What a night!

Everything was peaceful until around 2am when the local foxes started screeching. If you've never heard a fox before they can sound like someone screaming for their life. It really can be piercing.

So there I was, bolt upright now because the sounds were getting closer. The night can play funny tricks on you as well because they sounded like they were in the back garden where the run is.

I looked out of the window and couldn't see anything, the light was good enough to see patches of ground but not a 100% clear view, then I heard the calls again because my head was out of the window now I think, they sounded as if they were further away.

I tried to get back to bed but then my mind started worrying. So I went out and checked the run and the locks. All fine.

Back in bed and the screeches were back. I wished I was back in time when I didn't have chickens and the sound didn't have any real meaning! I had another look, all fine.

This went on until about 5am until finally I was so tired I just fell asleep.

As soon as I got up at 8am I went out again and checked on the girls. They were absolutely fine and none the worse for what must be terrifying noises for them...if they know what a fox is and what it sounds like. I suppose on an instinctive level they do.

No fox droppings or scratching, gnawing or digging was in sight. So last night anyway, we got away with it.