We had our daughters 2 Cockerals taken by nasty fox,we had them and a hen as she wasnt alowed to keep them one of the boys was a Pyle old english game bird i think as ther is a pic just like him on a 2008 fancy fowl mag cover was such a pretty boy and the other dont now but was a big white bird and he had feathrs on his legs it was lucky that i had moved the hen to a small cage or she might have gone as well,as she was being set about by the 2 cockerals,
just hope it doesnt find the rest of girls
You have my sympathy but why demonise the fox for doing what it does naturally to survive? I know it is upsetting but the fox wasn't doing it because it is nasty. The only animal that truly does nasty things is us.
I agree with redclanger, we are in the fox's back yard not the other way round. Sorry about yourhens, try an electric fence, my neighbour has had success with this.
Maybe we need to rethink our attitude to urban foxes in the light of recent events in East London.
Whilst I sympathise I would be sorry to not see the ones that live on my allotment site!
On our plot we have to protect most of our foodstuff from predators. If we had livestock then we would have to do the same.
I really don't understand why in the real world we tolerate foxes living in proximity to humans, any more than we tolerate cockroaches or smallpox viruses.
I suppose the fairy story element has something to do with it, but anthropomorphising apart, let's face it, foxes are vermin.
Clearly no "blame" attaches to foxes when they kill dozens of chickens, or rip the faces off babies. They're animals. Of course they act naturally.
But then so is the bindweed growing entirely naturally when it climbs up our young plants. So is the blackfly acting entirely naturally when it sucks the life out of our broad beans. Personally I try to destroy both.
while a fox looks like a pretty animal it shouldnt be alowed to atack young babys in there cots!!!
as for an electric fence no electric on site we have never had problen with them before,son inlore should have built a higher fence to stop them but with his arm in plaster he wasnt able to
Quote from: redclanger on June 13, 2010, 23:02:02
You have my sympathy but why demonise the fox for doing what it does naturally to survive? I know it is upsetting but the fox wasn't doing it because it is nasty. The only animal that truly does nasty things is us.
I disagree! I've seen a pen full of partridge chicks, mauled and mutilated by a fox, left to bleed to death with bits hanging out all over the place... and it certainly wasn't done for food... To be fair on the fox, he or she didn't dress up in a poxy costume in order to chase the terrified animals through some fields on horseback, before getting some dogs to rip them apart, but they do kill and mutilate for entertainment! Also to be fair on the fox, he or she really doesn't know any better (we of course, do)... As pretty as they look, they are horrible things requiring swift & efficient culling, IMHO.
I am sorry that you have lost two cockerels to a fox, but as an owner of chickens I know it is up to me to keep them protected. It is even more difficult to protect them from weasels or stoats.
Quote from: gwynnethmary on June 14, 2010, 00:02:58Maybe we need to rethink our attitude to urban foxes in the light of recent events in East London.
It was sad that those children were mutilated by a fox. This is the first time anyone has heard of this before yet there are millions and millions of foxes in the world. Why should foxes be culled just because one did the wrong thing? It's like saying taxi drivers should be eradicated in view of the actions of Derrick Bird in Cumbria.
Quote from: redclanger on June 13, 2010, 23:02:02
You have my sympathy but why demonise the fox for doing what it does naturally to survive? I know it is upsetting but the fox wasn't doing it because it is nasty. The only animal that truly does nasty things is us.
I agree entirely RC.
Foxes do have a good side to them. They kill rats, mice and rabbits, the former being the biggest threat to mankind having been responsible for the Black Death. Now if anyone is thinking of eradicating rats, you had best think again......see here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/978882.stm
Quote from: Paulines7 on June 14, 2010, 11:01:11
....
It was sad that those children were mutilated by a fox. This is the first time anyone has heard of this before yet there are millions and millions of foxes in the world. ....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2078419.stm
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/23589985/detail.html
http://news.scotsman.com/foxes/Pensioner-attacked-by-fox-in.2559765.jp
http://hamptonroads.com/node/247121
Unusual, yes, but hardly the first time.
Quote from: Melbourne12 on June 14, 2010, 08:46:52
I really don't understand why in the real world we tolerate foxes living in proximity to humans, any more than we tolerate cockroaches or smallpox viruses.
I suppose the fairy story element has something to do with it, but anthropomorphising apart, let's face it, foxes are vermin.
Clearly no "blame" attaches to foxes when they kill dozens of chickens, or rip the faces off babies. They're animals. Of course they act naturally.
But then so is the bindweed growing entirely naturally when it climbs up our young plants. So is the blackfly acting entirely naturally when it sucks the life out of our broad beans. Personally I try to destroy both.
+1
Re urban foxes weve got ourselves to blame for making food easily available in bin bags, takeawy food etc and the nutcases that actually feed them make them less afraid of humans. I was on my plot early in the morning a couple of weeks ago. There were 2 crows alarming just a few feet away from me, divebombing and sqwuaking loudly. I couldnt see what had upset them at first then a fox trotted up. It stopped 9 inches from my feet and just stood and looked at me. It was so close that I thought if I made any sudden move it might lunge at me so i just stood still until it got bored and left. That isnt normal fox behaviour, its behaviour that its learned that people arent a threat.
Quote from: Melbourne12 on June 14, 2010, 11:27:48
Quote from: Paulines7 on June 14, 2010, 11:01:11
....
It was sad that those children were mutilated by a fox. This is the first time anyone has heard of this before yet there are millions and millions of foxes in the world. ....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2078419.stm
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/23589985/detail.html
http://news.scotsman.com/foxes/Pensioner-attacked-by-fox-in.2559765.jp
http://hamptonroads.com/node/247121
Unusual, yes, but hardly the first time.
Still a small number of attacks compared to the fox population. Many more dogs attacking humans by far, not to mention the number of humans attacking humans.
Quote from: Paulines7 on June 14, 2010, 12:15:45
not to mention the number of humans attacking humans.
erm, you did mention it :)