Mink? Raccoon?

[tomynoks]

2x4 wire is by no means predator proof. Chicken wire is cheap and fairly effective 1/4" hardware cloth/welded wire is best but is more expensive. By the grace of God I have not lost any ducks even though my property borders an irrigation canal that is a highway for coyote and who knows what else. I think my dogs definitely help w that. A couple of good labs might solve all your predator issues. But please secure that pen and replace any rusted wire/fence. It's work, and cost money, but I believe any animals I take in are my responsibility to protect and care for. Keep us posted.

 

[Trefoil]

In MI where I live chicken wire doesn't deter coons. Hardware cloth does. In the long run you are better off predator proofing than trying to trap.Its much more effective to be proactive than to wait until you have deaths and reacting. Even if it were possible to kill all the weasels,skunks,possums,& coon all that would gain you is problems with rodents.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

With enough pens or runs you will have losses to vermin regardless of the type of wire. There is only so much that mortal men and women can accomplish. When you do lose a bird learn from the experience, don't keep on keeping on making the same mistake over and over. You should manage your chicken predators, this means killing those that need killing and excluding those that can be kept out of your coop. The difficulty is in knowing which is which and understanding that no management strategy works 100% of the time. When management begins to break down then it time to control the critters in the most effective way possible.

 

[Bailey1204]

It sounds like a mink. They love to kill for sport and don't eat them. Typically they'll drag them a short way and eat out neck/throat sometimes head. Bit marks on head. If that's the case it's a mink. You can usually tell what a predator is by how they attack. How big was the hole?