Predators and night critters usually establish a route they constantly use. Sometimes a property is in their route and suddenly someone with chickens causes the predators to review or alter their established route if the pickin's are EASY. We have city Raccoons and Oppossums that easily climb stucco, drain gutters, block walls, chainlink, trees, etc etc etc. All us neighbors chopped down our old and dying trees, cleaned out sheds/garages, and moved or dismantled old woodpiles and abandoned equipment to discourage Rats, Skunks, loose neighborhood Pet Snakes, feral Cats, loose stray Mutts - Chiququas can squeeze through small slits in gates/fences, etc. The more secure a coop the less likely the digging or clever predators (especially 'Coons) can enter a coop. 'Coons have rubbery spines and manipulative claws for squeezing through small openings or tearing open loose wire. That's why everyone on this thread will recommend 1/2" hardwire and burying it or skirting it around the coop/pen. We didn't have to bury wire because our coop is on top of a paver stone patio and the girls are fairly safe free-foraging during the day. We have a Cooper's Hawk (chicken hawk) that will visit from time to time and can be 5 feet away from a hiding hen but won't go after it. Our Hawk only likes open range birds to swoop on as we've seen him go after the Mourning Doves mid-air. We have 3 large doghouse, a couple low lean-to's, a pop-up canopy for shade, and plants for the hens to dive into when the barnyard alert is sounded by one of the girls - we have no roo so the hens have their own warning calls. I wish the Hawk wasn't so skittish so I could catch a picture of him hanging around a hiding hen. I wouldn't leave chicks or ducklings out in an open yard until they were at least 4 or 5 months old and as big as the adult hens. I love the security you are contemplating for your flock - you'll be happy you planned for security after finding the first predator tracks around one of your pens.
You will hear me hooting and hollering from Auckland when I get that first egg. I've memorised who lays what colour so I"ll have an idea of who laid it lol
