WE had a raccoon in our subdivision yard & it ate most of my big fish out of my pond. I bought very cheap hot sauce from Aldi's & watered it down, then sprinkled it around the pond & at the base of all the trees in my yard. Raccoons don't like the smell. We haven't had a problem since. I just re-sprinkle it every once in awhile to keep the smell "fresh". Maybe if you did this around the chicken house, it would help. I got the idea from some place on the internet.