I live in the middle of Suburbia surrounded by five houses behind and beside me.
My DH tells me we do not have raccoons around here. He grew up here, I didn't. We do have rats and I am doing my best to keep those nasty things at bay. There are coyotes out in the Hills but we live 5-10 miles from the nearest rural area literally surrounded by subdivisions and strip malls and concrete (yuck). And neighborhood cats that my neighbors can't seem to keep inside as I do with mine.
I have an A frame chicken coop (see photos of my coop) with 1/2" hardware cloth, sitting on dirt hardware cloth more dirt and then 12" blocks covered with pine shavings, DE and PDZ. The wire and block extend out roughly 2-2 1/2' except for close to the privacy fence which is about a foot. I have put double hooks with the spring latches on the doors. I put extra boarding around the doors besides the frames. I close the girls up at night in their upstairs coop with their door/ramp. It has some cracks around the edges maybe 1/4" and hardware covered vents close to the top.
During the day and only when I am home, I put them in a chicken wire covered play pen that I move around. (Photos also in My coop pictures). I have a small grass area in the back yard, a pool, a patio, etc. The back is completely fenced in but the front gate does have a gap under it. I keep an eye on them and ear out. I also take them fresh water and greens several times during the day. We do have hawks around sometimes but if I hear them I put the girls back in their coop just in case.
Do you think my girls are safe? I have to say I only have three for eggs when they begin to lay but they are my babies and I'd be devastated is something happen to them. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks!