Just as Spring is creeping in and all is beginning to bloom, in a quick, cruel moment the other side of Nature is shown to me.
Last night a fox visited our terrace gardens. My neighbours hens have all gone and my three ladies were wiped out too. He took and ate the youngest and then, with that senseless side of fox nature, bit the heads of the other two and left them. Perhaps he plans to come back and eat them later and maybe there is his family to feed but I am left hen-less and feel bereft indeed.
I'm very fond of my chickens and watching their simple, vigorous enjoyment of scratching, eating and dust-bathing in the sun never failed to give pleasure.
So, to mark their passing, I thought I'd post a few photographs, to make me smile as I remember them.
This is Madame Pompadour guarding her chicks and settling down for the night in their tree-
A closeup of our little grey hen at about a week old
The two ladies in the garden last year-
And this winter, in the tree despite the snow-
 |
| Marie Antoinette |
And finally, as is fitting, the last photo of the most beautiful eggs that they laid
I will have some more hens, but I shall leave it a while, especially as Mr Fox may still be sniffing around.
I am sorry. Finding our pets/animals dead is shattering. I have seen fox families in the wild and found them fascinating, but their predation of domestic creatures is quite unforgivable. I find I no longer like to watch a nature show on TV--in order for the mother lion to feed her cubs, a dainty deer or gazelle must be run down and savaged.
ReplyDeleteI do love fox cubs and have no real hatred of foxes but it seems such a sensless waste. Jane xx
DeletePoor Hens... poor Jane!
ReplyDeleteLiving here, in North Norfolk, I know people who keep hens and very often I have heard of hens being killed by foxes. My friend's hens were all left headless, a couple of years ago!
Nature is wonderful, but it's also very cruel. Every day I see all kinds of beautiful creatures. Amongst them, foxes. They are so beautiful, but also wild, and they do kill. They are considered vermin by country people.
You must be very sad. I remember you posting about chickens. in fact I remember eggs in the very first post of yours I saw! I feel sad for you and even more for you beautiful hens. You are right: nature is very cruel, but it is nature. Animals kill because it's part of their instinct. But veery sad... I know. I really feel for you, Jane.
I was thinking, Jane... wild animals have an excuse, a wild instinct which makes them kill. There are human beings who have the same instinct. What excuse do they have?
HUGS... try to cheer up...
XXX ANNA XXX
Dear Anna,
DeleteI feel better today but my home seems silent without the sounds of my hens outside. I keep putting my left-over bread aside for them and thinking- oh no, no point!
I agree with you about animals natural instinct, it's just the way the world works. I'm a Quaker, so a pacafist- so all violence and war between people is something I try to work against.
I'm feeling better this morning, helped by my lovely friends kind comments and understanding.
Have a happy weekend my dear,
Jane xxx
Oh Jane - so sorry. I read of this danger on all the blogs I follow where they keep hens. I have always wondered about foxes and their killing nature. It doesn't make sense, except when compared to cats who also kill for the game of it. Foxes are beautiful but they're killers and it's their nature. They're not furry pets.
ReplyDeleteThe owner of my neighbour's house was a kennel huntsman for a prestigious local hunt until the recent Act. He trained the hounds and used to tell me stories of how important a job they did as far as local farmers and poultry-owners were concerned. His father had been a game-keeper in Derbyshire and listening to him talk was like having Thomas Hardy in my sitting room. A vanished world. Whatever people think of fox hunting it fulfilled an important purpose for those whose livelihoods were rooted in the countryside.
I agree with you about the wild nature of Foxes and with the balance that fox hunting brought to the countryside.
DeleteIf I keep hens I have to accept there is a danger from foxes and just try to keep them as safe as possible and make their lives as happy as possible!
Jane xx
I am so sorry, Jane. Your chickens were beautiful and I know they gave you so much pleasure. It's just wrong! My heart breaks for you. Diane
ReplyDeleteThank you Diane, Sam and I did have a hug and a bit of a cry. Posting the photo of the mother hen with her wings around her chicks made me think what pleasure (let alone eggs) they had given us. Jane xx
DeleteFrom a young age I hunted until I thought I understood nature. Now having had hens, I would not give foxes the time of day. Whilst I do not hunt I hate foxes for harming chickens. If they were starving I would understand but having hens who were so much a part of our family and finding them (or not) suddenly bereft of life, I detest foxes! Nothing can bring back our chicks BUT give me a gun and FOXY will be no longer!
ReplyDeleteI know, I did feel really angry when I saw the distruction. But as we have been saying, it is just the foxes nature, it's not a nasty act just a natural one.
Deleteit doesn't help when I think of my lovely hens tho'
Jane xx
Terrible thing. yes, foxes have to do what they can to survive, but let them roam further outwards in the wild, and not come in amongst a family's beloved chickens. So sad and sorry that this happened. Hugs from Robin.
ReplyDeleteThank you Robin,
DeleteI think it's the shock when a whole family is wiped out. I too wish there was a humane way of keeping the fox in the countryside and away from our homes.
Jane xx
Dear Jane, I am so sorry for your loss. Nature is so cruel. My step-sister has to lock her chickens in at night. She, too, has a pesky and hungry fox who roams nearby. Sending you hugs, Bonnie
ReplyDeleteThank you Bonnie- they've always been ok before beacuse they sleep up in the apple tree. This time we think the fox came early in the morning, just when they were down and in the garden, Jane xx
DeleteOh how distressing, I am sorry. I was fond of my hens, though they weren't nearly so pretty as yours, and after they died of old age for years I used to think at twilight 'better go and put the hens to bed'.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know how much hunting kept fox numbers under control, perhaps it did have a deterrent effect chasing them off and keeping them more wary. They don't do it here in France, but they do have fox drives with guns a few times a year; and though there are foxes they don't seem to be a problem. Ironically though, the land is so heavily cultivated it's rather a green desert, and there probably isn't that much food or shelter for them. The only cases I've known where people have lost chickens, neighbours and friends, it's been to stray hunters' and farm dogs, in fact.
You couldn't really chase foxes with hounds through the streets of towns and cities though, or even larger villages like yours, and that's where they mostly seem to choose to live now, eating abundant human leftovers and finding plenty of nooks and crannies to live in, and they do seem to be very bold, so even being strict about chicken bed-times and a sturdy hen-house there might still be a danger.
What very beautiful eggs yours did lay too, so sad.
Hello Lucy,
DeleteThet were lovely eggs weren't they? With such tasy golden yolks from the hens being so free range. Hey Ho, it's just Nature and a risk we took. At least they had very happy lives,
Jane xx
Hello Jane,
ReplyDeleteoh what a terrible sight it must have been for you. How very sad that you have lost your dear little pets. We had 2 chickens a few years ago, but we gave them to a friend as we really don't have enough room. I loved having them, they are so nosey and comical and just love company. I do hope you get some more. I have heard hew senseless and nasty the fox attacks can be, perhaps they go into some kind of frenzy?
It is lovely to hear from you, and I do hope you are well (apart from your chicken distress). Thank you so much for your lovely comments. I am looking forward to my new adventure.
Much love,Linda x
Hello Linda,
DeleteIt was such a horrible shock. I found the two older hens and for a little while hoped the one one escaped and then found the huge heap of feathers.
I really enjoyed reading your piece and look forward to hearing more!
love Jane xx