When do I replace my chickens after the fox killed them all?

[mitchyquaint]

Good morning all,
I'm after some advice. The nasty evil fox killed my 4 beautiful bantams this week. I was devastated about this and so were my children. I stupidly got complacent and left them out in the garden whilst I went out for an hour. The guilt I feel is ridiculous! I feel so sad not having any chickens now and I really didn't realise how big a part of my life they were. I don't want to be defeated by the fox and I feel that chickens are an important part of mine and my children's life. I'd like to replace them, I have an eglu and a run and I know they would be safe in there. Am I being selfish by getting more chickens? I have the opportunity to collect more bantams this weekend, is it too soon? I also have a dog who normally stops the fox coming in the garden but the dog got shut in the playroom at the time of the attack and couldn't get out the dog flap to save them. I have done the urine thing in the garden as well which has totally put the fox off (it kept just coming back after the first 24 hours of the massacre!) I also have rabbits which I think the fox was interested in.
Sorry for my ramblings, I'm new to this and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

I honestly have no idea but from experience - The old man in our street who used to have a large flock of chickens got a fox problem and over a few weeks lost all of his chickens.

I waited 1 year until I over took his business and got more chickens. *touch wood* I haven't had a fox problem, and that was 2 years ago.

I know you can make a setup to stop those crafty buggers, but you would have to wait until others reply to get the answer to that.


Good luck

.

 

[aart]

How soon from what aspect.....human emotions or fox hunger?

Fox is probably still around unless you took 'care' of it.....so if you have a coop and run that is totally fox proof, hot wire is very effective.....go for it as soon as your head/heart is ready.

 

[mitchyquaint]

I haven't taken care of the fox as that's pretty hard to do in the UK (as much as I'd like to do it!) I'm just wondering if I should leave the coop empty for a bit so that the fox loses interest? However saying that the fox has not been back in the last few days. I'd like to get more chickens now, but I'm wondering if that's a selfish choice as I don't want to replace my girls and the new chickens get harassed by the fox, if that makes sense?

 

[subhanalah]

I have seen stories from (I believe) the UK about people shooting and killing foxes for killing livestock. It is illegal as they are not seen as a threat to livestock, but once they become dependent on livestock, they become a nuisance. I would look into the laws more closely, since this DOES qualify as a nuisance animal now.

As for when to get more chickens? When you have a completely safe, fox-proof enclosure for them. Even if you kill this one, there may bo e others, and that would also explain why it went for your chickens....resource competitions pushed it on to livestock instead of wild prey.

 

[gander007]

Well from experience the fox is going to come back so you need to have a secure coop and a fox will check out your security system even if it takes him all night or night after night ....

When you feel comfortable getting more chickens is the best time I would say but please keep them secure if for no other reason for your kids as it really brakes their little hearts ....










gander007

 

[mitchyquaint]

My eglu and run are totally safe, I have no worries in. I just did something very stupid when I think about it now of putting up some wire netting at the back of the garden along the back wall so that the chickens didn't have free run of the garden. This space I created for them had no top to it, so the fox literally just dropped of the back of the wall straight into this space, helped its self (the chickens had no way of escaping as penned in, not could my dog of helped them as they were the other side of this netting!)and then took off! I'm kicking myself now as to why I ever thought it was a good idea, all because I didn't want the girls pooing all over the garden now that the weather is improving and my children are using the garden more!
The fox didn't kill them because it was hungry as it didn't take any of the birds, it was almost as if it was just to much of an easy kill to miss out on! I'd love to shoot the nasty thing, it's getting hold of a gun that's the problem and also it hasn't been back!

 

[subhanalah]

My eglu and run are totally safe, I have no worries in. I just did something very stupid when I think about it now of putting up some wire netting at the back of the garden along the back wall so that the chickens didn't have free run of the garden. This space I created for them had no top to it, so the fox literally just dropped of the back of the wall straight into this space, helped its self (the chickens had no way of escaping as penned in, not could my dog of helped them as they were the other side of this netting!)and then took off! I'm kicking myself now as to why I ever thought it was a good idea, all because I didn't want the girls pooing all over the garden now that the weather is improving and my children are using the garden more!
The fox didn't kill them because it was hungry as it didn't take any of the birds, it was almost as if it was just to much of an easy kill to miss out on! I'd love to shoot the nasty thing, it's getting hold of a gun that's the problem and also it hasn't been back!

how do farmers and hunters get their rifles?
Could you post an ad looking for a qualified huntsman?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...h-Monster-measured-4ft-9in-weighed-38lbs.html

Do you have other chickens? If it hears/smells chickens in your area again, it'll be back. It probably has been back, you just didn't see it, sly foxes and all that.

 

[mitchyquaint]

My neighbour has 3 chickens which roam free in her garden, and still are even after I told her to put them away after our attack. She tells me she has no problem with the fox and unlike us, her chickens are the only animals she has. We still have 2 rabbits which the fox knows are there as they were right next to the chickens in their hutch when the fox killed them. I'd know if the fox had come back as the dog goes mental as soon as she hers it!

 

[gander007]

Do not worry the Fox will return rather you see it or not and if someone is feeding it
there is no reason for it to leave when a free and easy meal is at hand