You want all openings covered. Don't just staple it because it can be pried up, use u shaped poultry nails.
I had a weasel climb up my rabbit cage, squeeze under the closed door and massacre all of them. If you have ever looked at a ferret, those things can really flatten themselves out.
Can you put her in a dog crate or a big box? Wait till she is asleep and put the babies under her.
I bet she is looking for her chicks. Sadly there may have been more that didn't make it.
I had to go out in a flood to rescue my 5 silkies. The others with feathers went inside before it got too bad.
The dumb silkies were huddled in a pile under a patio table with 6 inches of water about to wash them away. I had to duck walk under the table and then back out with the soaking wet...
Mine ate the tomatoes off first and then systematically stripped the leaves off the stems. They will usually take a sample to see if they like something. I think that in most cases they know what is not good for them. Mine nibble most of the herbs but haven't totaled them like the maters. :)
We're rebuilding. Up off the ground this time. 1/2" hardware cloth all around and roof on top. I'm laying it outside on the ground and inside too and concrete pavers on top of that. Oh and raccoon proof latches. I hope it's enough. Fort Coop. Lol
You would be the best judge on trapping or...
Better to be safe than sorry. A fox came over my 6-8 foot privacy fence and carried off a big duck.
My question is do you think a strip of hardware cloth is enough or will something climb up past it and go through the chicken wire at the top?