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I will do the pics as soon as we build the rest of the boxes (most likely this weekend).
I don't worry much here about rats and mice, living against the woods they are unavoidable in a way (mice) and the amish neighbor now has a nasty garbage pile not far away which is a constant draw for rats. I have dogs which take care of any rats stupid enough to stray into our yard from the neighbor's... and the cats and chickens actively hunt the mice.
Our coop is stick built by us, I designed it to actually be on an elevated platform, it is approx 14 to 16 inches off of the ground level on treated posts. The floor platform was built with 2x8 frame around the outside and 2x6 floor joists. we closed the underside off completely with metal sheeting on most of it, and 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the rest. Then we insulated it and put 3/4" plywood down as the decking (floor). Walls are 2x4 stud build with headers and base boards and eaves are open for ventilation but covered in 1/4" hardware cloth. Basically, there is no way a critter can chew into the coop unless it takes an extended period of time to do so, and the elevation means the dogs, cats and chickens are regularly underneath of it and would roust anything making an attempt. Having it elevated also means nothing can really nest underneath either.
If your coop is on ground level, and you don't have the dogs and cats to help patrol then varmits are much more likely a problem.... but varmits don't like activity, and they like hiding in dark nooks and corners, so removing hiding spots goes a long way toward discouraging them. Food outside or food inside is going to attract unwanted attention no matter what you do. I make the general vicinity as unappealing as possible to reduce the attractiveness. We have had a rat in the run (eliminated by dogs) and a few mice (also now gone) but have never had one get inside...and since we use sand flooring there is nowhere for a mouse to hide if it would come in through the pop door anyway... it would be a sitting duck with all of those chickens around!!
I have never had geese, so don't know how they are for critter control, Galgo would be better able to answer that one.
I need to find/make a new meatie run for this years meaties.
