[john2708]

HI come to my chickens to day and noticed that 11 of my battam silkies had gone missing and 2 sultans iv searched high and low cant find them anywere there is no way all 11 could of escaped over night as my paddock backs on to a small river i noticed the gat to the river open all seen a massive crow about but i think they are to big for him to take and 11 in one morning so i can only think that iv been robbed some time last night 11 silkies pols and a few chicks and 2 sultan pols are gone im in the newark nottinghamshire area they were all grey or black in colour with helmats and beards i am absolutly gutted

[AengusOg]

It's happening more frequently now, I'm afraid. The price of poultry rising, and the demand, means that they are worth the risk to a thief. Bloody sickening.

[john2708]

it realy is i hatched them all my self brought them up for sombody to help them selfs to my birds scumbags i have know got to bring all my birds chickens ducks and geese up to the garden as i think this is the only safe place for them

[katie]

Sorry to hear this. I dread finding my birds gone when I come to unlock in the morning. At the moment, the thieves are after the eggs - 2 and a half dozen gone from the 'honesty box' over the weekend.

[Greenerlife]

That is terrible news!  I hate it that you have to think of putting livestock under lock and key these days.  My hens are in a locked environment because a lot of chicken theft happens round me.  Very sad.

[robert waddell]

just imagine what it is going to be like come xmas

[john2708]

well after a hole day of investigation i found a trail of feathers going from my neighbours paddock through the hedge and beyond so i am know thinking it may be a fox this will be the first fox we have had in this area in 8 years

[bamford6]

where abouts are you iff not to far il replace youre birds for free ....very bad thing to happen all the best

[john2708]

it says at the top buddy newark nottinghamshire i am gutted to lose so many in one night i have only 2 silkies left

[little blue]

thats awful.
We don't let ours free range for many reasons (foxes, dogs, rodents, thieves, kids, escape, disease)
and I know how upset I was when  three chicks were taken by rats from a badly designed ark (gaps we didn't know about) last week. 
John, you must be devestated...

[harry]

i got 6 goslings once ... hardened them of and let them out after a week.... went to feed them one day all gone not a feather in site.. thought someones nicked them as no feathers or heads laying around as per fox... so set up my security camera   went of and got another 6  same proceedure week later all gone, this time heads and some corpses so it was a fox after all...... electric fenced the field since then years on no problems... i dont use the normal poultry fence i use the stakes and the horse type white wire one bit 6" of the ground another 12 " higher then another.... then another strip a foot away from the main line 6" of the ground so a fox cant get near the main fence... less probs with grass growth etc shorting the fence out. or yes also purchased a shotgun.

[john2708]

well were i live there has been no foxes for 8 years before that we had one but he got ran over he took one of my geese but since him we have had no foxes so it was a surprise to me. Out of 11 silkies there were only feathers for one that i could see so this fox is good very good he didnt touch any of the ducks,geese,goslings,ducklings,buffs,buff chicks or my batam brahma hen just the silkies and sultans. i tell you what if i hear my geese or ducks making noise tonight im gonna let my staffy out on that damn fox let him rip it up im realy gutted i spent alot of money and time on those silkies. well i have spent the hole day making secure houses for the ducks and geese and chickens there all under lock and key close to the house so ill hear them and iv put the dogs bed near the dog flap so he will hear them damn foxes too   

[NorthEssexsmallholding]

sorry to hear this, but in a way I'd rather it be a fox than someone thieving them, that seems worse in a way, the fox is just acting by its predatory insticts and does not know any better, but thieves who steal them, well that makes me so angry.

[princesspiggy]

we once had fox that killed the whole lot in one go. i found half the chooks in middle of next field. they are buggers.

[harry]

i really dont understand why people spends £sssss on birds £sssss on feed etc, put hours and hours in but dont buy an electric fence, they last forever.... i know i lost some but that was my fault, to complacent didnt have a problem for years then didnt switch the fence on and lost some....switch it on all the time now.... no more problems