Fox attack.

[Gingersnapz00]

I'm devastated! Lost one hen of 5 last week. RIP Betty Sue. While I was outside on Sunday repotting my tomato plants a huge red fox came out into the yard and attacked Chickira. She is currently quarantined. Her puncture wounds are healed already but the other girls will not allow her to rejoin the flock.
The ladies are locked in the coop while wildlife officers are trying to trap and get rid of the fox.
I feel like our whole happy chicken works has been turned upside down.
Plus I have 2 new babies in the brooder. A sicilian buttercup roo and a bantam silkie. I also ordered 3 white- created polish ornamental before I knew about the fox. Ugh!

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. I’m glad that your other hen seems to be recovering well. Foxes are common in a lot of areas, as are raccoons, hawks, bobcats, and coyotes. This year with a lot of avian influenza danger, many are building larger coops with secure and covered runs for their chickens. I have always free ranged my birds without too many daytime losses, until this past year when a bobcat took 3 out of 4 of our old remaining hens.

 

[Gingersnapz00]

Sorry for your loss. I’m glad that your other hen seems to be recovering well. Foxes are common in a lot of areas, as are raccoons, hawks, bobcats, and coyotes. This year with a lot of avian influenza danger, many are building larger coops with secure and covered runs for their chickens. I have always free ranged my birds without too many daytime losses, until this past year when a bobcat took 3 out of 4 of our old remaining hens.

We've had 2 years with no problems. I feel so violated. I live in a neighborhood with lots of houses. I'm sorry about your hens and the bobcat. It stinks.

 

[SilverBirds]

So sorry for your loss. Right now foxes are hunting extra to feed their kits so it'll be back.

 

[coach723]

Foxes will keep coming back until they have either gotten them all, or are convinced that they can't. I lost two hens last spring (dumbest hens I EVER had - refused to go in the coop til it was WAY DARK) that got locked out by the auto door, to a fox. The fox kept coming back for weeks. Thankfully the rest of my birds go in at dusk no problem. Foxes are smart, and patient. You will need to secure your birds to prevent it from happening. Early morning, late evening and overnight are prime hunting times, but they can strike anytime, even broad daylight. Sorry you lost a hen, it's an awful thing.