Stupid Ruddy Foxes.

[kandm]

Last night we could only find two out of the three of our chickens. We had a good look round but it was dark and was useless. This morning we had another good look around, our other chickens wouldn't come out of the coop (which is unlike them). Once the frost had thawed, we carried on looking and outside the back of our garden in the field were aload of her feathers . We can only assume it was the fox. Mum is really upset about it, my sisters and I bought them for our parents about 6 years ago for christmas and mum absolutely adores them. They are like our pets, come to call etc. So she is understandly upset.

However the question is, will the fox (if it was a fox) come back for more?? We have kept them in their coop today which has a small run however they hate it compared to being able to run round the garden. We were thinking about getting our neighbours entire male dog to have a wee around the hedges of our garden, putting up a scent - would that possibly help?? Any other ideas??

Also now we only have two chickens and in time mum would like some more. So do we wait to see if it is a fox before we buy anymore? As they would be quite young etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Honey08]

Oh dear what a shame!

Yes a fox will no doubt come back. Could you make the run bigger - fence off a bit of the garden, and dig the fence into the floor, for times when you're not around?

I've heard dog urine, and even male human urine puts foxes off to an extent.

We just got some ex battery hens from a hen welfare trust that buys them off battery farms. You could get some of them perhaps.

 

[kandm]

We'll get Dad out in the garden asap then .

Just mentioned a bigger run, dug into the ground for mum and she is seriously thinking about it. I suppose it's the risk you take letting them run free...

We were contemplating some battery hens before this event happened, would be nice to help .