Speckledhen I see you have had a run in with some really viscous children to be able to say : "Raccoons can open latches and they can chew through chicken wire. They are like young kids in some ways."
I myself have never seen children chew through chicken wire. What did you do put their Xbox in a wire cage? haha
Seriously, Frenzy, I am sorry you lost your silkie. I am afraid that I have to chime in with others here on the predator problem.
I lived in bliss for TWO YEARS, thinking I was doing all the right things unitill I came home one day and five of my birds were dead and mangled.
By neighborhood dogs. Later, I was plagued by possums, then by racoons. There is no substitute for absolutely secure night accomadations.
I am able to let my birds free range during the day (in a large fenced area) but at night they must be locked.
Even trapping and 'dispatching' is not a cure. It may feel good, it may help, but the next predator is always out there waiting for his day.
Good luck finding out how they got to your silkie. Racoons are uncanny little Houdinies. I heard a comedian once marveling at racoons saying 'they are like a cross between a monkey and a dog'.
