RACCOONS!!! Let me say this again: RACCOONS!!! Even if you have NO other predators, this one alone will wipe out your flock. In fact, in the city, where we have fences that keep other predators, like stray dogs out, I think raccoons are about the worst predator you can have, because they are so darned smart, and agile. They can dig, climb trees and climb your fence to drop into your run, undo locks with their little hands, and they are strong and determined.
We live in the suburbs of a large city, population 1 Mil., we have six foot privacy fencing, and a dog. Our hens and ducks cruise around in the backyard all day. But at night they are LOCKED DOWN. The duck pen and the duck house inside, and the chicken run attached to the coop are all as predator proof as we can make them. The pens are dog kennels completely covered with 1/2" hardware cloth on sides, top and buried 8" under the ground. And I still lock the chickens in their coop and the ducks in their duck house at night.
Just last night, I was leaving to go babysit my nephew. Walking up the street, three houses away, and in plain view, were three HUGE coons. They glared at me when I stopped the car and yelled at them. Urban coons have no fear of people, cars, even dogs.
O.K., don't mean to frighten you, but if you build your coop and enclosure with this reality in mind, then you will probably be able to do a good job protecting your flock. Just put the effort in at the beginning, it's worth it, and you'll sleep better at night. Good Luck!
