diamondsilkies
Songster
In our 10 years of chicken keeping, we have never had a predator get into our coop, and we live in an area with lots of them (hawks, coyotes, snakes, bobcats, etc.). Here are my suggestions:
-The latch on the door(s) should be something that a predator could not easily figure out. It doesn't have to be extremely complicated, just something they can't bump open.
-To keep predators from digging underneath into your coop, you can dig a trench for the foundation that will fit two cinder blocks in it.
-Like stated above, hardware cloth is your best option as wire. To keep a predator from pulling the wire off, attach it from the inside, or sandwich it between wood/metal.
-Keep the top covered. I use corrugated metal, but there are lots of options.
-As long as any holes are not bigger than 1/2 inch, you shouldn't have much of a problem with snakes. If little snakes get in, it's likely your chickens will eat them.
Also, I wouldn't worry too much about cats. All of my cats have been afraid of my chickens, including my seramas (although that might just be a lucky personality trait I keep getting). Keep an eye out for them, but they should be okay.
Again, this is just what I do. You don't have to go to this measure, but there are just my suggestions. Good luck!
-The latch on the door(s) should be something that a predator could not easily figure out. It doesn't have to be extremely complicated, just something they can't bump open.
-To keep predators from digging underneath into your coop, you can dig a trench for the foundation that will fit two cinder blocks in it.
-Like stated above, hardware cloth is your best option as wire. To keep a predator from pulling the wire off, attach it from the inside, or sandwich it between wood/metal.
-Keep the top covered. I use corrugated metal, but there are lots of options.
-As long as any holes are not bigger than 1/2 inch, you shouldn't have much of a problem with snakes. If little snakes get in, it's likely your chickens will eat them.
Also, I wouldn't worry too much about cats. All of my cats have been afraid of my chickens, including my seramas (although that might just be a lucky personality trait I keep getting). Keep an eye out for them, but they should be okay.
Again, this is just what I do. You don't have to go to this measure, but there are just my suggestions. Good luck!
Pictures of Secretary birds do not do them justice. They have them in San Diego at the Safari Park & you have to see one in real life to see how completely terrifying those things are. The image of one breeding with a chicken, or imagining having one of those loose in my yard its just too, too, too funny. 
