How should I protect my 3 chickens from predators?

[fushalilly]

We have a lot of foxes, cats, racoons, and hawks. i am new at this. We have a small strong coop, but no wire run or anythign to protect them while they are outside and we arent home. What did you use? Pictures help too!

 

[raindrop]

My run is made with pressure treated lumber corner posts, 12' metal posts 2 feet into the ground. The bottom 3' is 1/2" hardware cloth, buried 6" deep. The remainder of the sides and roof are 1" chicken wire. The gate is mounted so there is no more than 1" clearance on any side, the bottom is reinforced with bricks in concrete so nothing can dig under (this was added after I found evidence that something has tried). Here is an older picture, you can kind of see the run.

 

[CUDA]

A few options.

Build an enclosed run.
Start killing predators.
Get a good chicken dog.
Put an automatic door on your coop.

You can see some of my fly pens HERE . Good luck!

 

[yoonymoony]

I say build a run. Bury some chicken wire in the ground, get some posts to put up and chicken wire. Make sure you don't forget the top. This is an easy weekend project, if you get to it and stay devoted for a few hours. I have mine built around the chicken coop.