Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi Everyone,

I thought I would have a quite couple of hours at the plot this afternoon, but I am afraid that I was meet with death and destruction again

Mr Fox had been and left me with nothing 7 hens & 2 cockerels he killed, took one left the rest I for the life of me do not know how he got in really cannot find the point were he gained entrance As much as I love wildlife I want this bastard mounted and hung on my shed door as this is the second time I have lost all my hens to the fox.

Regards

Arnie

Oh that's awful and especially distressing at this time of year. Does anybody else on your plot keep hens, and was similarly affected? I think what makes it worse is when other birds are just needlessly killed. But it's worrying that you can't figure out how he got in. You obviously won't want to try and replace them until you're sure in your mind that your poultry pen absolutely fox proof.

My partner dug a trench round the perimeter of the pen and the chicken wire went down into that, then he replaced the earth - that way they can't dig down underneath it. We have seen foxes, one even up on the pen roof, but for the last eight years we have lost no chickens. Mine are free range in the day but I take care to pen them as soon as the light fades. A neighbour lost all hers the one time she forgot to switch on the electric fencing.

Hi Arnie

You have all my sympathy, especially as out here in the country foxes live largely as they should do, eating rabbits and other small mammals, venturing out only at night when my birds, which are in the field all day, are safely locked in. If they show themselves in the daytime they quickly fall prey themselves to keen-eyed sheep farmers with dogs and guns.

Old reynard had every thought of returning for the others he had killed, if you had sat somewhere with something, you may have "Got him" for your shed. Cheers, Tony.

Hi Everyone

Primrose my plot was the only one to have been visited, I think he got in through the roof of late we have had some very strong winds, these winds must have damaged the roof lining. I now know that there was a hole as I missed it but he didn't what is making this so bloody annoying is I have just bought materials and new welder to put up a new roof as I had an idea that the roof was the only weak point but I thought that I had more time.

Alan & NB I envy you being able to let your birds out, I have to have my birds in a run all be it a long run. Kleftiwallah he did come back his prints were everywere, as for sitting and waiting thats for another day


Regards

Arnie