Distressed and Tearful.

[julesapple]

...We have since discovered though that certain items are missing - checking thoroughly yesterday wasn't really a priority, and these include a 50 metre roll of chicken wire, the staples for it and a large tupperware tub of oyster shell.....

Is it me, or does this sound as though the lowlives were trying to prevent you from making safe any remaining chickens that may have been left by Mr Fox? I'm not sure they are poultry keepers themselves, but it sure does sound like they don't want you to be poultry keepers either.

I'm glad you're feeling better, it was such a low blow to get over. Hurry up with those geeses!

Jules

[MrsC]

Only just picked up and read this thread. Words fail me, hope everything is ok now xxxxx

[bobleponge]

Same as MrsC.
Hope you are getting over it BM, as was said earlier, there are no acceptable words that describe how we all feel about these people.

[bluemoon]

I'd just like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and words, you've all been great. We spoke to the committee this morning and just told them calmly and rationally what had happened (not something I could have managed had I grabbed a committee member earlier in the week). We didn't accuse anyone, didn't even say we had suspicions, but they then asked if there was anyone we suspected and we said yes, they then said 'Is it......?' and named the person. So they are very well aware of him and his antics. It's such a relief to know that they are taking it seriously. I'd have felt so alone this past week if it hadn't been for the vine. You're all wonderful.

[Twinsane]

BM, have just read through this thread and gone from fuming to releif with you, albeit in moderation compared to what you have gone through. I am so glad the commitee have realised the seriousness of the matter and hope that it doesn't end here... I suppose the problem is proving it was the person suspected. I'm glad you didn't let the B* win and that you are still positive. Keep your chin up!

[Maddie106]

Thank goodness they were all OK Bluemoon.

I wonder if you could possibly keep a pair of geese on your lottie?
If you could build a run for 2 Embden geese that surrounds the chicken run i.e. So you have to go through goose run to enter chicken run, it will stop the s*ds!

I used to keep 3 big white geese (years ago when I had a field attached to my cottage) They NEVER went into their hut, even when it snowed and I didn't have any fox trouble.
I did have to keep the chickens away from them, because the geese used to attack the chickens.
One goose egg also made an omlette for 4 people.........

They could be really scary to the occassional walker who strayed into their field and the calor gas man had to have my protection to fill up the LPG tank!
The Roman's used to keep geese as "Guard dogs".

If you are brave enough not to stand any nonsense from them, they can be as satisfying as keeping chickens....I sank an old bath into the ground for them and it was fantastic to see them swimming in it.

[BUFFS]

well bluemoon,it seems the grab or destroy anything attitude shows no sign of letting up,our house burnt down last year and to make matters worse,some braindead scumbag broke into my shed(brick built and solid oak door) after i had moved what i could ,and stole my fly tying gear i have spent years collecting,it was duly reported and i put new locks on,only for the same thing to happen again,so i told them if i catch anyone else near my property i would make sure i left my mark on them (not easy as i cant walk too good these days) and was promptly told i would be arrested if i tried to defend what is mine....i told him in good old fashioned anglo-saxon exactly where he could put his advice/threat/warning,i spent too much time in the army to take much notice of p c correct backside-kissers...i know how you feel, and my heart goes out to you,but dont let them win, and the very best of luck to you in the future, and i hope you have many happy years of chuck keeping, as they never fail to bring a smile to your face with their daft antics.if more people kept chucks there would be less of them on tablets..natures tonic.

