Please help solving this mystery

This isn't exactly gardening, but I do have a farm-related mystery that needs solving.
This morning when I went out to the coop, both ladders were knocked off the nest boxes, and one was broken. The ladies were all huddled in the other coop, and didn't come for their morning treats (unheard of behavior for my girls!). All of the hens were present, and none were hurt in any way, but they were really spooked. There were no tracks in the coop; no tracks in the barn aisle. However, there were deer tracks in the garden in back of the barn. Our barn is open, in that there is no way to close it off on either end.
My first thought was a snake, but our coop is pretty well snake-proof, and snakes are hibernating during cold spells. Last night's temperature was about 33 F, 2 C. and yesterday's daytime temperature was 41 F.
All the wire was in place, there was no evidence of digging around the perimeter of either coop (we have chicken wire buried under bricks all around both coops), and the doors were secured. It seems unlikely that a skunk or opossum could get in. My husband is setting up the trail camera to film anything going on in the barn at night.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what happened? I want to keep our ladies safe, so if there is a predator out there, I want to take care of it. Would a deer run through a building like a barn? Any suggestions will be gratefully received. I am inordinately fond of our hens!

 

Definitely a mystery and nothing is coming to mind other than a two legged predator who could have opened/closed doors - but - somehow that doesn't seem to fit and probably wouldn't have 'spooked' your ladies.

 

no ideas from here, either. Not sure what you have for predators there as opposed to me here, but If the ladder was broken, since no hens were hurt maybe something that could smell grain and not interested in meat? but if your coop is snake proof how could anything else have access?

 

Maybe a raccoon trying to reach in? And as Toni said, a frenzy ensued.

 

Mystery solved! Jack the owl is back, and the trail camera caught him sitting on the shelf outside the coop, admiring my delicious looking hens! Toni was right--the hens panicked and took down their ladders in their mad flight. The new coop where they were hiding has tarps over the chicken wire on the barn aisle side to make it warmer, and Jack couldn't see in, or be seen, so that is where the ladies hid out.
Actually, I'm rather relieved. I'm glad Jack is still hanging around, and that our coops are secure enough to keep him out. I was afraid that whatever was scaring the hens was stray dogs or feral cats and I'd be sitting all night in the barn with my rifle across my knees.
This morning there was no sign of nighttime horrors with the ladies and I patrolled the coops again, just to make sure everything is secured tight.
Thanks for all your suggestions--it helped us narrow down the possibilities, but frankly, owl hadn't occurred to us!

 

Toni, "dither" is a very mild term for the absolute panic that the hens can attain!
Here is a photo from the trail camera.

 

Those trail cams are great, aren't they.
This is such a good shot too.

 

I never would have guessed owl either. Glad your mystery has been solved.
Trail camera's are great! I put one out this morning to solve the mystery of what is underneath our shed. I think skunk, but I'm hoping its just a bunny.

 

I have a crazy neighbor next door. If she were to see me setting up a trail cam, I'm quite sure the cops would be called.

 

Wow Marlin that would send me into a bit of a panic. Poor girls. I can't believe that Owl is so bold as to fly into your barn. To bad you couldn't put up some plastic snow fence tied together to form a temporary door at night. Then just roll it up during the day. I know the girls would really appreciate it.

 

WOW! That definitely definitively defines the denizen AND solves the mystery

 

Tooty, the openings to our barn are very large, to accommodate a tractor or other large equipment. It would take a lot of temporary fencing to close them off. Making the coop secure is a lot easier!
We haven't had an owl visit since the trailcam picture was taken. I think Jack decided it wasn't worth the effort. Our ladies are over their temporary trauma and are laying eggs like crazy!

 

That was quite interesting. Did you find trap for them?