Horrible, horrible.
This morning I came down to find that five of our seven hens had been attacked by a fox. Quercus had to kill our rooster, whose neck was clearly broken but who had lived anyway, and four of the hens were already dead. We have sent the remaining two to live with e, who has lots of hens and from whom two of ours originally came. I feel just horrible about the whole thing; there are feathers everywhere and I feel physically sick when I think about poor Pepper’s horrible fate. The worst of it is that I forgot to shut the henhouse up last night; I think they came out very early and that was when it happened. I know it’s dramatic-sounding, but I shall never forgive myself for it. And yes, I know it could have happened to either me or Quercus, but it happened to me, and I feel just awful. I don’t know if we’re going to get more hens, and, if we do, when we might do it, but for now, we’ve a lot of clearing up to do and a small girl to lie to.
I know just how you feel but in my case it wasn’t a fox – it was my own sweet natured terrier – We’d just moved the girls from the bottom of the garden to the top and put a chicken wire fence up to keep them in but didn’t consider that horror dog would find her way underneath and get far too excited at the prospect of them being confined – mainly because she’d just chased them before
She killed 7 in total – 2 ex-batts, my Mama Marans & 4 of the girls I’d raised from chicks last year including 2 Barnies that Ally had given me and had just started laying – I still feel dreadful about it
OH NO!!! How awful! I’m so sorry this has happened and I completely understand how you feel – that’s exactly how I would feel. Poor little ones. I have two dogs and the idea of one of them running out into the street and getting hit makes me sick to my stomach, even though it’s not really something that I could control, if they decided that they really wanted to go out there (they’re big and fast and I would never be able to catch up if they got up to top speed). These animals depend on me for safety, shelter and food. I would feel horrible, so I can totally relate.
That said, I can assure you that this (hen massacre) is fairly common when you keep chickens (or really any type of prey animal). My friend has lost several to eagles and weasels, in the past year (and it was never anyone’s “fault” – they’re stealthy and snatched them up when her back was turned). My uncle once lost most of his fish to a blue heron. There’s only so much you can do to protect your animals. You’re only human and you mustn’t think that forgetting to lock the henhouse is proof that you’ve been disrespectful of the lives of your flock. You obviously cared for them very much and this kind of thing is simply a learning experience that I think every farmer goes through. Every good farmer is sensitive to this type of loss – if they weren’t, they wouldn’t have much of a farm, would they?
I know it’s so much easier said than done, but please forgive yourself. Even a closed-and-locked henhouse is no guarantee that they are 100% safe.
oh SHIT! so so sorry, poor hens, poor rooster still alive, my heart breaks for him. how totally and utterly horrid. i’m afraid that i would beat myself up about it as well, although it was just a mistake and nature and all that…. bugger
Awful, but as dw says you have to forgive yourself.
I’ve been known to get up and head into the garden at 1.30 in the morning because I’ve woken with the conviction that I haven’t shut the rabbit hutch(es) properly, and even then, if a fox got into our garden I’m not sure how safe they’d be. You can only do so much.
How utterly terrible for you – and for poor hens and rooster. I’m so very, very sorry EW. I understand about you feeling responsible, but do try to forgive yourself. This can happen to anyone, and you clearly cared very much for them. (((Hugs))).
how horrid! & not quick kills, either. however, it is an issue when you keep prey animals, as dw said. many years ago, it wasn’t a fox but a weasel that got in (they can squeeze through the smallest holes). i learned what death smells like that day. that being said, i wouldn’t hesitate to get hens as soon as possible, if for no other reason than for the little witchling. part of working within the natural cycle is to accept all parts of it. she is too young to understand the workings of foxkill, but old enough to pick up mom’s distress & be confused by it…
I am so sorry, and I can understand how you feel. I do agree with everyone else though – don’t beat yourself up about it and do get more chickens when you are ready. Death is part of life. Admittedly, most children learn about it via hamsters and rabbits, rather than chicken massacres, but learn about they must. In a year or so she will probably be reminding you to lock the hen house.
That’s horrible and I’m very sorry to hear it – I know how much you love your chooks, and, moreover, how happy they were with you and what a good life you gave them. I know you’re feeling horrendously guilty but it won’t change anything and there’s nothing to be gained by it. You are always incredibly careful about your animals but sometimes, things slip past us.
I would suggest, though feel free to reject it naturally, that you don’t lie to the witchling. She probably is aware that Pye & Wix catch mice and other small critters; this is only a continuation of the same fact. She shouldn’t be afraid of such things because they’re all part of a natural process. Big hugs to you all, and lots of love. xx
I’m so sorry for the loss of your chickens – and that it happened in such a traumatic way. I wish I had something useful or something to say but can only repeat I’m so sorry.
I am sorry to hear of all the distress with the chickens and with your feelings about it. Very hard to deal with the death of our beloved animal friends at any time, but also to manage the trauma of the way this happened too must be very tricky.
I also echo LQS, maybe let the witchling know a little of the events – without traumatising further, but death is a part of life and, unfortunately, a normal one, even if, this time, it is a horrendous accident.
Sorry too that you feel so bad yourself, whatever you did the fox still may have got in and I bet you won’t forget any future hens you may have. I hope you recover soon and enough to have more chooks.
