woodmort
RIP 1938-2020
- Jul 6, 2010
- 3,524
- 992
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Last evening, about 7:30, I was working in the garden which is about 40 ft from the chicken yard. I heard a squawk but figured the birds where harassing one another so kept right on planting seeds. Then I heard a second so figured I'd better check it out. I got to the edge of the garden just in time to see a red fox make a lunge at one of my 2 month-old Light Brahms. Fortunately the chicken was inside the welded-wire fence and the fox was on the outside. I yelled and the fox took off for the woods.
I immediately went into the chicken yard--it's 150 X 100'--and chased the pullets into the coop. Checking inside I found all the adults were there, all three of the Brahms but was missing one (of 3) Australorp pullets. Damn
Now my chicken yard is well grown up--grass is knee high--since I hadn't been keeping the adult birds there all spring. 2 weeks ago I began allowing the pullets out so shut the gates to keep all the birds confined until I was sure the pullets knew enough to go in at night. I'd been meaning to brush mow the grass, just hadn't gotten to it.
At any rate, I shut the pop door so everyone would be safe and began searching the yard. I made a careful search of the perimeter, poking under bushes, but didn't find anything. Only two things gave me reason to be encouraged, no feathers anyplace and the fact the fox was still making an attempt at a bird. I figured that if she--and it was a small fox so either a yearling or a vixen--had already made a kill she probably would have left--unless there was more than fox. Once I checked the edges I began a search of the tall grass. After, maybe, a 20 minute search I darn near stepped on this black object hunkered down in the grass. She wouldn't have moved unless I stepped on her.
I tried to catch her to check her out but she was having no part of that and headed for the pop door which, of course, was closed. Again I tried to catch her but she managed to get around me and back into the chicken yard. So, after opening the pop door, I went back to bush whacking. Another 20-minute search turn up nothing. I was ready to quit but made a check inside the coop and, sure enough, there were 3 Astralorps so, apparently while I was searching she avoided me and went to roost.
So this time all's well that ends well. But again the story of how, when one is keeping chickens, they're under constant siege from predators. I'm pretty sure, BTW, that this fox or one of her kin, has gotten birds before including my guineas.
I immediately went into the chicken yard--it's 150 X 100'--and chased the pullets into the coop. Checking inside I found all the adults were there, all three of the Brahms but was missing one (of 3) Australorp pullets. Damn
Now my chicken yard is well grown up--grass is knee high--since I hadn't been keeping the adult birds there all spring. 2 weeks ago I began allowing the pullets out so shut the gates to keep all the birds confined until I was sure the pullets knew enough to go in at night. I'd been meaning to brush mow the grass, just hadn't gotten to it.
At any rate, I shut the pop door so everyone would be safe and began searching the yard. I made a careful search of the perimeter, poking under bushes, but didn't find anything. Only two things gave me reason to be encouraged, no feathers anyplace and the fact the fox was still making an attempt at a bird. I figured that if she--and it was a small fox so either a yearling or a vixen--had already made a kill she probably would have left--unless there was more than fox. Once I checked the edges I began a search of the tall grass. After, maybe, a 20 minute search I darn near stepped on this black object hunkered down in the grass. She wouldn't have moved unless I stepped on her.
I tried to catch her to check her out but she was having no part of that and headed for the pop door which, of course, was closed. Again I tried to catch her but she managed to get around me and back into the chicken yard. So, after opening the pop door, I went back to bush whacking. Another 20-minute search turn up nothing. I was ready to quit but made a check inside the coop and, sure enough, there were 3 Astralorps so, apparently while I was searching she avoided me and went to roost.
So this time all's well that ends well. But again the story of how, when one is keeping chickens, they're under constant siege from predators. I'm pretty sure, BTW, that this fox or one of her kin, has gotten birds before including my guineas.
