The fox has returned. I let the birds out of their coops this morning and immediately noticed that I was a buff short. It was not long before I found a pile of buff feathers only fifteen feet or so from the coop and after a quick check, it was with a heavy heart that I realised that the victim was my tame buff, the sweet natured Lily.I couldn't quite work out when she was taken? I am hoping that she was late back to her coop last night and had some how got locked out rather than the more worrying scenario of a daytime "snatch" attack. I think I would have noticed the pile of feathers yesterday, if it was the latter.....so perhaps the old girl just didn't make it home in time.
The war continues......
That's terrible. A few of years ago we lost geese, ducks and chickens to something - don't know if it was a fox but it got into the enclosure and killed loads of them but to make it worse it just killed them and decapitated them.
ReplyDeleteThis year we also lost a chicken, the same type as yours to our neighbours dog. All you see is a pile of feathers.Makes you feel sick.
I wish you luck in your fox killing challenge.
I was so upset to read about the loss of Lily, I know foxes can be brutal, but I love them.
ReplyDeleteIts natures way and we have to live with it but never the less its horrible to see the feathers like that.
My son has chickens and has the same trouble, he has gone to all kinds of lengths to stop the fox, but that's why they call them wily.....
Sod.
ReplyDeleteShe looked like a sweet bird, and ooh, such beauty.
Foxes can indeed live up to their reputation...sneeky and cunning.
You'll have to outwit him <^..^>
Oh no that's errible news.
ReplyDeleteOh John, that's too bad! I know you're always so vigilant about safe guarding your flock because of foxes being around--Does the change of season have anything to do with when or how often the fox hunts? You've not mentioned their being around lately...
ReplyDeletetes kim... not the best of times for young foxes.. they are hungry and bold....
ReplyDeleteI can live with the fact she may have returned late and therefore was "fair game" to a fox, but daytime snatches are quite another thing.... off to clear the field borders now.....
as for NEARLY FRUGAL, you attacker WAS a fox.... they decapitate the heads and eat them!
Awww...beautiful Lily! I'm so sorry. I wonder if you could put up an electric border fence at fox snoot level. My lady considered these but they wouldn't work here with all the brush around so she built Alcatraz.
ReplyDeleteCrap! Or maybe I should say pee - ???? He must have been watching, is it back to field watch? I hope you don't get blisters from the brush clearing!
ReplyDeleteI don't suppose it's legal to set traps on the outside edge of the field?
Poor Lily!
Awwww so sad! Made me cry.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately foxes can be a real pest at times, I'm sorry to hear about your hen.
ReplyDeleteOh John, I'm so sorry. I gather you'll be going back on patrol.
ReplyDeletethanks everyone... its the way of things if you have free range hens I am afraid......short of building a smallish secure run and have all then hens safe but generally less happy....its a no brainer....
ReplyDeleteI have sent 4 hourse clearing the nettles and cover from the field borders again! and all in the rain!!
hey bloody ho
stupid foxes. A couple of years ago a fox got my two favorite chickens in one night-they were late coming in, I guessed. Left a neat pile of feathers from each one right next to their hen house. I was devastated.
ReplyDeletesound slike the same story polly!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry John to hear about Lily. Now to get that fox under control.......good luck!
ReplyDeleteJim
grrrrr I just hate that! I can't tell you how many girls we have lost to Chicken Hawks, Owls and Raccoons. We like to have never got our pen secure enough to keep those darned Raccoons out. They do the same thing, they take off the heads of the chicken.
ReplyDeleteOne night DH finally got two of the little toots. I know they are doing what comes natural to them but they surely are not going hungry where we live! So why they kept taking out our girls I don't know.
After burying wire in concrete all the way aruond the pen so they could not dig in and putting a lock yes a lock on the darn door to the pen. Those Raccoons are very good with their hands, they were opening the big metal latch on the door and letting themselves in! We had to add more wire to the tops and sides so they couldn't squeeze thru.
Finally we seem to have secured the girls from harm. Well the darn chicken snakes can still get in there but they don't harm our big girls, they just fill up on eggs and leave, if I raised chicks they would be a problem.
Oh, I'm so sorry John. I HATE losing chickens like that. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteOh John that's so sad. The worst part is that it was one of your favorites too. I've had a few of my favorites die on me of natural causes and that's hard enough but to have one 'snatched' like that so close to the coop is terrible! We have LOTS of coyotes around and foxes but I think our big dog makes them stay away...he patrols the farm perimeter regularly. They say that other animals can tell how large another animal is...it's sex and other details from it's urine. If that's the case I don't blame the preditors for staying clear of our place! I hope you catch the begger soon. I hope today is a better one. Maura :)
ReplyDeleteHey I just thought of something..why don't you...well...you know!!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry for your loss John. I hate it when that stuff happens. Hatch a new chick and name it in her memory!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a better day
John, so sorry about your hen and the fox. There is nothing worse for a chicken keeper. Are your dogs guardian dogs at all?
ReplyDeleteAmy