Identifying a predator

[chickentherapy1]

Our 10 chicks were born late April and are now in a chicken coop and run. We have an automatic door that closes after dark and opens in the morning and we have netting over the entire run area. We have a six foot fence we made with wooden boards and wire. Last week I woke up to see two chickens dead in the run area and two chickens missing. I was devastated. We looked around and couldn’t find an obvious entry. A neighbor said she did see a fox carrying off something white which was probably my splash maran. Since then, I have been locking the chickens up manually before it gets dark and letting them out in the morning. Unfortunately, today around 10am I saw an animal half way over the fence that was the color of a fox. I’m confused because I didn’t think a fox could climb. I’m not sure what to do or how to identify the predator! Ugh! Please help!

 

[ShazUK]

Foxes are incredible climbers, and they can squeeze into the tiniest of gaps. I lived with one for a while, believe me when I say they are more like cats than dogs.

 

[chickentherapy1]

Good to know. Thank you!

 

[ShazUK]

Good to know. Thank you!

No worries.

 

[chickentherapy1]

Lost another chicken in the middle of the day. We just ordered an electric fen e to surround the entire coup and run area. Hope this works.

 

[McChooky]

Lost another chicken in the middle of the day. We just ordered an electric fen e to surround the entire coup and run area. Hope this works.

I kept my chickens up until my dogs were trained to protect them.
Now I let them out everyday .