We've had issues with coyotes during both the day and the night. They're mostly nighttime visitors, but my wife saw a coyote snag one of our hens and dissappear into the corn field in broad daylight last year. We've not had trouble with them since we put up a fence, though, so hearing about one scaling your fence is quite a bummer.

I'm sorry to hear that a coyote got one of your chickens! I've only ever had problems with racoons, and usually around dusk. I've also only raised backyard chickens in the middle of the suburbs. Have any dogs that are friendly and protective of the chickens?