What happened to my chickens?

[Idamama]

I’m so sorry, that’s devastating. My brother’s flock got completely taken out by a weasel. They can easily fit through chain link. Another time it was a skunk that dug underneath. My dad built a coop with chicken wire covering the floor 4” under ground for that very reason, and hardware cloth on the coop openings so even if something tears open the run, it still can’t get in the coop. Hasn’t lost a chicken yet.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

It does not have a roof. Good to know about the chicken wire. Thanks!

Until today, we had one rooster and 6 hens in one coop. The coop is inside a chain link kennel and the kennel has blocks around the base and chicken wire around the chain link about three feet up. The top of the kennel has rows of chicken wire across it to protect the chickens from hawks. In addition, to protect the birds from the neighbors, we have a padlock on the door to the kennel. It is virtually predator and escape proof...so we thought. I went out to feed them today and they are all gone except the rooster. His feathers are everywhere (there are a few hen feathers but they are mostly his) and he is lying dead with his body hollowed out. The lock is still locked, the chicken wire is in place and although it looks like something tried to dig around the kennel close to where the carcass is, nothing dug under and the chain link and the chicken wire are untouched. What happened? Has anyone else ever experienced this?

If it doesn’t have a roof anything can get them. They need shelter from the elements and predators by having a roof. Most animals can climb, especially raccoons.

 

[50-45-1]

The problem I see with those chainlink dog kennels is the door. There are sometimes a gap or opening at the corners, that can not be secured without preventing the door from easily opening when you want to enter.
The chain link itself will as mentioned allow weasel and rodent access even with your 3 foot chicken wire. Racoons can also reach there hands through it and grab and pull what ever they can reach.
How old or big were your hens?
Look for an opening big enough for there bodies to have been removed.
We all learn these lessons the hard way.
Sorry this happened.