I was herding Jane, the slate grey turkey back to the turkey enclosure at 7.30 when I saw a streak in the grass around 50 yards away. I could see a white hen running for its life and behind it was the russet Brown shape of a large fox. That part of the field is very rough and covered with large tussocks and swathes of nettles, and as the hen shrieked I could see the fox jumping over the humps of grass to get hold of it.
I dropped the feed bowls I was carrying and ran over. The fox and hen disappeared into a large clump of nettles and I blundered into it after them. ( I was wearing shorts!!) and ALMOST caught the bloody thing before It shot through the hawthorn hedge.
I could see no sign of the hen, except several patches of white feathers, so I was convinced that the fox had nabbed one, but after a head count of the st Trinian group and the old hen house girls (the hens that live in the part of the field) all the poultry had been accounted for.
It took an age but I found the victim eventually. It was one of the St Trinian adolescent cockerels and apart from a few missing feathers he otherwise looked ok.
A fox attack in day time is rare.
This fox will be back.
Time to organise a gunman...
In the meantime I am off to treat my nettle stung legs!!!
John,
ReplyDeletePlease be careful.
Rabies
BABIES
May be the reason its out during the day.
Mal...
ReplyDeletewe luckily dont have rabies in this country! thank goodness.....
just very hungry me thinks
thank you for being so worried!!!
xx
Ouch, Oooohie! Very strange to see one out during the day, he/she must be hungry or have little ones to feed.
ReplyDeleteMetal feeding dishes?
Think of banging or hollering before he caught the bird?
Are fireworks allowed there?
Damn fox!
Actually, at least around here, it's not uncommon to see foxes out and about during the day.
ReplyDeleteWhat you need to do is repeal the law that allows mounted hunts. Or, is that not in effect in Wales?
Make sure you check my blog today, John. I posted pictures that you requested.
wow. Well done.
ReplyDeleteMy chickens are a fox disaster waiting to happen. we've had no problems as yet, but the amount they free range means that I'm guessing we will.
Bring back fox hunting ASAP! It should never have been outlawed in the first place. Have you not got a gun??? xxx
ReplyDeleteno Tracey
ReplyDeletebut my mate geoff had a big un!
Just what you need a daytime hunting fox! uggggg... well or a night time one either for that matter....
ReplyDeleteHad? Is it small now then?!
ReplyDeleteDid you get Jane back? I've been wondering even before the post - I like the turkeys.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in suburbia, there were lots of daytime foxes. We don't have any here, I think because we have so many coyotes. I hope you and the fox can work it out.
Yes ,my first thought was rabies too! Glad you don't have it there! You are the hero of the barnyard tonight! Hope your legs recover soon.
ReplyDeleteIs there such a thing as "animal rescue" In Wales? My thought was about a big yard dog to guard the fowl. Although, I'm sure it would end upon on top of you giving kisses on the divan for a blog post.
ReplyDeleteOh,my... I had a bobcat, you have a fox. What is this buffet for predeors thing with we who have poultry? Having two chickens who managed to escape being dinner, I am very wary of any critter, dog, coyote, bobcat... Paranoid, but I haven't lost any more for a while. (And I agree, possibly metal bowls, or a loud whistle, it does seem to unnerve dog type animals...)
ReplyDeleteCat
If you need posse...I'll snag that old buzzard and ring his neck...hear!
ReplyDeleteHope your legs have recovered(pun intended). Glad the youngun' is okay.
ReplyDeleteWhat no picture of your scratched up legs?? ;-))) Glad the chicken was okay, be careful hunting down that fox!!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that strange for a fox to be out during the day? Aren't they more nocturnal?
ReplyDeleteMaybe the fox is starving or has little ones to feed?
Ouch for your nettled legs. Hope your legs aren't too bad.
Maybe you need a big guardian out there with your flock! No, I wasn't going to say donkey, ha ha, how about one of those big breed livestock guardian dogs? Anatolian Shepherds I think they are called.
That was a close call John! That little cockrel is lucky that you were close by when the attack happened. Imagine that fox coming out in the daytime like that! I don't know who would have been more surprised...the fox or you if you'd caught him LOL! Oooo your poor legs...that's got to hurt. I hope tomorrow is a better day..take care...Maura :)
ReplyDeleteI really like your description of the hen as a "streak."
ReplyDeleteThis sure is a scary encounter -- even scarier because of possible attacks in the future.
I'm glad the hen is okay! What a relief... You've had enough animal tragedies! One is too many...
Ouch for the nettles.
ReplyDeleteThat fox needs dealing with fast.
Could be feeding cubs or just very brazen.
xx
p.s will blog soon, promise, seem to have lost my mojo.
Get a damn gun and blow his Fing head off! In case you haven't noticed, I haven't mentioned any owls after my pigeons lately! LOl Good luck.
ReplyDelete~Randy
John!
ReplyDeleteYou're a HERO!
I hope your poor legs stop burning quickly...
;-)
you may have to shoot 'im.
ReplyDeleteI never met an animal I didn't love, but when they hurt you or your family or your flock, it's time for action.
Can you trap it?