What killed my chicks?

[icy2day]

We had 4 chicks, 3 pullets and one roo. They were about 7 weeks old, and we put them outside for the night (since it was so nice out). The next morning, I found them dead and half eaten. They were in a large wooden box, and i had a screen over it. The screen was pushed a little to the side in the morning, though the opening wasn't large. The chicks' bodies were mostly intact, except for one, which had its lower body eaten. I have seen foxes around the area, although i'm not too sure if they killed the chicks. Also, when i went to check the same area the following night, i saw a stray cat wandering in the area where the chicks used to be. i'm hoping to find out what did it, to set up measures to protect my 17 week olds.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i'm very sorry for your loss.

Sounds like that box was not super secure. Was the screen just set over it? It could have been a cat, or any of the other predators in your area. Although, i would think a fox would have either eaten them all or taken one with him. What kind of coop do you have for your older chickens?

 

[icy2day]

Yes, the screen was just set over it, but we had a wooden board on it too. Our bigger coop has a small run (completely surrounded by chicken wire) and a space above it completely enclosed by wooden boards for the chickens to sleep in. There's a ladder leading up to the space, but it really isn't a ladder, since we placed it so that the it lays flat between the entrance of the space and the other side-basically, the chickens fly up to the ladder.

 

[ChickPrincess]

Yes, the screen was just set over it, but we had a wooden board on it too. Our bigger coop has a small run (completely surrounded by chicken wire) and a space above it completely enclosed by wooden boards for the chickens to sleep in. There's a ladder leading up to the space, but it really isn't a ladder, since we placed it so that the it lays flat between the entrance of the space and the other side-basically, the chickens fly up to the ladder.

Most predators can easily bust through chicken wire.
At night, are the chickens LOCKED inside a secure coop? Racoons and many other creatures can also easily climb ladders, fit through holes, etc. Whatever it was may very well come back soon to find easy prey.
Can you post a pic of your setup?