Thanks drumstick diva,
Yeah, I'm aware of the predator/chicken wire issue. We don't get anything other than cats around here. No skunks or coons with all the houses and such on the nearby blocks. Too urban for them. My dog keeps cats away as well as other dogs. She also protects the flock.
The only real threat, albeit slight, is a Falcon in the hood. But he's too small to even grab the silkies. There are a couple barn owls, but the girls are safe asleep by then.
Having the coop up also helps with predators and makes cleaning it a breeze. So far, I find that the higher the roost, the happier the chicken. They love being as high as they can get, makes them feel safe and secure.
If anything, I'd use the money to buy a full netting set up before I'd add hardware cloth to the coop. In my yard, death comes from above. There's one good reason to keep the rooster, an early alarm system that will fight to the death should the Falcon grow bold.