All these ideas sound good - lets hope I'm brave enough to try them. I'm also working on my coops, just a lot of work how I wish I was a carpenter - and didn't have to work. I'm hoping I can get my guineas to hunt snakes and gophers. I put the snake in the guinea pen but they were afraid of it - my sultans and cochins looked like they wanted a closer look. I hope when my roosters get bigger they'll be able to help out to. That fabric wire sounds good but sounds expensive and I can't turn all my coops into cages. I try everything to keep the pest out.