Which breed is best for avoiding predators?

I have some limited but interesting observations from my own flock.

We had a bobcat that moved into our area during the fall. She was killing about a bird per week until a neighbor shot her (not at our request). Those were the only birds we ever lost and we haven't lost any since.

We had a mixed flock of 6 each of naked necks (various colors), black australorps, and buff orpingtons, all free ranging together. We lost 5 black australorps, 4 naked necks, and 0 buff orpingtons. The difference in mortality among groups is statistically significant.

I'm guessing the main factor was just color. Fall in Arkansas is orange-brown, about the same color as the buff orpingtons. The naked necks that survived were orange-brown and red-brown. The naked necks that did not were black, and white.

Maybe camouflage is at least as important as breed behavior.
 
I have some limited but interesting observations from my own flock.

We had a bobcat that moved into our area during the fall. She was killing about a bird per week until a neighbor shot her (not at our request). Those were the only birds we ever lost and we haven't lost any since.

We had a mixed flock of 6 each of naked necks (various colors), black australorps, and buff orpingtons, all free ranging together. We lost 5 black australorps, 4 naked necks, and 0 buff orpingtons. The difference in mortality among groups is statistically significant.

I'm guessing the main factor was just color. Fall in Arkansas is orange-brown, about the same color as the buff orpingtons. The naked necks that survived were orange-brown and red-brown. The naked necks that did not were black, and white.

Maybe camouflage is at least as important as breed behavior.
Very interesting jack0. Thanks for posting this.
 
I have lost 10 birds in the last 2 months... I'm assuming foxes as I have been seeing them everywhere lately. 3 feet of snow probably causing them to be braver than normal as my coop is only about 30 feet away from my house in the front yard. Of course my oblivious wife never hears anything... and these things always happen when I'm working a 12 hour shift.

My one eyed Black Langshan Roo somehow survived the attack and wedged himself under the coop overnight. Not sure if he will make it, but he's in the top of my coop next to a heatlamp as it's ridiculously cold here in Maine this winter.

My survivors have been mostly white egg layers: Leghorn, Hamburg, Buttercup. My young Welsummer pullet and Steve, my old Turken that just won't die and a few mutt cochin mixes. My losses have been all brown egg layers, Ameraucana and easter eggers.

My next order will be a Lakenvelder Roo and all white egg layers. My Hamburg has a broken wing from the first attack and still managed to get away the second attack a month later! Good layers but the eggs are small.

Next step is to get a have-a-heart and sight in my .22 as I have NO heart anymore for these predators.
 
My answer, after yet another attack, basically remains the same, Buttercup, Hamburg, Leghorn, Ameraucana all seem to be escape artists. Larger brown egg layers are too slow to escape from critters such as the fox... I lost my only Welsummer hen the other day. I really need to get a hav-a-heart trap so I can capture said fox and riddle his body with bullets... or slowly drown him in the stream behind my house.
 
Well, I'm curious to see about this because it makes sense to me. Seems as if it boils down to the normal survival traits within the respective environment:
Are the hens bigger and therefore slower and so they get caught while the faster ones run to safety?
Can they fly any at all, which makes them better at maneuvers and able to evade capture?
Are they camouflaged and the predator goes for the ones that catch the eye and stand out against the woods, trees, hay stacks, dirt, whatever it is on which they forage?

Anyway, I just lost a Barred Rock who was right next to an Australorp. The black one didn't seem to even be on the hawk's radar. Now I have added a Delaware and am nervous because she certainly stands out brightly.
I guess I, personally, need short flyers that move quickly and are colored to match dirt.
hu.gif

And are extremely heat tolerant and good layers. Geez.
 
Quote:

We do have a live trap but haven't had any luck with it. The coons are very smart...I actually love the little pests but I know that we can't all be happy together if they come around during the day.

My DH shot one in the coop one last week and he cooked it in a potato stew. That's the second time that we've ate one and it tastes just like beef...way better than venison IMHO (no, we're not rednecks...just don't like killing unless it is for food).
@imanerd I was brought up that way as well, but I don't know how to properly clean a raccoon. Would love to know what glands need to be removed and where they are located. Thank you
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom