So sad!

[Nutmegchickenlover]

OMG! It’s a horribly hot and humid day here in Ct. I let my sweet girls out to enjoy the early morning dew. My dogs were out for a bit then wanted to come in. All the girls were enjoying themselves. I couldn’t see out my back slider doors because of the moisture build up from the humidity outside, then I noticed something strange. At first I thought a white plastic bag was on the grass until I looked closer, it was my sweet chicken Pixie! Feathers were everywhere... I screamed NO no no ! Then I saw the rest of the massacre Lola, Stormy, and Shelly all dead all over my yard! I couldn’t find my two little bantams Spressly and Feeny! I called my husband at work and we both cried! I know it sounds crazy to have such emotions for chickens but we Love them! Three of the girls we had for over 5 years! I can’t believe they are all gone! I walked around my yard and picked the four girls up, I keep looking out back to see if somehow my bantam girls survived, but I know in my heart they didn’t. Then I saw it.... a red fox came out of the brush at the back of my yard! I feel so terrible that I let them out! I want to shoot that bastard!

 

[ronott1]

I am so sorry!

We can often go a long time before a predator attack happens.

 

[DobieLover]

That is just a terrible story and I'm so sorry for your losses.
Most of us here love our birds in some way or another and want the best for them. You had some for 5 years so you obviously took excellent care of them.
Fox are terribly resourceful bold predators.

 

[RoosterML]

Hello from CT also. Stinks to lose birds to predators. Word of advice put your birds back out as bait and shoot the fox as it will return.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

OMG! It’s a horribly hot and humid day here in Ct. I let my sweet girls out to enjoy the early morning dew. My dogs were out for a bit then wanted to come in. All the girls were enjoying themselves. I couldn’t see out my back slider doors because of the moisture build up from the humidity outside, then I noticed something strange. At first I thought a white plastic bag was on the grass until I looked closer, it was my sweet chicken Pixie! Feathers were everywhere... I screamed NO no no ! Then I saw the rest of the massacre Lola, Stormy, and Shelly all dead all over my yard! I couldn’t find my two little bantams Spressly and Feeny! I called my husband at work and we both cried! I know it sounds crazy to have such emotions for chickens but we Love them! Three of the girls we had for over 5 years! I can’t believe they are all gone! I walked around my yard and picked the four girls up, I keep looking out back to see if somehow my bantam girls survived, but I know in my heart they didn’t. Then I saw it.... a red fox came out of the brush at the back of my yard! I feel so terrible that I let them out! I want to shoot that bastard!

That’s a shame, but let me ask:
Are you looking for help with the fox, or are you just sharing a tragic story?

I ask only because without clarification, many of the follow ups will be well intentioned, but will turn into lectures about what you should have done, and bickering and chaos... that’s just how these predator attack threads unravel, unless it’s made clear from the start what type of reply you’re looking for.

 

[Nutmegchickenlover]

I appreciate all of your kind words! We were always on the lookout for hawks, but this totally caught me off guard!

 

[DobieLover]

If you ever decide to get more chickens, consider an electrified poultry net to confine them. I have three strung together powered by a 10,000 volt charger. Their pen is about 1/4-acre. I have never had a loss while they are confined in that pen. I've had the pleasure of seeing the neighbor's aggressive GSD get popped in the nose and turn tail yelping when he went after the chickens and hit the fence. I also have a black bear that has never gotten to the coop/run that is contained within the pen.
The problem with shooting your current fox is that there are plenty more fox where that one came from and you currently have no birds to protect. Seeking "revenge" on a wild animal that was just trying to survive is just a wasted effort.

 

[Nutmegchickenlover]

That’s a shame, but let me ask:
Are you looking for help with the fox, or are you just sharing a tragic story?

I ask only because without clarification, many of the follow ups will be well intentioned, but will turn into lectures about what you should have done, and bickering and chaos... that’s just how these predator attack threads unravel, unless it’s made clear from the start what type of reply you’re looking for.

I would say kind of both, i had my neighbor come by and he said you know “it sucks but circle of life” I agree but I’m worried about this animal coming into my yard and possibly approaching my dogs.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm so sorry for you losses! I do hope your bantams survived; have you found them? Most foxes can't climb up into trees, so maybe they are okay?
If they are alive, keep them in their safe coop and run only for now.
It's hard to trap foxes, they are smart. I do understand wanting to shoot this one!
Electric poultry netting, or well set electric fencing, will keep them out.
Free ranging is always a risk, and when it goes really wrong, it's awful.
Mary

 

[MontanaChickDoc]

We’re in VA - the foxes are bad here too this year. I lost 3 ducks and many chickens and chicks ( I have a large flock and a lot of them look similar so until I actually started counting at night I didn’t realize not everyone came in that went out) before I just stopped letting them out of their electrified yard. Even when I walked with them, the fox would come to the edge and pick off the stragglers, right under my nose! It was a mom fox feeding her family. So no more free ranging for now. The electrified netting does work though, I highly recommend it. I’m very sorry for your loss. And I cry too!! I care for my birds like any other dear pet.