We have raccoons too, and the chicks are locked up tight in their coop. The run has chicken wire screwed to a 2"x4" frame all the way around and into the ground a bit, and as I said the bird net top was for hawks and the leghorns (who I had read could fly like an eagle but until yesterday I hadn't seen itYah, mine's near a fence and tree, and raccoons climb, so I'm really hoping this stuff will be too hard for them to gnaw through (19 gauge) It's the minimum suggested on this site, and lets face it, it's already expensive!, can't afford to go thicker.

Your hardware cloth will be great- they won't get through.
Have fun with your pullets!
