I’ve been keeping chickens for over 40 years, built 3 coops along the way with my current coop being about 35 years old. I learned from the first 2 and incorporated a lot of ideas that have kept my flock(s) safe. I have never lost a bird to a predator! Refurbed the coop this year before...
I'm a hatch-aholic too. Been hatching eggs for the past 25 years. This year I finally broke down and bought a "store bought" incubator. Despite the new one, I'm also using my most recent home built one.....just in case!