Fox attack :(

[blatfarm]

So sorry to hear of the attack.We had a few attacks last year. Unfortunately there is a fox den in a neighbouring field. I mentioned this to an old poultry farmer and he gave me a few tips. I now have pairs of solar lights (£1 each from a well known bargain store) dotted around, especially near clumps of high grass as the moving grass makes the "eyes" appear to blink. I also regularly collect sacks of hair from the local barber, must be male hair, and scatter it around the outside of their area, through the area around the coop. Barber thinks i have some weird kink, but small price to pay. I also collect my urine in a bottle as i work round the place and scatter it around. Again must be male urine. Im told that a ram in the field would also help but obviously not suitable for domestic setups.
We have no electric fencing and the foxes continue to raid neighbouring properties but we have had nothing since these measures were put in place.
Worth a shot, costs next to nothing, and seems to work.
Just goes to show, listen to old people. Except your mother in law.

[LittleBrownFrog]

sorry ... I'm just trying to imagine the conversation that goes on after you've been in to the barber's!!

[albertajune]

So sorry to see that two of your poor little girls were killed by foxes. It must be dreadful to find them after the attack. I'm glad that little Boo is recovering and will send out healing thoughts for her.
I also feel sorry for your partner. Yes he did do the wrong thing through mistaken kindness but he must be feeling so bad about it.
For you all

[julie62]

So sorry - it seems to happen to most people at some time - I'm always on pins when they're out and about x

[wendy]

Aww a fear we all live with and it has all been said.
I wish Boo a speedy recovery

[debby]

ahh bless poor boo lots of to her xx

[wendy]

Reading the mail about the solar 'blinking' lights.
That would probably work for Country foxes, but not our surburban I ones.
We see them out at all hours day and night. They are not frightened by headlights or people. Most morning when I walk the dogs, I see one walking along the road, like a feral dog.
We have had them sitting on our front step and sitting in the middle of the road opposite, at about 11 in the morning. They are bold little things a blinking light isn't going to worry them I am afraid.

[silverback]

Sorry to hear that Novastar , hope Boo has a speedy recovery .

Time for the OH to get a shotgun!..

[Mrs B]

What Wendy said, town foxes are very different from rural foxes and are scared of nothing. Quite a few small cats here have killed by foxes and I am amazed that more rabbits and guinea pigs are not killed as many of the hutches and runs seem flimsy.

So sorry to hear of your terrible trauma and I hope your OH isn't feeling too bad. You were unlucky foxy could easily have taken them in daylight while one of you was chatting at the front door or something. Foxy had obviously been watching and waiting for his chance.

I hope your remaining hen pulls through what a clever girl hiding herself like that but witnessing the fate of her friends must have been hideous for her.

[MissEllie]

So sorry to hear what's happened to your girls, that's awful. Sending you all

[annen1]

So sorry to hear about your girls. Wishing Boo a quick recovery.

We've had a fox in the garden mid morning even with the back door open and two dogs going in and out.

[p.penn]

So sorry.

Hope little Boo makes a full recovery.

[madmum]

Poor you

[Bridgets Mum]

Thats dreadful, everyone on this forum must know how much you love your girls. Much love and healing energy to Boo. And look after your partner, he must be feeling dreadful and everyone gets it wrong sometimes. A lesson for us all.

[Spreckly]

Oh Novastar, the fox attack must have been horrific, and your little Boo, what a shocked state she must be in. So sorry that you lost two of your girls.

I free ranged mine until a couple of months since when my neighbour who has banties a couple of doors away said he had heard a fox in the early morning. Since then they have been confined to their run.

Hope by this time next week that Boo is back to normal.