They were slaughtered?

[one chick]

Well everybody I don't know what happened and I'm so upset I came back from visiting my family yesterday to find that my four chickens were slaughtered Three of them their heads were missing and one of them the black one was gone. My coop was totally enclosed and then I added a 15 ft run with chain link going up but not covered and my neighbors are thinking it's a raccoon that climbed up there and killed them. They tell me I can't get new chickens for a while because the raccoons will keep coming back so I'm going to wait till after our Tennessee winter and try again in the spring. I love them they were big and beautiful they followed me all around I'm very sad! It just broke my heart and had a doctor's appointment in my blood pressure was over 144! Does anybody have any suggestions how to keep them out or is it possible a chicken hawk flu into the fence area The chickens went in the enclosed area and the chicken hawk went in and took them out one by one but the fact that the heads are missing indicates it's a raccoon Am I right? Any feedback would be appreciated so love your ladies while you have them you never know day-to-day..

 

[BoundlessLove]

Sorry this happened.
You will need to close off the top and use hardware cloth around all of the chain link.

 

[jbj25]

Yes, the only way to for it to be predator prove is to enclose it completely with hardware cloth fastened well. Also a skirt around the bottom, and there is more than one way to do that.

 

[McChooky]

I agree. To keeps predators out like hawks,rats,owls,snakes, foxes, raccoons and weasels it needs 1/2" galvanized steel mesh around the sides and bottom .Predators like foxes, bob cats and coyotes can jump or climb a chain link fence and carry them off one by one.I built one out of used lumber and pallets and covered it top to bottom in hw cloth and made an apron out of the same.I've lost zero birds inside

 

[KJsHalfPintFarm]

I am so sorry! I lost one of mine last year in broad daylight to a red tail hawk in a very small uncovered free range area while I was steps away inside the house.

I was talking to a greenhouse owner who also keeps chickens and she said it sounds like a great horned owl. They've done the same thing to hers.

Again I'm so very sorry! I only had the 3 girls and after losing Fomo I worried my flock was too small so I got 4 baby chicks in June. I still miss her every day but these chicks + a hawk net over the free range area are her legacy.

 

[DLA]

I'm sorry you lost your chickens. That's tough to deal with. As other have said, a fully enclosed run with hardware cloth with a skirt to protect from predators from all angles is the best bet. The good news is you already have the fence and supports to attach to so that makes it easier. I'd use some kind of flexible durable wire to connect it all to the chain link and connect the panels over the top. Some people use zip ties but I've found that over time they will degrade and break. You'll need to add some supports for the roof sections too. If you don't leave any gaps or places a predator can pull the wire sections apart, nothing should be able to get in. They sell big rolls of hardware cloth on amazon, the 1/2 inch square, 48 inch x 100 foot roll is more than enough to do a normal size run. I've made two runs now with it and while it's not the easiest to work with this is a good quality that holds up well. https://www.amazon.com/stores/SEBOS...ef_=ast_bln&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto