- Nov 13, 2010
- 5
- 0
- 7
I got 5 hens as chicks last spring, for the first time ever. I'm a reformed city-girl living in a semi-rural area in VA. My daughters and I raised them from 2 days old. Last Saturday early morning a fox burrowed under the fence. My husband and I heard the squawking as one ran past our bedroom window. By the time I ran out to the pen, they were all dead. Three were laying in the fenced area. The fox chased the one who managed to fly over the fence down the street. We found her body in the neighbor's front yard. We never found one who must have been dragged away for later.
What I want to say on this forum is how surprisingly devastating this was for me. I feel so guilty, because I should have protected them better (my husband built the fence and we thought it was secure). I am surprised at how emotional I am about these birds. I have paid so much attention to them that now I look out in the vast expanse of our large rural yard and see the empty coop and it breaks my heart. I am tearing up writing about it now.
I am determined to do it right again. I have been researching and my husband has spent hours working on a new coop. We are now looking for silkies. I am considering hatching eggs.
I know it is a natural process (predator/prey), but I have always had lots of house pets, without the fear of being eaten. I'd like to hear what you chicken people have to say. I have been on many websites that look like its not uncommon to attach to these wonderful animals. Also, to hatch or not to hatch...that is the question.
Andrea
What I want to say on this forum is how surprisingly devastating this was for me. I feel so guilty, because I should have protected them better (my husband built the fence and we thought it was secure). I am surprised at how emotional I am about these birds. I have paid so much attention to them that now I look out in the vast expanse of our large rural yard and see the empty coop and it breaks my heart. I am tearing up writing about it now.
I am determined to do it right again. I have been researching and my husband has spent hours working on a new coop. We are now looking for silkies. I am considering hatching eggs.
I know it is a natural process (predator/prey), but I have always had lots of house pets, without the fear of being eaten. I'd like to hear what you chicken people have to say. I have been on many websites that look like its not uncommon to attach to these wonderful animals. Also, to hatch or not to hatch...that is the question.
Andrea
