Best roo for protecting my hens from predators?

[Svarthona]

Since crows steal eggs and chicks they are predators in my book, too.

I think the misunderstanding between the two viewpoints/opinions is that there are two different basic forms of keeping a flock.
Pen compared to free-ranging.
If the predator is able to get into a pen it will likely kill every bird in there, since it´s too late to warn and no one can get away/out to hide. Of couse a roo won´t be able to do much in this case and therefore not provide much protection. In this case the construction of the pen itself has to be good enough to ensure protection.
In a free-ranging flock however it´s a different case.

 

[speckledhen]

I do free-range my birds, but not every day anymore, at least not this winter. I consider my roosters my first line of defense, but I have no illusions that they would be able to survive a dog/coyote/fox attack. They will lose their lives in defending their hens, but that is their job, besides fertilizing eggs. That is what they were born to do and I'm very proud of my boys. We have numerous hawks here, but I've also planted many evergreen trees and shrubs like leyland and rhododendron for cover to help my rooster do his job. So far, I have not lost any to predators in over four years of having chickens, to which I credit my awesome roosters, even though once, before we had our perimeter fence up, we had a fox den about 200' from the coop. I found Barred Rock feathers at the second mouth to the den, but happily, not my BRs. My day is coming, I know, but I do think there is value in having a rooster in a free range flock.
As was stated, chickens in a pen that is not secure, rooster or not, as "sitting ducks", pardon the play on words.

 

[WyandotteTX]

Have to agree with the poster who stated that no rooster will ever protect your birds from predators. Only a good structure and lots of trapping of varmits will keep them from being a nuisance. An occasional hawk is no big deal to me, now coons, bobcats, weasels, martins, ringtails, possums, skunks and other predators that attack at night are the serious threat.
To think that you are going to select a rooster like its some kind of guard dog like Pyrenees that guard goats and sheep is ludicrous though. Unless that cock bird is toting a shotgun he is nothing more than just another piece of KFC to a predator.
By all means keep telling the stories how little johnnie jump up your pet rooster saved 500 hens from a flock of falcons and eagles. I will show you the pictures of my chicken houses where the tin is ripped off the roof by a large pack of coons and can show you the devastation they left behind. My coops were full of roosters that were mean as hell and would fight anything too, but you know what, they are dead just like all the rest of them.

 

[eggboy]

Coons don't run in packs.

So would you suggest that I a guard dog to protect my hens then?

 

[babyblue]

A momma racoon keeps her babies with her for quite a while and teachs them the ropes. go look at the game cam threads if you want proof.

that aside its a persons choice to free range. I dont but thats my choice. for those that do protective fencing, a decent dog and a big roo are valuable lines of defense. yes the roo will in all likely hood die. but guess what thats his JOB, thats why there arent 20 hens hatched for every single rooster. because its the roosters job to die while protecting the flock.

if your roos are very valuable and a rare breed, then use sense and dont free range them unless you want to lose a lot of money. however for your average pet or laying flock roosters are a dime a dozen and theres always adds out for free roos, not so for hens.

dont start with the I am cold hearted or anything, if something somehow got into my pred proof coop and killed a roo I would be just as upset as if it was a hen, but his replacement is sadly just a look at craigslist away.