I had just left the field with the dogs after working a morning shift on iTu.........literally just 2 minutes later my neighbour's mum saw a vixen leap the barb wire fence right in front of traffic on the lane.
At 89, she galloped to the gate to try to help
But the silkie hen, Duster, Bogbrush's brother, one of the crackhead whores, buster the cockerel , a warren and little Eric were killed within seconds.
The little cockerels had obviously tried to protect the main flock of 50 hens
This is the first total field attack I have had in daytime in 6 years and I am mega upset and pissed off
No lectures or platitudes
...............Please!
I couldn't stomach either
No platitudes from me - I know how good at being a fox, a fox can be.
ReplyDeleteHave had it happen to my gang of hens several times, so know how upset you must feel :-( It is horrible to see. Worst attack I lost 9 out of 12 hens at 3 pm in the afternoon. Over the electric fence to do so.
Huge hugs and have a large drink and a cry, if you need to :-(
I'm so sorry John.
ReplyDeleteI Feel bad for you John.
ReplyDelete:(
ReplyDeleteI feel so bad for the little ones. I cry buckets anytime one of mine dies and I will cry buckets because I really enjoyed hearing about yours. so sorry. Go buy a donzen scotch eggs for yourself. You are a good owner and this was not your fault. Mother nature.
ReplyDeleteSorry, John.
ReplyDeleteDamn that fox! It's raccoons we have to guard against around here. I'm pissed off with you.
ReplyDeleteIf a fox grabs hen out of the field so be it.... But a daytime attack is rare and bloody worrying
Deletehow horrible. i would be inconsolable!
ReplyDeleteOh shit sums it up well.
ReplyDeleteMiserable litle bugger. What brave little guys to try to 'serve and protect'.
ReplyDeleteHow awful. So sorry.
ReplyDeleteI have had foxes attack my ducks and chickens in broad daylight with me nearby! I:( feel your pain. :( So sorry for your losses.
ReplyDeleteOh no.
ReplyDeleteReally sorry John.
This breaks my heart. awwwww the little guys trying to protect the hens.
ReplyDeleteI thought foxes and @e racoons came out at night ?
So sorry to hear of your loss John.
ReplyDeleteShit says it all. One crappy day for sure!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry John, poor little guys.
ReplyDeleteJo in NZ
Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI once lost some silkies the same way--and lambs to coyotes. I don't keep domestic animals any longer. It was too heartbreaking. However, I love my wild acres.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry for the loss of your hens and cockerels.
ReplyDeleteA really hungry Mum trying to feed her babies.
ReplyDeleteJane x
So sorry! I know it must hurt. There must be something you can do to protect the rest of them!
ReplyDeleteOh John, I'm so sorry. xxx
ReplyDeleteReally sorry to hear this, John. *hugs* ♥
ReplyDelete:( hugs.
ReplyDeletedevastating...I'm so sorry John
ReplyDeleteThat's very sad. Is the fox population higher than normal this year? Sounds like the action of a desperate animal. Nature can be cruel and harsh.
ReplyDeleteShit
ReplyDeleteJohn....I'm so sorry ....I'm just so sorry.........
ReplyDeleteJust recently I was watching a big male bushy-tailed fox wandering about in the field below the chicken run. The last time we had trouble, the fox killed all 15 hens. If he comes too close (in daylight), he might catch lead poisoning.
ReplyDeleteDamn. As Miss Holly said so well, I'm so sorry, just so sorry...
ReplyDeleteJesus. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteShit is right...so sorry...rotten shit
ReplyDeleteShit is a wonderful word and describes perfectly the crap that happens.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry, John.
That sucks. So sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteAwful. Awful. Sorry.
ReplyDeletexxx
Sorry John, that really is a shit day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a dreadful thing to happen. Your heart must be raw. I'm so very sorry. {hug}
ReplyDeleteEls .
'Shit' being said here too. Foxes picking off our hens one by one. Have lost eight. With the weather being so wet we are not out and about so the foxes are coming in during the day as well. Strooth, but it is hard being a smallholder sometimes. Sending you a hug. x
ReplyDeleteOh, what a horror! Deep commiserations. :-(
ReplyDeleteShit. Nature red in tooth and claw indeed.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this John. I have had similar, but no stories from me today, just so sad for you. Nature is cruel, so bloody cruel.
ReplyDeleteWhy do they kill so many and not take them ? Horrible horrible x
ReplyDeleteIntention is to take what they can carry and come back later for the rest. (Still horrible thing to happen... and understanding why they do it doesn't make it any better).
Delete:( xx
ReplyDeletexxx
ReplyDeleteAbsolute crap thing to happen. Nature is indeed cruel. Huge commiserations to you.
ReplyDeleteOh bollox piss arse. Truly hope it's not a sign of things to come and they stick to the nocturnal activities.
ReplyDeletePut yourself on double rations of scotch eggs my dear.
I'm gutted for you John. I think foxes are evil. xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteJohn, I get my knickers in a twist at the sight of a cat in my garden, knowing how defenceless the fledlings are at this time of year. You now, will never rest easy; nature in the raw can be incomprehensible. Keep doing what you're doing, your love shines through.
ReplyDeleteLLX
So sorry.
ReplyDeleteJohn - it is the indiscriminate killing that foxes do - almost as though they enjoy it for the sake of it - that makes them so disliked. I wouldn't begrudge the vixen the odd hen to feed her brood - but this is barbaric.
ReplyDeleteThat is awful. We have coyotes hereabouts, and I have to make sure mah preshus kittehs are safely indoors when they are prowling about.
ReplyDeleteThat's so sad to hear. Foxes seem to be an issue on the streets round here too. Sorry about this.
ReplyDeleteOh, John. So sorry to learn of those valiant little birds. My heart aches for you.
ReplyDeleteBreaks my heart. So sorry....
ReplyDeleteDuring the day? wow - thats desperate... :(
ReplyDeleteJust another simple I'm sorry.
ReplyDeleteThat just plain sucks. Poor birds.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I feel as though I know Eric personally, and am sorry for your great loss, John.
ReplyDeleteHave any ideas why foxes are broaching and poaching in the town during daylight? Maybe a live trap or even a killing one will assist you and your flock. One like my Victor, only bigger!
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough.... A local gamekeeper has just calledin with some great ideas.....thanks mike
DeleteSorry for your loss, John.
ReplyDeleteCindy Bee
:0(
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear this news. Cold comfort, but glad to see all the cockerels came together to defend as best they could and not let their differences with each other stand in the way.
I couldn't help wondering if the vixen has a litter, which is why she'd do a daytime hunt. Still doesn't make it easy to accept.
Sorry to hear about the fox attack John. We were considering adding chickens to our 'allotment' (it's an extension of the garden really) but when the neighbour next door thought he had a badger sett behind his shed.. it turned out to be a foxes den. Now, I might be a bit daft (keep thinking I can grow asparagus) but Im not keeping chickes to feed f*ck*ng foxes. No way, it would be far too distressing. So even though I don't have chickens, I feel your loss. Really, I do.
ReplyDelete:-((
ReplyDeleteNature is very brutal