We've just had our worst fox attack for ages. At least 10 and probably as many as 15 hens were killed by foxes last night- all in one paddock.
Their flock protector, a Maremma dog named Monte came charging out of the paddock at around 10.30 last night - obviously in pursuit of the nasty little critters but he left the rest of the flock to the ****** foxes.
I've now re-arranged the electric fences and we will give Monte some support with another Maremma in his paddock as it seems to be the most prone to predators. We have not had an attack like this since we've had our eight Maremmas - and we don't want another night like it.
It wouldn't be so bad if the foxes just killed what they needed to eat but we had headless bodies strewn around the paddock with feathers everywhere.
I don't think I'm alone in saying that I hate foxes!
Good dog Monte
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Freeranger Eggs is a free range egg farm at Grantville in the southern Australian state of Victoria. Our hens are never locked up, they are fed a natural diet of grains with no additives - and they are not beak-trimmed. The only reason for removing the top part or even the tip of the beak is that when hens are confined in small spaces and in large numbers they often become aggressive and attack each other. On a true free range farm with plenty of space, all birds have full beaks.
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- freeranger
- Grantville, Victoria, Australia
- With a background in journalism and public relations in the UK, Africa and Australia, I've been farming for over 30 years. I'm an Environmental Auditor and have been an auditor for the National Egg Quality Assurance Program as well as a former President of the Free Range Egg and Poultry Association of Australia. Our farm has been designed for sustainable land management and we have a long involvement with Landcare. I have carried out regional flora and fauna surveys and have also run courses and lectured on community development, land management and run workshops on sustainability and setting up free range egg farms. . The Freeranger Farm runs sheep, cattle and horses as well as laying hens - a genuine mixed farm. Everything on the farm is designed for minimal impact. As much as possible recycled materials are used, solar power helps to achieve our sustainability aims and the farm is carbon negative. Even our main shed, which includes the farm office, egg grading room, storage and maintenance facilities, was constructed mainly using recycled steel sections purchased at a farm clearing sale.
1 comment:
yes I too hate foxes and what they do to the chooks they dont belong in Australia.Fox hunters are welcome at our place. We live neare Portland and on the coast line so we have foxes hiding in the dunes. Now we have an expensive for proof run and house for our chooks.Would like to visit your place and you are welcome to visit our place. We have a variety of breeds and the newest ones are the best they are called couchins
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