Fox attack and new girls

[Linsi30]

We went away for the weekend and came back to find that a fox had got into the run and coop and killed 4 of my girls - taking 2. I'd asked the neighbour to keep an eye on them and with enough food, water and electric door, I assumed they'd be fine.

There is a small hole in the corregated roof, due to high winds and I can only assume that the neighbour didn't closed the nest box properly when she took the eggs that morning.

Whilst we're devastated, as we only have 2 left we figured it would be best to get 2 more sooner rather than later as one is an ex-batt and older, so i'd hate for her to go and be left with one. I'm planning on going to pick 2 up later this afternoon. Does anyone have any advice on this?

Thanks Linsi

[Mrs B]

If it was me I would wait a few days to give the remaining girls time to recover from their trauma. This would give you time to do any repairs to the run.

I hope your remaining girls pull through.

[Benny&Co]

Oh Linsi what a terrible thing to happen, so sorry to hear of your losses

How are your remaining girls in themselves? Eating/drinking/doing all the normal chickeny things?

I've not been in this situation but I think I'd also be inclined to hang on a few days to see how your ladies are after the shock of what happened and to also repair any damage to your set up.

[Freeranger]

No advice, just wanted to say how sorry I am that such a horrid thing happened.

[aishakali]

What a rotten thing to have happened, so sorry you lost your girls

[Linsi30]

Thank you. The 2 remaining girls appear to be fine. They're happy to be petted, are eating, drinking and the white sussex has laid each day since. We've fixed the hole, but maybe we should wait a few more days. I just thought it may be easier for them now before they fully adjust to being just 2 of them.

[Benny&Co]

Thank you. The 2 remaining girls appear to be fine. They're happy to be petted, are eating, drinking and the white sussex has laid each day since. We've fixed the hole, but maybe we should wait a few more days. I just thought it may be easier for them now before they fully adjust to being just 2 of them.

That sounds good then Linsi, hopefully not too upset by what's happened. I think it's always a good sign if they're eating, drinking, doing chickeny things and bonus laying eggs too

Have you done introduction of new hens before?

[Linsi30]

yes , i've done it once. As the run is a decent size and I would have 2 less, i'm hoping that with the extra space they'll find the introduction easier.

[wendy]

Nothing more to add

[Linsi30]

Thank you all. It really has been very sad and horrible, but we're looking forward to helping our girls make new friends. My ex-batt looked lost when her pal went in to lay her egg this morning. It just seems so wrong being alone. I'll let you know how we get on.

[Benny&Co]

It's horrible isn't it, doesn't get any easier - big

[LisaB]

I'm so sorry

I hope your introductions go well

[MissEllie]

So sorry to read about your girls Linsi,

Looking forward to hearing about some new additions soon

[sarabee]

Aww Linsi, so sorry about your girls but glad some survived. Hope your new ones settle in easily or am I being too optimistic?

[Mad Chick]

So sorry to hear about your girls

Hopefully their new friends will settle in quickly and you'll have a happy little flock again soon