[bluemoon]

Funny you should mention that, Maddie, but I've been in touch with the local poultry supplier and he has Embden geese, which I believe are 'proper' geese, as in white with orange bill and feet? He has both young ones and older pairs. It will take a week or two for OH to make their shed, his idea is for a sort of scaled down, goose sized, stable, right down to the split in half door (don't know why it needs a split in half door, but it's keeping him happy). Would that work?
Buffs, it's true we shouldn't allow these people to walk all over us, the problem is that most of us go through life trying to be accommodating and reasonable and it's always a bit of a shock when someone decides they're not going to play by the same rules. It takes us a day or two to decide to fight back because it's just so different to our normal personalities. There comes a point though where we have to stand up for ourselves because if we don't no-one else is going to do it for us. I believe you were absolutely right in standing up to that person. I admit that on Tuesday morning I thought of giving up, largely because I thought that just by being owned by us put our lovely chooks in danger and they'd be safer with someone else, but now I'm determined that not only are they going to remain exactly where they are, but that no-one is going to be allowed to do this either to them or to anyone else's chickens on our site again. The fact is that if we gave up and left, not only would these people have won, but they would then have been given permission to target another plot holder.

[its hilly]

You'll enjoy your geese too Bluemoon. Mine are Chineese cross so not as big as Emdens get, but still quite a lot to face when they're angry. They were adults and not people friendly at all when I got them, now 7wks later Sid will eat out of my hand and Charysse is nearly too. Make one hell of a racket when I go to see them, and racket plus hisses and much neck stretching and wing flapping to others. Sids had my OH, but that was cos they hadnt been introduced when Al went to put them in one night when I was poorly. Mine dont chase the chickens unless theyre trying to nick the geeses food, so daily..lol. But all hiss and no nasty pecks. Heres Sid enjoying his bath (Als nephews old placi paddling pool), with Charysse waiting her turn. Sometimes they both leap in then its tidal wave time

[Dalavon]

Hi Bluemoon,
So glad to hear your not giving up the chickens - we don't have any livestock as my garden is not big enough, but it was heartwrenching reading your accounts. Everyone has given really good advice, and the geese idea sounds a good one.

If I lived closer, I'd lend you Cassie, ones of my dogs - we rescued her as she was beaten by a previous owner, and although, with time she has mellowed a lot, if she doesn't know you, she can be a bit "bite first and ask questions later" if you know what I mean. She is a great guard dog, lots of chasing up and down and loud barking - enough to terrify any intruder.

Keep your chin up, and the offer of help with your Family Tree still stands, when you have the time.

Take care,
Dalavon.

[Hashette]

Good on you Bluemoon, and I'm so glad to hear how you're thinking.

We're all right behind you xx

[Maddie106]

Yes Bluemoon, BIG "proper " Geese!
As I said, even tho mine had a hut, they rarely used it.....even in winter with snow on the ground, they liked to stay out at night.(this was on the moors above Holmfirth, so pretty bleak in winter)
I gave up trying to get them in against their will, because goose herding in a 1/2 acre field was far too energetic for me!
Give them a run AROUND all round the outside of your chicken hut, so any humans have to deal with the geese to get to the chickens

[bluemoon]

Yes Bluemoon, BIG "proper " Geese!
As I said, even tho mine had a hut, they rarely used it.....even in winter with snow on the ground, they liked to stay out at night.(this was on the moors above Holmfirth, so pretty bleak in winter)

Give them a run AROUND all round the outside of your chicken hut, so any humans have to deal with the geese to get to the chickens

I spent a large part of my teen years on the moors above Holmfirth, my best friend had a farm between there and Crowedge (well her Dad did), and my own Mum is still living in the wilds half way between Stocksbridge and Flouch crossroads and it's still pretty bleak in winter!
We have 3 hen houses, all with very large runs, and these are dotted about on the top half of the lottie, all we need to do is put a fence along the middle of the plot and the goose 'stable' somewhere in the chicken's half and it's done. We were going to put up that fence anyway to keep the girls off the veg, I'd just need a bit of a run for the geese so that there was somewhere to put them when we let the chickens out for a wander. Simples! We both have a week off work next week and, apart from a couple of days camping with our grandson, we have nothing planned except making everything ready for those geese.

[SarzWix]

So glad to read that you're taking positive action BM

If the committee already know/suspect who the culprit is, hopefully they will be watching them now with a view to getting rid of them as soon as there's any proof? *wonders if bruises from geese attacking will count as proof...