Sorry to hear of it too. You could use the time to re-think your housing/pen arrangement. I just did an oversized pen at 2000 sq ft. 6 ft welded wire 2x4 fence set in cement. Fence charger (5-mile capacity, 4 KV) with 4 strands of hot wire. 24" tall roll of chicken wire around inside at ground level keeps their inquisitive chickie heads inside. Even so, I still drop down the guillotine doors at dusk just in case. Then I have to go out at dawn to let them out, but it gives me an excuse to check out everything and look for eggs too.
With all of that, I am still afraid of coons. I am going to keep a trap baited at all times. Hawks and owls no concern due to large resident population of crows. Our 24 girls are 17 weeks now so not as likely to get snatched by an airborne pred. We do have coyotes too, and will not let our dog out at night because she is too small. Wish my old pit bull had not died. He was 12.
I am a man, but still, I am attached to a few of the chooks that have made efforts to be friendly. They are as pets to me.
