I started with 5 red-sex-linked and 5 black-sex-linked. One was killed by a friend's dog, and a second was snatched by a cat or coon. My black Bonnie was stolen and bitten by a cat, but I nursed her back to full, fluffy health. The girls are hardy, friendly, quiet, and wonderful layers - they give us 6 - 8 large brown eggs every day, even in freezing weather, and they aren't yet a year old! Several local Farmer's Market sellers agree with us that they are tops for laying hens. Don't give up!