Advice on chicken breed compatibility.

[MrIC]

The chicken cage things don't look like they would be a problem for toes, but I'd need to get one to take a look at before I decided.

Chicken Orb

Ultimately, regular free-ranging would be easier, I just hate leaving an opening for a raptor, and we wouldnt always be able to stay out with them. I've read keeping a rooster helps because they keep an eye out. Is that true?

I looked at the hardness, and they all appear to be suited to our area. We're about halfway between Tacoma and Mt. Rainier at 700' elevation. 8b is our USDA hardness zone.

And were open to a flock of a single breed if it's what's best, just not our first choice.

 

[BDutch]

I've read keeping a rooster helps because they keep an eye out. Is that true?

A good rooster is on watch and warns the hens to take cover if he sees a predator.
Some are even too heroic and sacrifices themselves for his flock.

You need many hiding places too, to be effective. Think of dense bushes or ones with thorns. Portuguese laurel, blackberry, etc. Whatever grows as undergrowth in your forest. Clutter like old chairs and tables helps too.

 

[Chickenpoonumber2]

I'm pretty new to chickens, but I got 2 of each kind. Red sex link, white leghorn, and chocolate orpingtons. There is a "birds of a feather" thing that I wasn't really expecting. The white leghorns have been my friendliest and smartest birds and my chocolate orpingtons are kinda buttholes

 

[Folly's place]

I like having birds of different breeds and colors, more interesting, easier to tell them apart, and egg color variety. Also, nobody molts at the same time, so someone is usually in lay, definitely better.
You will figure out who you like, and which breeds you wouldn't ever order again!
And I thought the buff Orphingtons we had years ago were idiots, and lived short. Never again!
Mary

 

[Mixed Flawk]

We have about 15 different breeds and about as many sub breeds, as I call them, out of 40. We like variety. They all pretty much do their own thing. Here is a few hanging in the shade.

Food for thought, no pun intended. If you free range in the open I suggest hanging some decent rope with some old blank CDs on them. It breaks up the ground so the sky predators can't focus on dinner. Tree to tree or tree to run, any place you can hang so you can comfortably walk under.

 

[Appalachickens]

The chicken cage things don't look like they would be a problem for toes, but I'd need to get one to take a look at before I decided.

Chicken Orb

Just found this old thread on chicken orbs that might interest you. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-orbs.1524278/

 

[MrIC]

Just found this old thread on chicken orbs that might interest you. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-orbs.1524278/

Thanks for the link. We just hate the idea of anything happening to our animals (our dogs are chipped, have cameras, Crumb tags and cellular GPS trackers) so it seemed like a way to protect them, but i hadn't thought about the added risks as well as how they prevent some normal behaviors. I think we'll do a combination of treat training to go in when we call them and a chicken tractor for when we can't be outside.

Thanks!

And before it gets asked, our dogs (2 beagles and a black lab) won't have access to the chickens at all.

 

[Appalachickens]

Thanks for the link. We just hate the idea of anything happening to our animals (our dogs are chipped, have cameras, Crumb tags and cellular GPS trackers) so it seemed like a way to protect them, but i hadn't thought about the added risks as well as how they prevent some normal behaviors. I think we'll do a combination of treat training to go in when we call them and a chicken tractor for when we can't be outside.

Thanks!

And before it gets asked, our dogs (2 beagles and a black lab) won't have access to the chickens at all.

I get that completely! I laughed about the dogs because ours are chipped and had GPS trackers but they ran off through the mountains here out of range, and several hours later and a lot of driving around we finally found them 5 miles away. They are a Walker coonhound and a beagle/Aussie mix and when they take a notion to go, they go! They lost their free range privileges after that.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Just a quick note, friendliness is up to the individual bird and has no bearing on breed.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but certain breeds are absolutely more friendly than others, in general. There is a genetic component to it. However, it is also true that friendliness varies from individual to individual even within the same breed.

 

[nuthatched]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but certain breeds are absolutely more friendly than others, in general. There is a genetic component to it. However, it is also true that friendliness varies from individual to individual even within the same breed.

Absolutely, something flighty like a gamey breed vs a Sussex etc, the sussex will likely be friendlier. But your average backyard type breed will likely be a wash.