Fox right at the Chicken Coop Gate

Just a quick note here today for those of us lucky enough to have chickens. I love my girls so much – they are a delight to have around, even though they are in only a small part of the yard. Their coop and run is right next to my organic garden area though, so we see quite a bit of each other.

It’s very handy to pull up spent plants and just throw them over the fence to the girls. They are often waiting to see what goodies I have for them.

Anyway, last night it was a bit late when I went to lock them in their inner cage area – about 11.30. I had the torch (as usual) and was checking out my veggies as I walked past. Then when I aimed it at the gate of the coop there was a small fox standing right there as if it was waiting for me to open it for him. Bold as brass!

I started screaming at the top of my lungs like a crazy woman (lucky we don’t have any close neighbours). It barely moved. I couldn’t believe it. I kept screaming and it just kind of casually strolled away.

By this time my husband had run out to save me from who knows what and the fox had disappeared into the night. I locked the girls up securely and crossed my fingers.

In the morning they were fine, but the fox had come back and tried to dig under the outside fence. So I didn’t seem to terrify it too much.

So please be extra vigilant in keeping your chickens safe and sound each night. It seems to me that foxes are far less shy than they used to be!

Warmly,

Julie

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