Maybe disrupted predator balance? Looking for thoughts/advice ...
So I may have reduced one problem to introduce more, and I'm looking for advice from more seasoned chicken caretakers. We have had a consistent few foxes in the yard. I love them, always have, but obviously don't want them getting the chickens so I went around the perimeter and put hardware cloth on the steel fencing (they were slipping through, 4" gaps between posts). Here's the fox kit we've had recently before I finished the perimeter (I'd already blocked his/her exit, hence stopping at the fence. Got out a different way.)
Before, I'd really only caught foxes on the cam. Maybe once/twice a night, some nights not at all (fox kit a lot though). A single raccoon months ago. (We've only had the chickens out for a bit longer than a week.) Now that I'm not seeing foxes, I'm starting to see ... smaller predators. (I disrupted the ecosystem I suppose). Last night there was a ferret/weasel/mink looking thing, and two large raccoons (who walked all around the coop/run and weren't at all deterred by the lights coming on).
Is it better to have foxes but maybe keep down the others? Are they all just going to show up anyway now that word has spread about new chickens in the neighborhood?
Side note, a neighbor maybe 1/5 mile tops as the crow flies has chickens in, as far as I can tell through a fence, a much less secure enclosure. I need to talk to them but haven't seen them out, so may leave a note on the door asking them to call me so I can learn what's up around here. (We live near a large state park/forest area.)
I guess I just want any thoughts/advice at this point. I won't kill or relocate wildlife.