Scottish Elises

We had four chooks upto yesterday, our original two from three years ago, and two more that we bought a few weeks ago. Goldie did not come back to the coop two nights ago and there has been no sign of her since. Blondie did not come back tonight and we found a pile of her feathers at the top of the track.

Almost certainly a fox, I know it is nature but does not make it any less upsetting. As well as laying eggs they become pets, rush to you when you walk out of the door to eat corn from your hand. Not much chance for the other two now that the fox has it mapped out, but I will be out there before dusk now with the .22 just in case I get a chance to take him out.

tut

Want a shout next time we have some chicks?

Or we can lend you an incubator

It's a shame you cannot leave the dogs on guard! That's a real barsteward, but as you say, it's nature.

Maybe in the spring get a more secure hutch or something and put some new chucks in?

They have clucked off

Unfortunately Robin Khan killed two at TT, if something dashes away from him he grabs it.

Actually trained him since we moved here to leave them alone, not sure how fast a fox can run but would like to find out.

tut

ps:- seems silly with my background to killing, but animals dying or cruelty to them affects me so much that I turn the TV off when anything is shown, and would gladly take out the low lives that are the perpetrators.

Daveb wrote:They have clucked off

Not funny. Think before you post.

tut

I've oddly thought about this before but how do the foxes get at them? I assume they have to navigate the metal chicken wire and assuming it's not submerged x inches is the coup no closed and secured at night?

/city person

Chooks are out all day pecking around the 10 acres, then go into the coop just before dusk. I then shut them in. We let them out in the morning around 0900.

tut

Ah so the fox got them when they were free ranging.

Shame the mutt can't get all paternal on them. Watched some prog about some mountain dogs that shepherds used. Big ol brutes that were used as a pack. Wolf would show up and the first couple of dogs would attack it while the others herded the sheep to safety then backup the offence. Amazing stuff.

Lion poop on the perimeter help?

We can't let Khan run free, sheep in the next field, lamb is his favourite meat.

tut

The .22 is OK but I can bring the .243 up if you want to make sure! Wouldn't rule out badgers tho, can be murderous buggers too

Problem is actually sighting it when it could be at any time that it is on the prowl.

tut

Eliminating Mr (or Mrs) fox may solve the problem short term, but another will soon take it's place.
A secure run, with the fence buried at least 6 inches is your best long term solution.

My local farmer fenced off a large section of the back garden with deer fencing and seven foot posts to keep Khan away from the sheep, so I may get him to fence off part of the land for a large chicken run.

tut

I have thought about getting chickens in the past but there are several foxes about so don't think they would last. Our neighbour lost both chickens & pet rabbits over the last year.
Fingers crossed you work out a suitable solution to the problem Tut.