwl_2

Sarah, sorry that this has happened, it's not at all pleasant. You've got a great attitude, being matter of fact about it. If you really want to get sentimental, well chickens 1 and 2 had a good life, much better to have had the life with you than to have suffered a battery cage and death by automation.

BTW I would like to suggest that even if you don't particularly like cats or don't see the purpose of them, they are probably your friends all the same. Mice, and rats in particular, will be attracted to your hens' eggs and to their feed. Just by having cats in the vicinity will help deter the rodents, especially if the boy cats pee here and there, per previous comments.

I hope the fox doesn't kill any cats. It's only my opinion as a cat lover, but I think they have lots to offer, especially to people living alone, and to children.

Sarahsaver

I am getting some more this weekend, I keep looking in the garden for them, and miss the noise, but I didnt name them on purpose. I think the kids would have been upset if the hens had names. Going out in the garden to get herbs for dinner, I realised how ironic it is that the hens never touched any of the herbs, except they nibbled the flowers off the chives. Herb fed chicken, now that would be something;)
If i get some new ones i will try to post a pic if I can get my geek hat on and remember how!

Grumpysally

Appologies if someone has already mentioned this one , but OP was asking about ways to deter foxes.
I have no idea if this really works but I read somewhere, (in a garden mag feature on hen keeping I think.) about a retired gamekeeper telling someone that he used to keep foxes away from the grouse, by peeing around the vicinity. Might work on a country estate, but you'd probably get complaints from the neighbours.
Sorry I can't be of real help, hope your new choocks have a long and prolific life.
We keep musing on keeping some hens, I like the idea of rehabilitating a couple of pensioned off battery hens.

Sarahsaver

Got two Welsomers today:) they are cleverer than the old ones, didnt need to be lifted up the ladder to the nesting box. They are more wiry looking (i had warrens before) pointier beaks, and have gingery head and neck feathers and a darker brownish body. How DO i post a pic? they are camera shy too!

Strepsy

Aww they sound so cute!

I was thinking about the chicken/fox problem as I'm desperate to get chucks of my own, but at the moment have to make do with thinking about it, a lot. lol. Would a scarecrow deter foxes? I guess the tips about human hair and urine could even be put in to practise on the scarecrow too. Just an idea?!

Wirenth

Chickens are absolutely great and I would highly recommend getting a few.

I converted an old playhouse into a hen coop, putting in a raised shelf for the nest boxes and a perch. I then cut a flap in one side to let them into the attached run, which is essentially a four sided 'cube' frame with aviary netting stapled to it. Finally, I laid cheap, heavy pavers underneath the run - no fox is going to be able to dig through them.

My hens are only let out when I am at home to watch them, to keep them safe from foxes. And to keep them out of the neighbours' gardens, but that's another story. :rolleyes: