Best anti predatory egg layer

[bigtim12019]

Hi i have chickens for about 3 yrs now. They were totally free range during the day but now are sometimes non free range after i built an enclosure they can roam around when nobody home. But mostly free range since i let them out of enclosure most days excluding winter. I have had 3 buff orpingtons since the beginning and a total flock up to 20 birds (17 red sex links) with 1 rooster. I have lost about 5 birds to coyotes all red sex links. The sex links have a habit especially cold nights of hunkering down anywhere when the sun goes down and eventually getting eaten by predators unless i can find them. The orpingtons religiously go in the coop at night no problem. I would like to get some more birds but want the good insticive orpington mentality but with a little higher egg production. I believe rhode island red is the answer but cannot find any evidence online. Any mor info would be appreciated.

Upstate ny

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How big is your coop? Chickens will always return to a safe roomy coop. They will avoid crowded stuffy small coops. Pictures of your set up may help.

 

[bigtim12019]

How big is your coop? Chickens will always return to a safe roomy coop. They will avoid crowded stuffy small coops. Pictures of your set up may help.

 

[bigtim12019]

Ok will get pics soon although i dont think the coop is the problem. 3 orpingtons a rooster and most red sex links go in at night 2/3 of red sex links oldb 3yrs old and the other 1/3 are 2 yrs oldbeleive. Maybe the younger batch are getting eaten hard to tell. All chickens came from tractor supply.

 

[bigtim12019]

sorry havnt got the pics of coop yet. Remaining 13 have been going in at night. I forgot to mention that i never had this problem until the newest chickens added to the flock last year. Wonder if chickens getting eaten were the newest red sex links. Tractor supply said the first batch 3yrs old were rhode island red and rhode island white mix. Then next year they said the could be a variety of breeds to make the red sex links including new Hampshire in it. I think if i get more ill just go with the orpingtons unless somebody has better suggestion.

 

[RiverOtter]

I love Leghorns - those girls are practically feral. No, you're not snuggling them, but nothing else is getting near them either. They'll forage for a lot of their food, too.

My biggest issue with them is I feed at night, otherwise they want to roost in the trees like wild things

 

[bigtim12019]

20180420_201710

• bigtim12019
• Apr 20, 2018

Coop front door

 

[bigtim12019]

20180420_201729

• bigtim12019
• Apr 20, 2018

 

[bigtim12019]

20180420_201616

• bigtim12019
• Apr 21, 2018

 

[bigtim12019]

20180420_201559

• bigtim12019
• Apr 21, 2018