Something bent/made a whole in my chain link!

[AnnieOakley379]

I went to let the chickens out of the coop this morning, & noticed a gaping hole in the chain link. It looked as if something had reached in with 2 hands, & pulled it apart! It's not a huge hole, but it's about 3.5 or so inches...big enough for something to get in & cause mayhem.

It is pretty tough wire...I had to use pliers to put it back to (somewhat) normal, & I patched it with hardware cloth just to be safe.

I wonder what kind of animal can bend chain link? Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Cetawin]

Wow...human or bear would be my guesses. too high for a raccoon to reach, foxes do not normally operate their paws in that manner, skunks would not do that, a dog would not do that...only thing I can think of is human, bear or coon (which height eliminates...a human would have climbed over so I would be looking for signs of bear...

strange though because a bear could have ripped that apart and torn into the coop itself, which is what they would usually do. May be time for a trail cam set up.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Where are your chickens located? Montana or Mass? I can't tell by your ID. Bear, raccoon depending on gauge of wire, big dog or coyote.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

My dogs have chewed open their chainlink kennel enough to escape before...but I'd guess human?? Unless your gates are not locked? Then, it'd be easier for the person to just open it up...are you missing any birds? Eggs?

 

[Country4ever]

Wow...........that's impressive! What kind of mayhem did it cause? I hope you didn't lose any chickens. Are those connectors you used to attach the hardware cloth easy to pull off??
Did you see any kind of hair/fur around it?
Is it possible a deer got a leg caught in it???
Very strange!

 

[currycomb]

that hole looks like my chain link dog pens where the dogs bite it trying to get out. my uneducated guess, dog or coyote

 

[Judy]

Quote:
these would be my guesses

 

[AnnieOakley379]

I'm in Southeast MA.

I don't think it was a human, because the gate is never locked. I'm not missing any chickens either.

The connectors for the hardware cloth are just big zip/cable ties. I had them on hand, so I used them. They are pretty strong.

A few people said it might be a dog...I didn't see any strays in the area. I have 4 big dogs on the property, but they're indoors at night. I will keep my eyes open & see if the neighbors have seen anything suspicious further down the street.

 

[Country4ever]

Maybe all those ticks you have out east are getting stronger!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I HIGHLY doubt it was a human, and here's why. Humans are smart and lazy, why would they spend all that effort to put a hole in the chainlink of a chicken coop, when the door it unlocked? Of it it is a dog kennel, it would be easier just to flip the darn thing.

It could be a bear, but a bear could easily do more(I would imagine). If it was a bear, I doubt it would stop at such a small hole, ya know?

How high off the ground is it? I have seen dogs do similar, if not identical damage to chainlink. They get a bottom or top jaw in there and just chomp and go at it.

My suggestion? Strap some electric wire to the chainlink and make it hot(electrified). Chainlink is an excellent fence, very sturdy, but a determined dog can get through it. With electric wire, it creates as much a mental barrier as it does physical.

-Kim