All but one gone😔

[thegrahamsted]

A predator took out 4 of my 5 chickens. One can fly pretty good so she was the one that got away.
She’s alone now and I feel terrible. Do I get more? Do I get an adult hen and some chicks?
I figured out how the fox got in and fixed it. So that shouldn’t (finger crossed) be a further issue….first time chicken mom and the losses are hard they had just started laying consistently too…ugh

 

[Alberta Crystal]

I am really sorry for your recent loss, fox's are such stupid and mean things. one got into my pen last night and killed only 3 of my hens thankfully only one was severely shocked and slightly injured. It depends on the hens character whether you get more or not but I would recommend getting some more because she could get a little lonely. I don't know about chicks though because if they are in the same pen as her she could attack them that happened to some of ours last year. personally I would go with chickens around her age. I hope this was helpful, and good luck on your road to becoming a great chicken mum.

 

[Evadig]

A predator took out 4 of my 5 chickens. One can fly pretty good so she was the one that got away.
She’s alone now and I feel terrible. Do I get more? Do I get an adult hen and some chicks?
I figured out how the fox got in and fixed it. So that shouldn’t (finger crossed) be a further issue….first time chicken mom and the losses are hard they had just started laying consistently too…ugh

I'm sorry you lost your hens.
I'd probably get a few more adult hens or pullets if you can, especially if you want eggs soon. They might be easier to integrate. Just my two cents, though .

 

[debid]

I'd knock together a temporary enclosure and brood chicks right in the coop with her. Look, no touch. She can't kill them if she can't peck them and she may be comforted by their sounds and activity. By the time they are off heat, she'll probably be ready for them to roost with her.

 

[thegrahamsted]

Thank you all for your help
I’m sorry to hear about you loosing hens as well and really appreciate the advice given I’ll be taking you up on it, so my hen isn’t lonely.

 

[MROO]

I'm SO sorry to hear this! It's good that you figured how the nasty bugger got in. Keep an eye out, though. Foxes can be obnoxiously persistent.
DD's bestie lost all but one of her flock a few years back. Her last hen was a pain-in-the-nest broody, so she took a chance and gave her three ceramic eggs. After about a week, it worked! She swapped out the fakes for a dozen fertile eggs and ended up with eight beautiful babies, no integration needed!

 

[Folly's place]

I'm so sorry for your losses, it's awful, and getting more birds is a good idea. However, make sure you've repaired your coop and run, so nobody else can get in there. No openings larger than 1/2 " anywhere, good locks on doors, every opening covered in well attached hardware cloth, at least.
Pictures of your set-up would be good here, if you can post them.
Mary

 

[farmerho]

Sorry for your loss but keep at it! I lost my first 4 in one shot. Unfortunately nature is at work out there and it takes time to learn.

Curious for others to also learn, how did the fox get through?

 

[McChooky]

A predator took out 4 of my 5 chickens. One can fly pretty good so she was the one that got away.
She’s alone now and I feel terrible. Do I get more? Do I get an adult hen and some chicks?
I figured out how the fox got in and fixed it. So that shouldn’t (finger crossed) be a further issue….first time chicken mom and the losses are hard they had just started laying consistently too…ugh

I put a baby monitor in my coop a couple years ago.Now I can hear my girls and run out there when they're frightened.My coop is close to the house but I can't always hear them without it. I'm sorry you lost 4 of your girls and hope the survivor is okay.Some go into shock after witnessing their flockmates being killed and are never the same again.She should be watched a couple days to determine she's eating & drinking normally again .Hopefully you can find her a new friend! That would be my worst nightmare to lose all of mine but one

 

[microchick]

So sorry for your loss. We have more fox around us than we know what to do with. Luckily in Missouri, if they kill your chickens you can kill them so they are considered a nuisance predator. I had one take three of my breeder roosters several years back when I attempted to free range. So I don't free range any more.

My best advice is to get busy and Fort Knox your set up before you lose your last hen. Don't let her out until you have a secure run and your coop is completely safe for her and your new chickens. And consider hot wiring your run and coop. It's not inhumane. Nobody will get electrocuted. I've had tiny bantam hens hit mine and no they don't like it one bit but nobody gets hurt......except the foxes and other predators and they will write your birds off their buffet list pronto.

Trust me. Mr Fox knows where the chicken buffet is. He (or she) will be back. They are coming into that time of year where they have kits to feed and they will take every bird they can. Good luck. You aren't the first and you won't be the last to go through this right of chicken keeping.