Almost every experienced keeper has a story about the morning they found feathers and no birds. The hard truth is that nearly every predator loss is preventable. Raccoons, foxes, hawks, weasels, and neighborhood dogs are all patient and clever, so your defenses have to be better.
Hardware cloth, not chicken wire Chicken wire keeps chickens in; it does not keep predators out. A raccoon will tear through it and a dog will push through it. Cover every opening, window, and vent with half-inch hardware cloth, screwed down with washers, not stapled.
Stop the diggers Foxes and dogs dig under walls. Either bury hardware cloth a foot deep around the perimeter or, easier, lay a two-foot apron of hardware cloth flat on the ground against the base of the run and pin it down. When a predator digs at the wall and hits wire, it gives up.
Lock up at dusk Most attacks happen at night. A simple slide-bolt is not enough because raccoons have nimble hands; use a two-step latch or a spring-loaded carabiner. Better yet, install an automatic door that closes at dusk so a forgotten night never costs you the flock.
Cover the run Hawks and owls hunt from above. A covered run, even just deer netting stretched over the top, ends aerial attacks and keeps wild birds from sharing disease.
Walk your perimeter weekly - Check for fresh digging along the base. - Look for gaps where wood has warped or wire has pulled loose. - Confirm every latch still closes tight.
Predators test your defenses constantly. A few minutes of maintenance each week is the cheapest flock insurance you can buy.