hello all,
Last summer I made a run from Herris fence panels as my neighbour said the fox can't get in - and indeed, the hens have been safe from the fox. But about a month ago, I came home and went to let the hens out only to find one had been killed in the run (but not eaten - maybe I disturbed the predator). It appeared to have been moved to a small gap (2" tops) under the fence panel, a couple of yards from where the scattered feathers suggested it was killed. I filled the gap.
Today another has been got - apparently in the same spot in the run as the first, not moved, but partially eaten. One of the two remaining hens has lost some neck feathers but is otherwise fine. There don't appear to be any gaps apart from the regular vertical gaps between the panels.
I'm assuming it isn't a small fox as they have a reputation for killing all the birds. Any ideas what it could be? stoat? mink? buzzard?. I'm wondering if I'm better off leaving them out as at least they can run away.