Curse Of The Urban Fox

I went out this morning to feed and water our chickens. We have 3 egg layers in their own area and 11 meat birds who I moved to their new premises yesterday. Perhaps I should say had 11 meat birds.

I've reared them since they were day olds, much like our egg layers, and although I've no sentimental attachment to them I have spent a lot of time, and money, ensuring their comfort and wellbeing. A fox, or foxes, chewed their way through the base of the coop overnight and this morning 6 were missing, 2 were dead in the coop and 3 were left looking pretty traumatised although apparently unhurt. I thought it was safe for them and fox-proof, shows how wrong you can be - again!

We used to have 4 egg layers but Gloria was taken early one morning by a fox who had pushed through the chicken wire at a weak point and got her. We heard the commotion and managed to get out quickly but by then it was too late for her and the fox had gone.

Live and let live is a fair motto but it is annoying when something happens that overnight produces what is, in effect, a lot of wasted effort. Brassicas that are stripped by various fauna are aggravating enough but somehow when you lose an animal it feels that much more personal.

The 3 survivors are back in the garage where I was 'bringing them on' and they now have plenty of room to mess around in. I need to rethink the outside area and strengthen it accordingly before the meat birds truly see the light of day again. Something for the weekend, sir!

Where Did 2009 Go?????

About a year ago I decided to keep a blog of life at the cutting edge of self-reliance in the suburbs. It lasted almost 2 months and then withered and died on the vine as they say. Spring will soon hopefully have sprung and the urge to get hands dirty again will begin. I'll also have another go at trying to keep a blog too. One kind lady posted a comment which I've just discovered so I'd like to thank her, but really I'm only doing this for myself .

Work on the front garden and allotment also didn't progress as far as I'd hoped, due to a number of factors, but we still ate well from the space I'd cultivated.

Chickens made an appearance in our back garden last year and now we get 3 eggs most days (about 2 too many sometimes). It used to be 4 but my fox-proof enclosure wasn't and unfortunately one of our chickens paid the ultimate price!

So things did happen I just didn't get round to letting anyone who wants to know, know.

Hopefully 2010 will be different!