when I mostneeded help, no one was there

[JennsPeeps]

Laura,

I want to assure you that there are people out there who are good friend and neighbors. It's a bummer to be let down like this.

My advice to you is to share with your friend that you're disappointed. Confrontations like this aren't easy but if you value the friendship (and you may not) it could make your relationship stronger.

You could say something like, "Susie, I am feeling really sad and disappointed that you and your husband did not follow through on your offer/promise to help get rid of the fox that has been plaguing my livestock. Because I value our friendship and don't want issues like this to get in the way of who we are as friends, in the future, I would prefer that you either follow through or not promise to help at all. Please be honest with me about what you can and will do so that I can reset my expectations accordingly."

This is a typical confrontation formula:
I feel XXX (adjective)
When you YYY (verb)
And I want you to ZZZ (request for change).

Many wishes of luck to take the necessary steps to save your flock, and to keep your husband safe until he returns to you.

 

[English Chick]

Quote:
Though I certainly admire your style (not to mention your determination) the best one can hope for with a pistol is that if one misses often enough the fox becomes habituated to the sound and will continue attacking instead of hightailing it, thereby allowing a a lucky kill shot with round number 15 (assuming semi not revolver). [those members who shoot matches from the mouths of babes at 100yd.s need not comment].

I would suggest, if you have some rat poison/ethylene glycol handy it is time to either sew some into one of your poor dead, or soak.

As a rule, I object to poison as it is indiscriminate. However, this writer makes no distinction between one species of chicken eating vermin and another (have poisoned thousands of mites - would shoot them if I could), and there is a time and a place for everything.

If you are being wiped out and have no other option, kill the fox by whatever means necessary.

P.S. congrats on your DH being on `short time'!

Totally agree with Ivan, if you are not used to handling a gun (and most Brits aren't), best option is to poisen the darn thing, only good fox is one you can wear as a neck warmer! ..... having had chickens and ducks taken by foxes, I decided to get my own back, and that was after we had fenced all the chickens area in..... sure enough the fox came by again (even the Hunt could not catch this big dog fox).... he managed to catch my big drake, who was a very very heavy bird, I saw what was happening screamed (as you do) and we all ran out..... the drake died from his broken neck, the fox shot off back to it's lair, I had had enough........ DH filled the duck up with rat poisen...... followed the fox run through the fields and placed the duck smack bang in the hedge... sure enough the next night the big old drake was taken.... fox gone...... good luck Laura
Hope it all works out alright for you, if you don't have any dead poultry to stuff with poisen, get a fresh bird from he supermarket, stuff it, but let it hand a couple of days (in a safe place obviously) unti, it starts to smell... then bingo lure the fox with the yummy smelly bait...

 

[redtailross]

Update,
I have my 22 long rifle, and I really like it much easier to use than the handgun! I even sighted it in myself!
Maybe Im getting the hang of this society...having guns in the house, I still feel like I have to justify it though...you can the girl out of England but you can't take England out of the girl.

And the afore mentioned friend came over and gave me some shooting lessosn and I did pretty well...not a bad shot for a beginner at all, even if I do say so myself.

So I'm armed to the teeth now, and no sign of the fox for two days...I can wait...I have all summer...

But I will go poison shopping just incase... I like to have a back up plan.

Thank you everyone...

 

[gypsy2621]

Yes it is hard to take anything out of a persons being. and there is nothing wrong with that.
I am glad you got your .22 they are indispensable especially in situations such as yours.

Good Job on being independant.
sometimes the best friend we can rely on is ones self.

 

[lone cedar farm]

I would have rather you use a smaller gauge shotgun for your first vermin injector but the .22 will do, it takes practice putting a small bullet in a kill zone specily on a moving target....hope its a semi-automatic, good luck!

 

[Eggtastic]

I am rubbish with a gun and hate the idea of killing any kind of an animal no matter what the reason so my only solution to the exact problem your having Laura is my little brothers pellet gun and plenty of practise. Trust me, if you get a strong enough pellet gun, that fox will think twice before coming back, those things seriously hurt, I know (unfortunately) and plus your not dong any serious damage to the fox!!

 

[texaschickmama]

How far are you from Wasilla? I hear Sarah Palin is a REAL good shot!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist! You are a lot like me, I HATE to ask anyone for anything. I would have sat out there and tried to shoot that thing for hours. Ask a local game warden for some help. They might come out and set a trap for you. Just a thought.

 

[kycowgirlchick]

chunks of raw meat with fish hooks in it. He will like eating it, but then

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

I know what you are going through. I always go through with my word when I promise some one some thing. But I dont promise things very often any more. For the simple reason that no one keeps their promises to me..

Even my DH says they will change my tire that has as nail in it for about a month. And it still hasnt been done.

My motto: If you want it done, do it yourself..

That saying isnt directed at you. I hope it didnt sound like it did. But that is how I see life right now..

I hope you get that darn fox.. My DH ran one over with the car a few weeks ago..

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
HA - I was going to suggest calling Sarah Palin, but you beat me to it!