I thought my run was impenetrable... I was wrong

[garye5007]

My run is chain link panels sides and top 1/2" hardware cloth halfway up and 2x4 welded wire skirt buried all around. Something got in and tore apart one of my hens...
I found chain link was not secured in some spots on top. fixed that. How small a space can the varmint fit thru? also, what will scale a chain link and squeeze between fence and the bar on top? for 10+ years i've had no predator problems had a big fenced area. now they are confined to chain link area and am still having problems. Getting frustrated...

 

[Shannonsflock]

Minks or weasels could be the predator
They could fit through anything that's about an inch in diameter

 

[Mrs Grace]

I gave up the fenced in idea. At least they are free while they are alive. I'm tired of trying right now.

 

[Pharkas]

My run is chain link panels sides and top 1/2" hardware cloth halfway up and 2x4 welded wire skirt buried all around. Something got in and tore apart one of my hens...
I found chain link was not secured in some spots on top. fixed that. How small a space can the varmint fit thru? also, what will scale a chain link and squeeze between fence and the bar on top? for 10+ years i've had no predator problems had a big fenced area. now they are confined to chain link area and am still having problems. Getting frustrated...

Did you have other hens in the same area that were unharmed? What exactly did the predator do to the hen? Decapitated? Ate part or all of meat? Any blood/dirt in water container? Sorry but gory details can help determine what got your hen. Any trees etc close to run that something could use to get on top of run?

 

[garye5007]

There were 2 other birds in the run/coop, unharmed looks like the attack happened in the coop and brought out pop door.
head and neck were attached badly mangled but there. stomach and chest was ripped open I guess some meat was eaten... unsure.
didn't notice blood or dirt in water. there is a tree that it could have gotten on top of run top is chain link panels, but like i said top of fence was loose in spots from the bar... all wired together now and wired a 2x4 against coop and on top of door where something could possibly squeeze thru. The tree has to go anyway
Thanks for the replies!

 

[rainbowhatchery]

Sadly when a predator has all night to figure it out night after night they eventually will find a way in. We use LGD dogs, about the only effective way we have found in a high predator area because they are on guard all night long.

 

[RonP]

I once had a similar setup.

Racoon found the weak spots...

 

[Blooie]

I am so sorry this happened to your and your hen. We do the best we can for them, but other critters don't quite feel as protective toward our flocks as we do. I have to remind myself all the time that I've done the best I can, and in my mind I don't think there's such thing as a 100% predator proof setup. As soon as I start thinking that, complacency will set in as sure as I'm typing here, and I'll overlook a little loose spot, or a missed spot, or a weak spot. Either that or I'll see something that should be fixed and remind myself to get at that tomorrow. Then the predator is in my coop or run and I have a disaster on my hands. Like I said, we do the best we can. You did that. It still happened. And it will likely happen to all of us at one time or another. Please don't be so hard on yourself.

 

[CrazyTalk]

Minks or weasels could be the predator
They could fit through anything that's about an inch in diameter

I doubt a mink or weasel would have scaled to the top - they would have gone in right above the hardware cloth. I'd guess something bigger - raccoon.

 

[rainbowhatchery]

most predators can chew through most fencing if they really want to. I have also heard of racoons just sitting outside strong fence and using their little hands to reach in and grab a bird when it goes by and rip its head off, eeekk