All Chicks Missing Overnight

[NoelTate]

The only predator problem I have had has been neighborhood dogs from irresponsible owners who did not keep them in fences at home. They have torn into my coop twice and killed everything. I reinforced the bottom half of my coop with stronger wire (luckily, someone threw out a roll of rabbit wire on the side of the road!) and already had the top covered with chicken wire to keep hawks out. I wish I were lucky enough to have skunks! I love them and would gladly build a stronger coop in exchange for having them around. We had a pet one once, and she was one of the best pets I've ever owned

I am working on fencing the entire property so that the coop is inside a chain link fence with my dog in the fence so that other dogs will be blocked and deterred from trying to get into the fence to get to the coop. A large dog sounds like your best bet. I have also read of people putting a radio in their coops to keep predators away, but I would be surprised if that worked.

 

[belibutn]

Yeah, I don't think that a radio or motion activated light would work on raccoons for more than a night, if even that long. We used to have a raccoon come up onto the porch and eat the cat food and would just look up at us when we turned the porch light on and opened the door with an expression that said "What? I'm at the buffet here." If we chased it off, it would just go a little outside the light of the porch and wait. They are smart and patient and will soon learn that the sound of a radio doesn't mean harm, unless they get hit with said radio if you throw it at them.

 

[pepperluvsmee]

Have you thought of weasels? I know people will disagree with me, but they are very strong little animals. They can tear through chicken wire with great strength and will take all they can carry back to thier den. The lesser weasel can get through a hole the size of a hot dog and will find another way out. They took out my entire flock last November.
Keep in mind they need to live near a water source, so if you do not live any where near a creek or pond, then it is something else.
Most predators will not climb a fence to get to any prey unless they are so starved that they get desperate. They will look for the easiest route.
My coop looks like fort knox or a quaint apartment in the bronx. The wire holes are so small, I wated a lady bug struggle to get through the other day!
Good Luck
-Theresa

 

[Buster]

A few years ago, I lost a whole group of ducklings in much the same way and my guess was fox. My uncle lost 30 chickens and a goose to a fox that jumped his 6 foot chicken run and ran right back over it with a chicken in tow every time. You would be surprised at how agile predators can be. You would be surprised how small the openings they can get in are too. My 60 pound australian cattle dog can enter the chicken coop through an opening no bigger than 9x10.

 

[AussieSharon]

Just wanted to say I am very sorry for your loss.