Third fox strike in 7 months.

i hope the advice works but please note its only what i have read and leant from watching so much on tv about animals and i still have everything crossed your birdies make a full recovery , i will get my girls to say a pray for them tonight .
 
We had to feed Bumble today with watered pellets in a syringe. The swelling on her neck has gone down sufficiently to try. It was a great relief when the stuff was massaged down into her crop, which means her throat is intact and fairly clear. She just can't swallow properly yet. Suspect her neck will always be a funny shape if she recovers. But she is awake a lot more now and hopefully with some more food in her crop tonight she will show some real progress by tomorrow.
 
She's still rather sleepy Margaid. Her poo this morning was green so she's gone onto a course of Baytril. Her wattles are badly bruised and she has a swollen throat so presumably when she was shaken by the neck her head hit something. So she can't open her beak properly yet although she wants to eat and takes the syringe of feed like a baby chick -accepts the end in her mouth and gulps it down! Big green bruising on her neck had subsided somewhat and yesterday she tried to preen, but only managed to move her head an inch towards her bottom. She still walks backwards in her sleep shaking her head -looks like she is trying to escape the fox. Merlin still isn't eating so he's on tempters -cherries, corn etc.

Set France back a week which will give Bumble more time to recover. Trailer delivery is late!
 
Only just seen this.

Really sorry to hear this chris :( , hope they are a bit better today
 
so sorry to hear about your poor chickens, like you mr fox came and got my chicken i just got home and she was still alive but died in my arms, very sad, but i do love foxes they have to live like the rest of us. i decided that i wanted to keep poultry then i have to do the best that i can to keep them safe, so i had to fork out on a electric fence cost a fortune but i knew if i didn't he would be back once they have found an entry they will be back for the others. we have a den not far from us and i love watching the cubs play in the field next to our house, they pass the chicken run every night and early morning, i don't put the electric fence on in the night as they are safe in the coop but they are always checking, if i ever forgot to put the electric fence on in the morning i think they will all be gone chickens, ducks and quails, it's a constant worry when you live in the country, as i am typing this he's out their now my Dobberman want's to go out and chasing him.
 
We've moved Merlin to a safer place. Bumble is improving but still can't eat properly and has to be fed. Baytril seems to be working but her jaw hurts her and feeding doesn't help. Rather than rain it pours -Daffodil has taken a nosedive, stopped eating and can hardly walk so may be at the end of the road? Having lost our Blue Laced Wyandotte big softy Arnold to a heart attack a few weeks ago our lovely Gold Laced Wyandotte Frankie went the same way yesterday -we really needed him to come with us as well. Times like this I wonder if it's all worth it -then I see Bottom talking to a cherry!
 
things really aint going your way at the mo are they chris :( poor you , how long before you move .
 
He does this to maggots as well Margaid. Keeps picking them up, putting them down and talking to them. Eventually he talks them to death and he eats them.

6 weeks to go Karminski. No activity in the fox trap. Fe has nearly rotted off the hook so Cluck will have to go on.

Bantam Boris Leghorn and his girls got a new coop and run yesterday. It now has a perch and a curtained nest box. What I failed to realise is that when one of his girls goes to lay he now can't see her. PANIC!!!! and what a racket.
 
chrismahon said:
Bantam Boris Leghorn and his girls got a new coop and run yesterday. It now has a perch and a curtained nest box. What I failed to realise is that when one of his girls goes to lay he now can't see her. PANIC!!!! and what a racket.
Click to expand...

Obviously a very modern father, Chris, expecting to be in the delivery room with his wife. Has he been watching One Born Every Minute?
 
Everytime I see you've posted on this thread my heart sinks Chris, even though I'd asked you about Bottom and the cherry. I don't think my girls will be half as much fun as your flock. How are Bumble and Merlin?
 
Merlins hormones are rising because he can see his new girls!

Bumble is getting better slowly and moving around between snoozes. Baytril has worked it seems. She needs stimulus now from other chickens. Fingers crossed things look promising, but it all depends on whether she can take a natural place in the flock or not. Otherwise she will go in with Basil.
 
Margaid said:
Everytime I see you've posted on this thread my heart sinks Chris, even though I'd asked you about Bottom and the cherry. I don't think my girls will be half as much fun as your flock. How are Bumble and Merlin?
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Sorry to hear about Frankie! I have to agree with Margaid, I'm always worried when I see you've posted on this thread as well Chris! My computer has been sick again for 4 days and so am only just catching up with posts now. Is it really only 6 weeks before you leave for France?
 
Yes just 6 weeks Sue, but I'm over in 4 setting up all the coops. We've got an internet provider sorted apparently so I won't be quiet for too long -perhaps a month. Just got to get used to the new Mac laptop -we've ditched Microsoft forever.

Took Bumble down to see Merlin for half an hour. He recognised her and got so excited I thought another heart attack! She needed the stimulus and has come in and is moving around a lot more. So she is getting better, but the shooting pains she must be getting do make her do some strange things.
 
So happy to read some progress is being made. I dont get on much at weekends, so was a little apprehensive to read.

Hope they go from strength to strength and you get Mr Fox
 
Bumble seemed to go backwards today -literally. She moves her head and I think the pain in her neck makes her recoil from it. But we took her down to the Orchard where she seemed very quiet. We got distracted by Bottom soil bathing in the veg plot I have just rotorvated and went back to see Bumble still very quiet and Merlin very excited. Brought her into the house feeling a bit disappointed that she had made no progress on yesterday only to find she immediately started eating bits off the floor with enthusiasm. Got tired quickly and started looking for her coop -a carboard box in the study where she is now stretched out asleep. So we'll try her out tomorrow morning for a while on the other side of the fence next to her sisters and see what she is like in the evening. It's too hot for her midday at the moment. She needs the company of other chickens.
 
Well she went out this morning and collapsed. Too hot and too weak. Now the swelling in her neck has gone down enough we must dramatically increase her food intake. She was on 50g of rearers now going to 120g plus extra protein. So we've filled her crop and will keep it full until she can feed herself. Her jaw still hurts so she is very tentative about eating. Of course this makes feeding her a delicate and time consuming operation.

No action in the fox trap. the bait has rotted off the hook and must be replaced. Didn't get a treadle operated trap because foxes are put off by it apparently and it is rather more delicate and easily damaged.
 
Chris, has Bumble had any anti inflammatories? Just wondered whether this would make her feel more comfortable and more willing to eat?
 
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