[header] How to protect chickens from feral animals [title] Build your coop off the ground. [step] When building a coop, elevation can help protect your chicken from potential predators. This can prevent rodents from nesting near your chicken coop, as they will be more exposed. 
Ideally, have your coop elevated about a foot off the ground. [substeps] Unless you're very familiar with building yourself, it's best to have professionals build your chicken coop.