Beginner question about a mobile pen

If you're using a mobile tractor, there's no way that's 100%. A couple of people use a metal skirt around the bottom, others just make sure the tractor is on flat ground. Are you sure the predators are going to be a problem, or are you just assuming? I live in the middle of the woods, and figured animals would be eating mine left and right, but haven't lost one yet.
 
The only actual attack we have had on our layers was by a hawk and since the broilers won't be free ranging that won't be an issue. (FYI The chicken escaped and is fine!) But we have seen fox around our coop at night and foxes got two of our neighbors chickens last spring. So I guess we are just trying to be cautious but it would seem that we need some protection.
 
We live in a rural area where we regularly hear coyotes at night. We have not had a single loss due to predators (knock on wood) except for one of our own dogs when she was a puppy. We raise our broilers on the day range model. They have a cattle panel shelter with a floor and straw bedding. This keeps them dry in wet or flooding conditions. It also provides shade in hot weather. We use electric poultry nets to surround each shelter. The chickens can be locked in their shelters at night and let out each morning to explore the pasture. The whole setup can be moved as the pasture wears down. In our case we don't have a need to lock the birds in their shelters but doing so would provide extra protection from predators.
All of our above setups are contained inside our main fence which consists of 3-4 strands of high tensile hot wire. Our dogs have learned that the bottom wire gives a good poke and we've never had other animals enter the pasture either. Plus, we do have 5 Labs and I think they go a long way in deterring predators from our yard. So, basically, any predators would have to get past the dogs, the hot wire, the electric net, and then break into the shelters. Not likely! Luckily, we haven't had any trouble with hawks at all. Hope this helps!
 

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