I had only gone and let them out ten mins beforehand. Little beaky alerted me to a problem crying outside the back door, as I opened the door I startled the damn fox who dropped my lovley Bluebelle and ran off with her head:cry:
Poor bluebelle, kids are mortified and the rest of the hens are restless poor things.
The bloody thing had forced it's way into the extented run and chased two of them out, old wise black rock ran back into the omlet run and hid in the eglu.
So I guess I will be binning off my handmade run and buying a run converter from omlet, unless anyone has one to sell on here? It must have watched me letting them out this morning,waited for me to get out of sight and snuck in for the kill. I know people will say it was just a hen, but she was more than that to me and the kids:(

Aww I'm so sorry to hear about this H.P, poor Bluebell it must have been very scarey for them and very upsetting for you all, did the fox come in broad daylight then?
I have to admit that has put me off a bit because as much as I would like hens here there are loads of foxes, although I think that the dogs might put them off coming into the garden.
I'm sure that the hens become pets and you know them well after a while, it must have been horrible for you, I hope that the other girls have settled and will soon feel safe again :sad:

It was about 6:45 this morning it had been light for about half an hour, I think in future they can have a lay in untill 7 or 8. It must have really shook up the hens because little beaky is a bit of a squirmer when you pick her up and she just sat in my arms with her head on my chest. Bluebelle was picked personally by my son so he is most upset.

Oh no thats awful...we have an electric run for our hens. It cost about £150 off internet but its worth every penny. My worst nightmare is me or the kids finding blood everywhere one morning...its also keeps off the local cats!!

It was about 6:45 this morning it had been light for about half an hour, I think in future they can have a lay in untill 7 or 8. It must have really shook up the hens because little beaky is a bit of a squirmer when you pick her up and she just sat in my arms with her head on my chest. Bluebelle was picked personally by my son so he is most upset.

He will be upset so would I be, I don't mean to be unfeeling and inappropriate but Blibobaggins has the most beautiful lavender hen for sale, maybe it would make up for losing Bluebell just a little :sad:

It was very clean considering, fox had ripped her head and neck clean off from the breast :cry: he just left the body laying on the lawn, no blood or guts just a few stray feathers. I think if I had not been as quick out the back door it would have been a lot worse.

He will be upset so would I be, I don't mean to be unfeeling and inappropriate but Blibobaggins has the most beautiful lavender hen for sale, maybe it would make up for losing Bluebell just a little :sad:

Yes I saw that, but am a little reluctant untill I am sure the eglu alone is safe from attack. I built a big square run and there was a little chickenwire tunnel leading from the eglu run to the handmade one, fox got in through the tunnel. Eglu claim the run is foxproof so I'll buy one of the run extenders and see how we go for a while first.

sorry to hear about bluebell,if its any help as moonbird said without being unfeeling one of the rescues that i talk to have some ex battery hens who are looking for a forever home hope your son is ok and xx to rest of the hens if you would like details of the ex batts please pm me

seadog

Yes I saw that, but am a little reluctant untill I am sure the eglu alone is safe from attack. I built a big square run and there was a little chickenwire tunnel leading from the eglu run to the handmade one, fox got in through the tunnel. Eglu claim the run is foxproof so I'll buy one of the run extenders and see how we go for a while first.

I don't blame you one bit, that is the most sensible thing to do.

Ive seen the fox chasing my neighbours hens at 7,30am so I dont let mine out till about 8,30.I also make sure they are away before it goes dusk.one one occasion I had ten hens killed. I found eight of them,all with the heads bit off.It wouldnt be so bad if the fox just took one and ate it,but they seem to kill the whole lot.HP if you hadnt noticed the fox with your Bluebell it would have come back for the others.

Ive seen the fox chasing my neighbours hens at 7,30am so I dont let mine out till about 8,30.I also make sure they are away before it goes dusk.one one occasion I had ten hens killed. I found eight of them,all with the heads bit off.It wouldnt be so bad if the fox just took one and ate it,but they seem to kill the whole lot.HP if you hadnt noticed the fox with your Bluebell it would have come back for the others.

Ooh this is making me wonder if I should change my mind about keeping hens. I have been thinking about it for ages, and have decided that next year I'm going to take the plunge. Is there a truly fox proof run you can get or are they all likely to be broken into at some point? What are the electric ones like?

I haven't yet decided whether to go for the eglu type or the wooden type of house.

if i seen a fox in my back garden after my hens the old pellet gun will be out sorry to say it

We build custom enclosures for hens and other pets this enables them to be secure but to fit within specific areas of the property.

Main advice is build on a foundation as otherwise they will dig under secondly use a sufficient gauge of wire 16 is classed as fox proof 18 gauge looks tough but its NOT fox proof.

If you cant build concrete or slab foundations then wire the floor the plants etc are accesible through the wire.

Rats can also be very destructive to hens and will kill them if sufficiently hungry.

Foxes will also take cats if they are hungry enough to chance the fight.

We have a large enclosure for our cats who enjoy lazing around in sun.
This is two fold for us it means they are safe and so is the wildlife in our garden.
:)

That must be awful for all of you. They are not just hens - they become pets and anyone who wants to scoff at your comment is not a true animal lover. What about the electric perimiter fence that they make for ponds to keep herons away? Or maybe some electric fencing that we use for horses?? Don't think that the fox will like 5000 volts on it's nose end :hihi:

So sorry to read your sad news, they certainly do become pets . Hope you can find a way to keep the fox out, sorry x

That must be awful for all of you. They are not just hens - they become pets and anyone who wants to scoff at your comment is not a true animal lover. What about the electric perimiter fence that they make for ponds to keep herons away? Or maybe some electric fencing that we use for horses?? Don't think that the fox will like 5000 volts on it's nose end :hihi:

We have thought about this, but it's not practical with the kiddies. Bit like a moth to a lightbulb.. I have been confining them to the eglu run and so far so good. there was a slight start of what looked like an attempt to dig under the skirt, but foxy got bored when he realised it was too wide.