So sorry to hear this. I had a similar experience not so long ago when I was late going down to shut up the hen house one night. I think I had got blasé because the girls are in a supposedly fox-proof run. Unfortunately the fox had other ideas and dug under the fence. Luckily IB heard the ensuing chaos and ran down the garden in time to chase off the fox, but not before it had killed one of our young Black Rocks. The rest were traumatised for a couple of weeks, and I felt as though I had let them down, so I totally empathise with your feelings.
I hope it won’t put you off getting more hens in the future. The joy of having them scratching round contentedly in the garden far outweighs the occasional heartbreak.
I can report that Big chicken cleverly found her own way into the hen house last night and happily roosted with the others. I know this because went down there at 2am, having woken with the certain conviction that there was a fox in the garden (no sign, but the paranoia always lingers…). Mad chicken perched in a tree overnight however (well, I think it was her, bit difficult to tell her apart from the other Mad chickens).
All I can say is how sorry I am, I know how much pleasure I get from our feathery-girls, so I felt your pain when I read your post.
Please don’t berate yourself about it. I agree withL-Q-S, explain gently to mini witch about it, you live in the countryside and this sadly is a normal event, you can’t pretend that it is a one off. But definately get more birds, their presence will help with the process of moving on. And put it down to a lesson in life learnt. xx
how horrible for you.
I hope you do get more hens in the end.
hugs to you
Also sorry to hear that – and I’d agree with the not lying to your daughter thing – horrible as it is, it IS all part of the natural cycle (and that’s speaking as a vegetarian). If we try and shield our children from death then we are removing them from part of life and the skills to move through it. You’ll find the right way…
Liz x
Sympathy for Quercus too, who had to deal with poor Pepper. It’s the only thing to do, but still really horrible. I’m so sorry for you all.
The worst experience we ever had when a mink bit off the head of a sitting hen through the wire. We try to be philosophical and accept that we’ll lose some chickens to a predator once in a while, but that was dreadful. We have had foxes strike at any hour of the day, please forgive yourself.
So, so sad to read of this. I had a raccoon in my hen house about a week ago and had a surviving hen with all the skin taken off her head down to her body. It was dreadful, and Kelly had to put her down because I knew she’d never survive the infections that would set in. I felt horrible because we had a little side door in the coop that I had long said we needed to close permanently but we’d become complacent. These things happen to the best of us sometimes and it’s a harsh reminder of the realities of the natural world. Doesn’t make it any easier to live with them though.
On a more positive note, your parcel is complete and ready for mailing on Monday.
I am so sorry to read this.
I think it was two, maybe three, years ago that this happened to us, and I still feel upset about it.
We now have automatic hen house doors (cheapest place in UK is here: http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Automatic_Door_Openers.html – or at least was when we bought our last one a few months back) – not cheap, but ‘only’ the price of 4 full-grown hens, and there is no price for heartbreak. You only need the basic unit as Quercus could easily make the door and slider. German made and really excellent we’ve found.
V sorry about this. You may find the witchlet far less traumatised by it than you are. I’ve found very young children quite matter of fact and unemotional about death – I think the sense of loss may kick in when they are older.
There is a DIY page for auto-pophole openers here:
http://www.reuk.co.uk/Automatic-Hen-House-Door-Closer-Opener.htm
oh yes, I have been there and me too – I insisted on having the hens out free ranging and then they were slaughtered by the fox. Poor you, it really is horrible. I have still been finding the last of the feathers from our last lot floating here and there in the garden. We have an electric fence now and combined with lambing keeping the fox busy and then us being outdoors more means the hens are now half in their run and half free ranging. The elctric current just keeps the fox away I think. Maybe you will get courage to have more again one day.
Claire
I meant to say something because I knew how awful you would be feeling. I agree with Z, I haven’t kept chickens myself but everyone knows that they can be snatched by something at any time of the day or night. It’s not just foxes out there and it’s not just at night. And even if you keep them locked up all the time you run the risk of some enterprising predator finding its way in or a brainless hen finding its way out. I have had two much-loved cats run over, as well as a dog who suddenly became ill and lost several pounds literally overnight before dying very suddenly of cancer, and in all three cases I felt utterly responsible for it because you just do with pets. I do hope you have chickens again, because being at risk of predation is just part of a chicken’s lot but I bet most of them don’t get the sort of life you offer
I am so sorry about this! If it makes you feel better, this has happened at my parents’ ranch many, many times. They are so careful, but sometimes a wily little creature will get in. They’ve lost many hens to coyotes, but not in the past few years.
Last year, believe it or not, an OWL killed the family’s favorite duck and goose. An owl killing a GOOSE! My father found their heads and feathers in the pond. We were all distraught. No matter how careful we are, sometimes, terrible things get in. Strangely, owls have become a greater threat than coyotes and cougars.
You did your best, and I’m sure those hens had a good life with you.
As for other things, thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I’m so sorry I’m such a terrible commenter. I read things on my Google Reader, and comment on the first 7 or so posts that catch my eye, and then I run out of time! But I do love your blog!
Oh,dear. I have a very close friend who had a fox in her hen house three times in six months. No matter that the door was closed tight. After the third time, she decided to forego the chickens for a while. You could always read The Fantastic Mr. Fox to help dull the pain. As grisley as they can be, it is their nature.