Will this work?

[Sullysul]

The reason we use 1/2 inch hc is so the raccoons can't use their fingers to grip it and yank it away from where it's attached.
I wish I had taken a picture of what they did to my garage walk door. They peeled the outer metal layer up and away trying to get inside. They also ripped off hardware cloth that I had stapled to wood so then I started sandwiching it with furring strips. only then did I have a secure coop.

Because of the way the wire is twisted to form the fence and openings are decently large, coons can just latch on and pull to enlarge an opening, then reach in an just grab a chicken and forcibly pull pieces of it through the hole. Or if they pull hard enough they can tear the wire apart, period.

https://www.mypetchicken.com/backya...e-gauge-and-why-should-I-care-about-H346.aspx

Not claiming hardware cloth is perfect but it should be more effective against coons at the very least, and will keep out all but the tiniest of rodents.

If they are locked in the coop part at night do I still need to do that? If I lock all the latches?

 

[cmom]

I'm lucky. I have seen coons on my game cameras but so far they haven't messed with my birds. I do have electric wire around my coops and pens. I do have chicken wire up but I also have welded wire. Good luck and have fun...

 

[hayley3]

If they are locked in the coop part at night do I still need to do that? If I lock all the latches?

As long as the chickens are put in the coop before dusk it will protect against against raccoons. A fox comes at different times of the day though so they can dig under or climb over.

 

[Sullysul]

As long as the chickens are put in the coop before dusk it will protect against against raccoons. A fox comes at different times of the day though so they can dig under or climb over.

Thank you.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If they are locked in the coop part at night do I still need to do that? If I lock all the latches?

I'd say it's up to you then. Even though mine are locked up at night I still feel better about having the run a little more secure, as I don't always set the door to close right after they go to roost (I get tired of messing with the timer).

Of course I've seen coons active in the daytime, but they're usually just grabbing a drink before scurrying off into the bushes again.

 

[Sullysul]

I'd say it's up to you then. Even though mine are locked up at night I still feel better about having the run a little more secure, as I don't always set the door to close right after they go to roost (I get tired of messing with the timer).

Of course I've seen coons active in the daytime, but they're usually just grabbing a drink before scurrying off into the bushes again.

Gotcha. Yeah I’ll need to make some improvements then.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I'd say it's up to you then. Even though mine are locked up at night I still feel better about having the run a little more secure, as I don't always set the door to close right after they go to roost (I get tired of messing with the timer).

Of course I've seen coons active in the daytime, but they're usually just grabbing a drink before scurrying off into the bushes again.

I agree. Last night is a good example of this. I ended up getting so busy, screaming 6 month old with a fever and 5 other kids running around that I totally forgot to lock up the coop.

I also think that if you have a predator proof run then that's just a second line of defense. Theyll give up trying to get into the run that they wont even make it to the coop.