Based on some observations Barb made, I haven't ruled out arson as the cause of the fire. We had a neighbor who anonomously complained to the town about our coop last year.
The problem is the evidence is circumstantial. The back door to the duck dorm was insulated and lined inside and out, and also latched on the outside, but when Barb went around to try and release the ducks, the door was open/gone and it shouldn't have been burned through so soon.
I guess we will never know, but I will be taking steps to increase security with our next coop, to include ballistic capabilities from the bedroom window.
There are people like that. When we retired from the AF, we began a wood business, quite by accident. We live in a small town. Rog was an engineer, I was a nurse. We began playing at the ranch, cutting trees and stacking the wood, then people began buying it. OH MY, what was whispered around, was not all that nice. 2 educated people cutting and selling wood. We eventially sold to AAFES, then large restaurents, chain stores, overseas, Austrailia. THEN, we became “respectable”. At first I was burned and ready to leave this place. I’ve cooled down and retired. I’m now in the process of starting a community garden. I’ve had the land cleared, and am now waiting for the Sr Center and the realestate woman to come to a financial agreement, then look out...cause we’re ready to move. I have a lot of help from the Soil conservation people and county agent, plus a couple of ag teachers. This is going to be fun and interesting.