Fox attack

[UKchooks]

A fox got into my chicken run last night. Tore through the cable ties that attach the chicken wire to the frame. I woke with the racket and ran out, but one hen was already dead, one injured. Took the injured one to the vet and she had to be euthanised. The two remaining hens are in shock. They won't leave the coop (understandable); I've put water and some mealworms in there, and one ate some mealworms, the other is just standing with her eyes closed and beak open. Neither seems interested in the water. What can I do?

 

[Exspiravit]

Hey i dont know much about this at all but i searched other threads and found some stuff

Post in thread 'Help fox attack' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-fox-attack.1637579/post-27967281


Treat her for shock by keeping her in a warm dry quiet place under no bright lights. She may have unknown injuries or internal bleeding so move her little as possible. Make any necessary repairs to your coop before putting her back in the coop. The fox will be back!

 

[UKchooks]

I found a small wound on her comb. I treated it with saline spray after researching online - is that right?

She is staying in the coop (a small plastic one) which is warm and dark. I have patched the run with cable ties (it's fully covered with chicken wire over the top and sides) but will also be shutting the hens in the coop at night now (wasn't doing this previously as they wake earlier than I do and I thought they were safe! 6ft fences all round my garden plus the fully wired-over chicken coop, and no sign of foxes in 5 years of chicken keeping - until now!)

 

[McChooky]

I had one panic when something got after her take flight (which saved her life) but she hit the side of the house and broke her hip (it took 6 months to heal) I had to offer her all kinds of food to get her to eat. Brought her inside with me until she was well enough to stand on one leg and roost .She was made to sit in this thing I rigged up so she'd be suspended in midair upright 2 weeks or longer(She was miserable lying on her side)

 

[McChooky]

The only thing that works is 1/2" hardwarre cloth.(chicken wire works until it doesn't) We have a whole section here on building coops and runs .Most predators would starve if they couldn't climb or jump a 6 ft fence to get a free meal.You will lose more of your chickens if you don't upgrade your coop and put an apron around the bottom to keep our diggers.Im impressed you took one to the vet and had it put down to prevent it suffering.You have a good heart.

 

[UKchooks]

They are pets. Rescued from the mass egg production industry. It was the least I could do. Gutted I couldn't save her.

Been spending the morning so far reinforcing the run and digging in wooden planks around the bottom to hopefully prevent digging. (Had our decking replaced recently so had a stack of spare planks.)

I need to let my neighbours know, they have chickens too and their run is less secure than ours...

 

[McChooky]

Neighbor called to warn me about some coyotes so I locked mine up 2 days.I've only being letting mine out while I'm outside with my dogs(hounds trained to chase predators off and give alerts) I'm keeping them in all day today .

 

[Callender Girl]

Losing birds to a predator is horrible, not only because of the loss and/or injury to your birds (and, often, the guilt you feel about letting them down) but because you lose your sense of security.

Suddenly, every sound in the night feels like something is after your birds. Even now, years after a mink attack and with all of my runs upgraded to hardware cloth, I still jump up in the middle of the night if one of my dogs barks because it hears a far-away coyote singing.

Your two survivors may be traumatized for some time. Mine was; she was the only one unharmed in a coop of four.

I am very sorry for the loss of your hen and applaud you for giving rescue birds another chance at life.

Best wishes for you, your girls and your efforts to keep everyone safe!

 

[McChooky]

I found a small wound on her comb. I treated it with saline spray after researching online - is that right?

She is staying in the coop (a small plastic one) which is warm and dark. I have patched the run with cable ties (it's fully covered with chicken wire over the top and sides) but will also be shutting the hens in the coop at night now (wasn't doing this previously as they wake earlier than I do and I thought they were safe! 6ft fences all round my garden plus the fully wired-over chicken coop, and no sign of foxes in 5 years of chicken keeping - until now!)

Its difficult it is to keep them from being eaten alive while we're sleeping or at work. Cable ties will be chewed thru. Chicken wire and 6 ft fences only keep chickens in .They don't keep many predators out sorry.The saline should be just fine for the comb yes! Good job!

 

[McChooky]

A fox got into my chicken run last night. Tore through the cable ties that attach the chicken wire to the frame. I woke with the racket and ran out, but one hen was already dead, one injured. Took the injured one to the vet and she had to be euthanised. The two remaining hens are in shock. They won't leave the coop (understandable); I've put water and some mealworms in there, and one ate some mealworms, the other is just standing with her eyes closed and beak open. Neither seems interested in the water. What can I do?

Try giving it some scrambled eggs.Most people recommend giving them electrolytes or sugar water in a syringe or dropper bottles until you get them to eat.They need to be kept warm in a quiet area of the house, low lights (wildlife loves music )Preferably NOT put back in the same coop it was attacked in.