IN RESPONSE to D Fillinham (“Killing for pleasure”, Letters, March 4), what about the ever-growing number of people who keep chickens as pets?

Foxes kill and dismember chickens with no mercy.

Fox numbers are increasing, meaning more dangers for our hens. If you kept such gentle, affectionate and wonderful characters as my hens are, you might start to feel differently.

B Lingwood, Elvington, York.