B..........foxes

[Palustris]

Lost two bantams today to a marauding fox. One Exchequer leghorn and Attila the Hen. The Friesans flew up into the top of the Pear tree and stayed there for hours. The ducks were safe in the middle of the pond. Trouble is once it has seen the hens it will come back. And tomorrow we have to be out all day. Very worrying.

[Hyacinth]

Oh Eric, I'm so very very sorry. I was fond of Attila, especially   ...... :(Lishka

[teresa]

Oh Eric I am so sorry to hear of your loss do you have a dog you can leave outside to scare the fox away?

Teresa

[Palustris]

No dogs, next doors did not even bark and it usually does for anything. We will leave them in the run for tomorrow, but it is not really satisfactory. They need a lot more food for a start and I do not like to see them penned up in a small area (even if it is bigger than the size allowed for them in all the literature etc.)
Also found a dead rat in the greenhouse this morning, courtesy of the cat.
We will not replace any that go, it is getting too expensive and difficult and too stressful also.
The farm opposite has outdoor pigs and he was losing PIGLETS to foxes, so if a professional cannot protect his animals, what chance do we stand?
Our friends down the road lost 5 hens in the 20 minutes spent collecting children from school, so I suppose we were lucky that Anne looked out of the window and saw what was happening in time to save the rest.

[Mrs Ava]

Eric  What a lousy thing to happen!  Thank goodness it was caught in the act.  What a rotten Sunday for you  

[teresa]

You have a good cat there to catch a rat hope you threw that over the hedge for the fox save it trying to catch something else.
I have been reading up on the net about chickens as the pro's seem to put electric fences up to keep foxes out. Two strands of wire around the fences conected to the mains saw one for sale on ebay.
Most farmers will accept the fact that foxes will take the odd young new born pig/lamb at home mum always threw the afterbirth of the lambs into the hedges for the foxes to have and they left the young lambs alone.
You could always try the old, way foxes go by sent, to mark your garden ( urine ) if you know where it came through its worth a try and keep renewing it.
Good luck Teresa

[Palustris]

Strange but true. Attilla the Hen turned up today at our neighbours garden 300 metres down the road. Much to the delight of their male bird who spent the day shepherding his new wife about. Hopefully she will go to roost in their coop and can be brought back tomorrow. So we have lost only one. So far. One of the Firiesians would not come in tonight and is now skulking somewhere in the garden.
Will try the scent thing tomorrow. Been lucky really, first loss in 8 years.
Sadly though the male bird popped his clogs a few weeks ago. Old age and exhaustion probably.