War.
Late last night, a fox with wire cutter jaws, chomped it’s way into the chicken run and went on a bloody rampage. Gizmo, our much loved cockerel and another hen died.
At this moment, we have three pitiful hens left.
At this moment we are at war.
Batten down the hatches and hammer everything down.
I’m coming for you foxy wire cutters.
Posted on September 29, 2012, in Uncategorized and tagged Chickens, Doodlemum, Drawing, Family, foxes, Life, Pen and Ink, Sketchbook. Bookmark the permalink. 19 Comments.
Doodlemum 
nooooooo poor chooks 😦
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Great drawing – your angry stomp almost shakes the image on my screen 🙂 .
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I’m sorry about your hens. My sister in law always blames the badgers that live on her farm. I don’t know how she is so sure it’s them. Good luck with the war.
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We had to put strong wire mesh under our chicken run, and then stone chippings on top. Grass did eventually grow through the layers, but not old fox. There was equally strong mesh all round and over the top. I do hope you win the war.
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I think poor badgers are having a very hard time of it at the moment, they seem to be getting the blame for the spread of Bovine TB too. The fox is only reacting to a man made situation. Doesn’t make it any easier for me or the kids but they seem to understand that nature can be very brutal sometimes and if we keep animals like this, we’re going to encounter some unpleasant situations from time to time. 😦
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Yes, a lesson from a (relatively) less traumatic loss than some.
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I have fell in love with your musings and sketches. Sorry to hear about the nasty fox, not sure if you are in a local to find a few new birds before the winter slips in.
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I am so sorry, that was why your were so upset last night. People here have same problem with coyotes. I hope the changes to your coop work out and you don’t go through this again!
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How did the kids take the news?
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Oh no, how awful. We’ve got hens too, and it’s a constant battle to keep them safe, isn’t it? Our wire mesh is sunk into the ground, one foot deep, and the walk-in run has a roof too. The mesh is on double thickness, but apparently only weld mesh will keep the fox out. Very pricey stuff. We’ve also got mink and wildcat around here. Shudder.
I hope you manage to beat Mr.Fox and I’m sorry for your loss. xxx
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Oh no that’s terrible! So sorry to hear this x
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That’s the spirit!!!!! Hammer them nails in! get the lights on a trigger so when Mr Fox comes a lookin’ the light zaps him in his tracks!! Rig up an alarm system of old cans around the Hen house ( a bit over the top??). HE WILL NOT WIN!!!!!! Above all, hug the kids & maybe find a new hubby for the hens you have left, poor darlings. Good Luck with the war xxx
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Ooh, those pesky foxes. So rude.
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Oh no – blasted foxes
Hope the girls are recovering ok
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Aw. I can’t click ‘like’ to this once because that must be absolutely gutting, you put so much emotional investment into caring for animals (or birds) and when something like this happens … feeling for you all! 🙂
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I didn’t know Wales had foxes.
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Big ones with wire cutter jaws and a penchant for chicken 😦
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I wonder if you put out dry cat food for the foxes if it would deter them, or just attract more foxes. I know someone who worked a security job late at night and they would put out dry cat food and the fox family would show up every night.
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Unfortunately we would get rats, and that isn’t nice either :((
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