Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

HeatherintheHills

Gigervamp wrote: »

FOX!

We lost 6 of our chickens yesterday.

When we went to lock them up, we noticed that 2 of the youngsters were missing. Went looking around the field and found several patches of feathers. There were a lot of white feathers and as we only have one white girl, I went to check the coop and saw that Amelia and Maud were missing too.

This morning, we've shut off the top field. We'd done most of the fencing in there with the exception of the fencing along one side and corner which just has stock fencing and rail and post fencing and is alongside the motorway. I had a look this morning and found where it had come through (going by another patch of Amelias feathers on the other side of it).

When I let the girls out, I saw that we were also missing a blackrock and a warren.

It's pretty gutting. Amelia was one of our first chickens and although she didn't like being touched, (she'd perfected the art of the quick sidestep to avoid a stroke!) she liked to peck at my clothes and have a chat.

Poor chickens, they must have been so frightened.

Oh Giger I'm so very sorry! The white girl, not little Sweetpea? Poor Amelia, Maud and the other ladies. (((hugs)))

Gigervamp

Argh, it looks like Maisie one of the cuckoo marans has gone too. I've just been up to check on them and Maud, her sister, was wandering around bokking. It looks like she's looking for Maisie. I checked the coops in case she was laying, but she's not there and I couldn't see her under any bushes.

I could have sworn I saw them both at the feeder this morning, and when we did a head count last night after realising some where missing, it looked like we'd counted correctly.

Going to take the dog up there and let her leave her scent around the place and will have to check on them every half hour or so.

Thing is, where it had got through the fencing, there's no holes, or dug out area underneath. The holes in the rylock are about 3 inches square, so it couldn't squeeze through them and there's a load of japanese knotweed in front and behind the fencing, so jumping over would be difficult. I'm perplexed.

Think we're going to have to invest in electric poultry netting next, as well as doing the fencing along that bit.

ionahenor2

Giger So sorry to hear about your girls. Hope you find the way he found his way in.

Thriftkitten the photo is so cute but mum does look quite fierce. Or is she just cross at being disturbed?

ljonski

Gosh . Ive just come on here to tell you the good news that ive been roped into looking after 2 chickens for 2 weeks for a neighbour whilst abroad. But ive been completely deflated with Gigers news. I am so sorry for your losses and now more concerned that it will come back . A fox was seen in the street 2 weeks and the coop is neither waterproof nor secure. Tonight without telling anyone, i will be around their garden with a bucket of my own urine to lay a scent........

ionahenor2

Good luck chicken sitting ljonski.

I suppose the fox population has swelled with all the cubs born this year. I lost 2 of mine around this time a year ago. They seem to be getting bolder........coming out during the day.

caitybabes

ljonski wrote: »

A fox was seen in the street 2 weeks and the coop is neither waterproof nor secure. Tonight without telling anyone, i will be around their garden with a bucket of my own urine to lay a scent........

Does that work? I'm worried about foxes when we get our girls (still getting the coop ready for them at the moment) and would be interested to know if this is accepted practice...

Sorry to hear about your losses Giger

Out of interest, if I was to see a fox in my garden, is it dangerous for me to go outside to try to scare it away? I'm a bit worried about what to do... my friend suggested getting a supersoaker water gun!

caitybabes

beebuzz168 wrote: »

Ooh, Caitybabes, you must be fairly near me - we used to live in Woking, but are nearer Guildford now. I had looked on that website for birds but thought they looked quite pricey compared to what is offered elsewhere, but I guess you maybe get what you pay for?

I was thinking of getting ours from here http://www.wildcroftrarebreeds.co.uk/ We visited the farm on their Open Day earlier in the year and liked the set up though the choice is more limited.

Syman, your link didn't work for me, could you repost?

Thanks for the breeder suggestions, Syman and Beebuzz. I'm glad actually, as my friend said he went to Perfect Poultry and they didn't get a happy vibe from them so didn't buy their chickens from there. I must be near you Beebuzz, I'm in Frimley so not far at all so I'll have a look at Rokers and Wildcroft Rare Breeds.

Bought some of this paint for the outside of the chicken coop and might highlight some features with a sage colour. Exciting!

ljonski

I think it does work provided its from an Alpha Male ! I had chucks for 3 years almost to the day without a single attack until one came during the day and took away my last. Almost certainly it was a vixen with cubs and was willing to take risks to feed her young. You could also take a male dog on a lead around the garden and see if he obliges. You need to rush out as fast as possible and make a loud terrifying wail and it will scarper

ionahenor2

Or you could do this :rotfl::rotfl:

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=89860

Saw this on the Omlet forum last night. Hope 'Chicken Kitty' doesn't mind me posting this on here.

ljonski

I have bookmarked your link Ionahenor2 in anticipation that a photo will be added soon :rotfl: