What could the predator be?

[wahnsdlr]

A couple of weeks ago, something knocked one side of my a-frame coop and got a chicken. Since then I have re-evaluated my security and everything is secured with either a spring loaded latch or a carabiner.
When I looked out this morning, I could tell their water had been knocked over during the night. I went out to investigate and found evidence that something had tried to dig into my other small coop which has 1 ft skirted hardware cloth. In addition, however, it was clear something had been trying to get the chickens through the 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the coop. There were feathers from one chicken, in particular, scattered all around the perimiter and on the hardware cloth. Also, there was a bit of blood on the hardware cloth, but none to be found on the chicken.
The a frame coop had some feather evidence on the handle, and though it wasn't opened, there is enough of a gap on one of the doors that something was able to reach in and grab a few feathers from there too.
I looked for tracks, but could see none.
What sort of predator can reach enough of its hand into half inch hardware cloth that it can pluck off feathers?
I'm thankful that whatever it was, was not successful in getting any of my chickens, but I'd like to know what I'm battling against.

 

[sourland]

It sounds very much like the work of a raccoon. Try setting a box trap;.

 

[wahnsdlr]

Yes, raccoon was my guess. Two nights before the attack that got a chicken, my husband had opened the front door to find a raccoon staring at him, munching on some cat food. He said the coon was unbothered by his presence and said "go back inside".
But, I though a racoon's paws were likely bigger than half an inch.... Would this be the work of babies? Or are racoon's smaller and sneaker than I thought??

 

[kaumlauf]

If the coon reached in with just a few fingers and claws, it could grab some feathers, I think. I doubt an entire paw would fit in..