Started keeping backyard chickens this spring and my current setup is basically just a movable pen, but I want something more permanent. We've had problems with raccoons and hawks in the area, so I need something really secure. Should I go with buried fencing, electric netting, or build a fixed coop with a run?
How much time and budget do you have? A fixed coop with an attached run is genuinely your most reliable option - combines overhead protection against hawks with the buried perimeter that stops diggers. The pitfall people miss is that even with perfect fencing, you need solid roofing or netting on top of the run itself, or a determined hawk will still get in from above. Electric fencing works but requires consistent maintenance and won't stop a determined raccoon already inside your perimeter, so it's better as a supplement than a standalone solution.
raccoons are diggers so buried fencing needs to go at least 12 inches down and bend outward at the bottom, which is why most people combine it with a solid fixed structure. honestly your best bet is a permanent coop with a attached run made of hardware cloth (not chicken wire - raccoons tear through that) and a roof, since hawks come from above and you want zero gaps predators can exploit. electric netting is great for daytime ranging but won't stop determined nighttime visitors like raccoons, so it's more of a supplementary thing. the upfront cost of building proper stucture is higher but after dealing with predators once or twice you'll wish you'd done it from the start
The combo approach really does work best, but you don't necessarily need to go full permanent coop right away if budget's tight - start with a sturdy fixed run (solid roof, buried fencing as mentioned) and upgrade to an attached coop later. The key thing people miss is that hawks need to see open sky to strike, so even a basic roof or netting overhead makes a huge difference while you're still securing the perimeter. Electric fencing is great as an added layer since raccoons hate it, but on its own it won't stop determined diggers or aerial attacks - it works better as backup to solid barriers rather than the main defense.
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