Land/Water Wildlife

Thank you M, if he is a he he could get shoved out at a later date near to breading times, Ive recently seen a big dog fox around in December/January,

It is possible the ear injury could have bean caused by fighting for breeding rights, it will be a interesting January to see if he still shows up, if he does he has made top dog if he disappears for a while theirs a more dominant male around,

I haven't seen the vixen for a few nights she could be giving birth, i spotted the other young fox last night odds on the other is a vixen,

This is a interesting read.
Year Of The Fox: Month by month | | | Free Mange Treatment For Foxes |

 

Very interesting read indeed! Loved reading about the "mouse pounce" - Ozzy does that too - and for their love of fruit, which explains the jam buns.

Now, what really captured my interest was the part about "killing hens for fun" where it states that is not the case. They kill them all so they can cache them. I have experience of a fox devastating a whole coop of hens in my garden; barely a feather remained. Couldn't quite understand why we only found a few feathers. It makes perfect sense, now.

 

Yes they will cache anything they can get,

The biggest predator to hens is us , yes you need your hen hut secure they will go to any length they can to get in, any weakness they will find it.

 

Wow! They didn't get the name "wily old fox" for nothing, did they?

Oh so true! As I know to my cost

 

True M, when foods involved animals are very clever at finding a way to get to it,

Sorry they got to yours M lesson learned i bet it wont happen again .

 

It was definitely a learning curve!

It was similar to this (mine was on concrete):

Can you spot the "weakness"? I didn't, until it happened and then it was a moment!


So, I progressed to this:



Not lost one to Charlie Fox since ( )

I don't blame, or begrudge the fox - nature is all about the survival of the fittest. But, my heart did ache for the bantams that were in there. Must have been terrifying for them. Yet, we didn't hear a peep! I can only conclude it was swift.

 

Well firstly in needs securing to a solid base they cant dig under and any opening should be made more secure, i would have made my own so these issue would be done when building,
Also i am totally aware what they are capable off doing from reading about them over the years.

 

I did say, mine was on concrete

However, your red mark is almost spot on in the one place Charlie Fox made entry. No, not the door, nor the locks, nor underneath the run or lid of the nest box: it was the base of the nest box! (LHS). The clever beggar punched UP through the floor of the nesting box and took each and every one! The one place I just hadn't imagined would be vulnerable!

You get 8/10

 

That looks a nice setup M, your getting me tempted i could make a pen in the area i need to develop i showed you, i will see

 

Don't be downhearted; you didn't make the coop
If you'd made it, you may have got a 10/10 (knowing what you know now)

Mine isn't a cheap option, but then, at that time, I had 15 hens and a dozen or so ducks too. Where I live now, there simply isn't the space. I still have the cube, but t'other half has decreed that once our remaining 4 girls are gone, that will be the end of hen keeping The Cube will then be ebay'd. They hold their value quite well, despite being 2nd hand.

At this time of year, the girls remain within the confines of the cube run; once Spring is under way the run door opens and they get to fully free range I have to admit, my girls produce a yolk so rich, nothing comes close - not even the farm shops and their "Free Range" eggs. I have a neighbour who positively drools when I hand him a box of eggs

One thing about the recent snow: you get to see wildlife footprints! You get to see what visits you after dark or when you are not looking. Only the other night, I spied fox prints! Yes, this was around the coop, but, I'm not overly worried. My set up is as secure as I can make it. If the very worst happens, at least I'm secure in knowing Foxy makes a swift kill and there will be long lingering suffering. Que sera, sera.

 

I can see where hes coming from M, there lovely birds but time consuming, ok through the summer months as your out in the garden anyhow but during the winter having to trail out to feed them in all weathers i guess could became a pain,

I think ive just talked my way out of the idea

 

They are in my garden, not the next village!

If you look at the pic of the Cube, you will see the Grub (food holder) and the Glug (water holder). In reality, if pushed for time, you could go 3-4 days without having to fill them up Naturally, this would depend on your hen/grub/glug ratio.

Their waste product is a boon to the garden and their daily "offerings" are most welcome in the kitche.

Another thing: you think foxes have character? You underestimate hens
Each one has their own character! The Pecking Order is one thing (and it truly does exist!) but they also have their own little personalities - which makes them quite endearing! - from the aloof to the downright *needy*!
Some are more cuddly than others; some are more foodie than others; some are more "speak to the hand" than others - but, what they all do (and, I admit, does prove a touch intimidating to the uninitiated) is make a fierce bee-line for anyone who might be holding anything edible in their hands and a walking their way! Gimme-gimme-gimme are us!

They are more than just "birds", they are birds with 'tude! (and benefits )

I did err more towards tenderness with my ducks, but they can be mucky beggars, so chooks it was.

 

I guess that not bad then M 3/4 days, i love hens if my garden was bigger i would certainly have a few,

I might start breeding budgies/finches again i think i would get more enjoyment out of it than a few eggs to eat,

Oliver has been back every night he sometimes comes early wife spotted him yesterday at 9pm tonight's first visit was at 11.

 

That is a fabulously clear shot of Oliver!