[Bionic]

Lost 5 out of my 6 hens  . I only have myself to blame as we didn't go out to shut the door until late. One lonely hen left.
It's very sad and frustrating as OH is currently making a new door with a timer that would have been ready in a couple of days time.

[Padge]

  bugger.........

[spandit]

Sorry to hear that. It's why I got the gun, do you have any means of controlling them?

[Backinwellies]

Oh Sally that is sad  and such bad timing.    to the lonely hen

[Chrisnut]

sorry to hear that..... we religiously go down to our birds before dark to collect eggs and shut them in albeit they are protected by a 6 foot fence on all sides in a large enclosure,  it is our fear that if our hens were free ranging across the few acres we have they would be taken at some point 

[Bionic]

Sorry to hear that. It's why I got the gun, do you have any means of controlling them?

The hunt dogs came through just a few days ago and they were all over the land like a rash. I am surprised this fox survived but he obviously did 

[Bionic]

Oh Sally that is sad  and such bad timing.    to the lonely hen

Looks like I will be visiting Ffairfach market when I get back from my hols.

[suziequeue]

Really sorry to hear that Sally. 

How frustrating.

I am quite sure that Charlie knows exactly what our routine is and sits poised and ready to exploit any failings in our system/routine. So far he hasn't struck but I know he is watching

[Offgridgreg]

Yep not good foxy bingo soon catches on if that coop door is open,
Sometimes think he's waiting for you to slip up once and he's in..
Once lost a load of copper black marans which took me years of breeding to get the eggs's right
For him come and mince half of them(lesson learned)..
Beef up security because winter hasn't bitten yet so the worst is yet to come....

I'd get it trapped if I was you and give it some lead might not be easy but it will become a pain now he's found them..catch live trap in front of a open coop with a big rock on it he'll soon run in to it

[Kitchen Cottage]

 :bouquet:Oh no!!  I know exactly how you feel.  I left the shed open last year and lost 4 hens... I still feel guilty.   

[Louise Gaunt]

Sad news. It can happen to any of us, nature is always ready to take an easy meal but foxes are just so destructive.

[JulieWall]

Poor chooks hope you get some mates for the last one soon.

Have you got a run you could put in front of the hen house? We use them for all our poultry because it means they can come out as soon as it is light and be put in before dark. They get to free range when we are out and about of course but it keeps them secure. I know we have a monster of a fox round here, he is often seen ranging but apart from one stupid duck that went to sleep in the long grass one night we have had no losses to him.

Unfortunately, I think you need to assume he will try and come back for the other hen as he knows where he can get a free meal now so if you can keep her safer it might be a good idea.

[little blue]

[doganjo]

Know how you feel    Lost all my ducks, and a few weeks later all but one of my hens.  My own fault and still feel guilty!

Saw a wildlife video a few months ago where they tagged a fox to see it's movements in a week I think.   It did the same tour round its neighbourhood every night without fail, checking all possible food sources, sometimes lucky sometimes not, but never wavered off it's prescribed route.

[Humblepie]

oh dear, i think many people have been guilty of this. i remember going to put the hens away, walked straight past and went back to the house without shutting the door and they were all dead in the morning. i was soo mad at myself.