Well today at 3:30 in the afternoon right in front of my porch, I lost my first girl to a red fox. Buffy my Buff Orpington was only 37 weeks old. She was one of my favorites who loved to be picked up and held. I raised her from a day old chick. In fact she was my first hen to lay and she never disappointed me. My wife and I agree that we can never name another chicken Buffy. And it is possible we will never name another chicken if fear of becomming to attached. It is hard to believe how attached we can get to our pet chickens, one of the family. I understand foxes do what foxes do, so I did what I had to do; shot it. It was no sweet victory because Buffy was already gone and in the deadly jaws of the now deceased fox. What a waste; both Buffy and the fox. I knew that if I didn't take care of the problem, the fox would be back for another one of my girls. And this I could not stand for. My remaining chickens will now have limited free range of either inside the netted run or my wife and I will have to be watching them while they run around the house. I guess it is just a fact of life but like any bitter pill it is hard to swallow. As the song goes, "Thanks for the memories" Buffy you will missed. Adopted Chickenman
So sorry for you loss and for the drama that unfolded for you and your wife. You're right...what a waste. KimberlyJ
I'm so sorry for your loss. I know what's it's like to have one of your babies taken by a fox. I lost my first one that way.
Awww, that just stinks. Sorry for your loss. I will just gives you a heads up, only because I found out the hard way....it isn't any easier to lose the 'unnamed' chicken. I find it impossible to not grow incredibly attached to my feathery little friends, name or no name. SO, everyone has names again...'course it's all the same name....Lucy Lucy Lucy (repeat 14 more times) and Stu (I laugh everytime I call him by name , which is usually when he is considering challenging me). Again, sorry for your loss. Give them names and love them to the fullest
Deepest thanks for all that replied to my loss. I can't help to feel that it was my responsibility to care for my girls the best I could. I let them down and because of my lack of attention I lost something that depended on me for food, shelter, kindness, and protection. She trusted me and I failed her. Buffy was always the first to greet me each and everyday. Sure the rest followed her but she was the first. I so enjoyed watching her run for the treats I gave to all my girls. Watching her from the back when she ran and waddled. I couldn't help but laugh. It is truely amazeing how something so little can put a smile on your face and pleasure to your being. Even now it is hard to believe I feel the way I do. I keep trying to tell myself that she was only a chicken in hopes to relieve me of my guilt, but it doesn't. I would expect this behavior of a child, but not from a 53 year old man. I know this whole thing sounds trivial, but everyone has their own way to feel about something that no one else would give a second thought to. It is call emotions and I guess that is one thing that makes us all individuals. Well I don't feel like talking much right now, so I will say once again, thanks for the replies. And even though I never say good bye to anyone; because good bye does mean forever; Good Bye Buffy. Adopted Chickenman
I also recently lost a pet, and felt the exact same way you did. that it was my responsibility to protect and my lack of attention was the reason she perished. I can't really talk about it yet, too raw. I know deep down tho that I didn't do anything wrong, no one did. Neither did you. What you wrote about protection and trust, exactlly how I felt as well. Allow yourself to grieve and miss her, its ok
Quote:This breaks my heart. I hate to hear someone say, "Don't be so upset. It was only a _____ (cat, chicken, bird, dog, etc. -- fill in the blank). Please don't beat yourself up with guilt; there is no way you could know at that moment in time that Buffy was not safe. If you had seen the fox coming and said, "well, whatever happens, happens", then that would be different. You couldn't have known what was about to take place. As for thinking "this whole thing sounds trivial"; well, not to me it doesn't, and I guarantee you it's not trivial to the VAST majority of people on this forum. Also, Please don't EVER feel badly about having compassion and feeling pain at the loss of a companion animal or pet, regardless of the species. Almost everyone on here has suffered at least one loss, and it hurts. Someone once said "the greater the capacity to love, the greater the capacity for pain at loss". This is SO true. I am sorry for your loss. The best therapy for a loss such as this is not to draw back from the others to keep from getting too close in case it happens again, the best therapy is to heap all the love and care you have on the ones you DO still have, and maybe even get some young ones in the future and enjoy watching them as they grow. I am so sorry for your loss.
If it helps I watch my large run at the borders and listen to my birds for their alarm calls. When I see digging or everyone go to cover I have fashioned a bottle rocket launcher on my deck that sends most rockets right above the chickens before they explode. I see a sign and send a rocket every hour I am at home, for a dozen or so rockets. So far it works. I know if you live in the city it may not be permeitted. However if you have good neighbors you might give them a dozen eggs as you explain what you are doing. Your lucky you got your fox. I wish I could get mine I am sorry for your loss. One of my favorits is a named Foxy as she walks with a limp. She lived in a box on my kitchen table so she could see her sisters for 3 months after a fox broke her pelvis. She always talks to me and hangs with me in the yard when I am out. I love giving her special treats and attention.
