My girls first night out last night!

[RichieRichh]

Checked on the ladies multiple times, they looked happy and all seemed to be fine. Just my luck, 6am i head out to check on the flock and one is missing! Found a few bones and feathers just outside the run area. Needless to say my "bullet proof" coop and run aren't up to military standard. This chicken dad has a lot of work to do tonight :/

 

[chickmomma03]

oh no so sorry for your loss! Check around the bottom for any gaps and put hardware cloth or chicken wire to prevent predators. Check your run for any point of entry possible and secure that too.

 

[RichieRichh]

Thank you for the tips and your kindness! I did a thorough inspection today after work and noticed that the only possible point of entry would be via the roof of the run. Something large had climbed up and went on in, and I can see that it bent my thick wire fencing about a foot out of whack on its way out. Not sure what it could have been but certainly heavy enough to bend my fencing. Time to get to work for me!

oh no so sorry for your loss! Check around the bottom for any gaps and put hardware cloth or chicken wire to prevent predators. Check your run for any point of entry possible and secure that too.

 

[chickmomma03]

Quote: maybe an outdoor cat (not declawed) or racoon? they can climb, I can't think of anything else right now that would actually bend it with enough weight that can climb.

 

[junebuggena]

An uncovered run is not a good place for a chicken to spend the night. I suggest shutting them in the coop during the night and secure all the doors with raccoon-proof latches.

 

[RichieRichh]

I was thinking raccoon also:/
I

maybe an outdoor cat (not declawed) or racoon? they can climb, I can't think of anything else right now that would actually bend it with enough weight that can climb.

 

[RichieRichh]

The run is fully covered, however there was one corner (near a tree) unfortunately that I made the mistake of not securing as well as I should have:/ also the girls were all inside of their coop however there is a small door for them to go in and out of and I was wrong to think they'd just stay in there! I will be repairing the roof tonight and adding a door to seal the coop fully. Thank you

An uncovered run is not a good place for a chicken to spend the night. I suggest shutting them in the coop during the night and secure all the doors with raccoon-proof latches.

 

[RichieRichh]

UPDATE!
Going five nights strong! The coop and run is heavily fortified and the ladies have been safe and sound since doing so! They all appear to be happy and healthy

 

[chickmomma03]

yay!