Breed good at avoiding predators and good foragers?

[AKsmama]

OEGB= Old English Game Bantam, but I have no idea what a RLR is. Sorry, but a chicken that kills dogs and foxes? Nope, not believing that one unless I see it with my own eyes. Escape, or maybe fend off a dog or a fox, but kill? Nuh-uh.

 

[nicktide]

Several people recommend brown leghorns. What about white leghorns? I dont have a source on browns and whites are supposed to be far better layers. I was thinking about a few barred rocks that wont be able to fly over teh 4' fence and a few leghorn hens that can fly out of the chicken yard. they would also make good decoys and if tey are good at escaping they will be ok. plus they can forage in the open fields near my house.

 

[nicktide]

Quote:
I was always told not to feed dogs chicken bones because they splinter and can choke the dog... maybe thats how they kill them. haha.

 

[gambler]

Quote:
People say brown leghorns because the white ones stand out like a sore thumb and make it easy for predators to spot.

 

[nicktide]

I used to leave my white leghorn roo out all night if he refused to go inside... half hoping something would take him. Never lost a white chicken to predators but have lost every other color. I wonder if white is as easy for a hawk or other predators to see as we think. It may just be that the few white chickens I have had were all either leghorns or leghorn crosses and they seem to be smarter about survival. I actually got to see my leghorn roo attack hawks on two occassions (one time he pinned the hawk down and flogged him). I miss that roo, but dont miss him attacking my kids. Anyone keep free ranged whites with browns to see if there is much difference in survival rates?

 

[pringle]

Don't forget fayoumis! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Fayoumi

 

[LeezyBeezy]

My Speckled Sussex is the QUEEN of foraging! She roams a lot, and she hasn't gotten snagged yet!

 

[pattgal]

Ilost a hen yesterday So this was my next question, lol
I wonder though if a Rhode island red would be the same as a brown leghorn as far as being smarter predator wise

 

[pattgal]

My EE rooster is great with the chicks. He dosen't heard them to safety but he does sound the alarm. The hens don't really know what that's all bout though
My flock is just a bunch of pretty faces. I do like having a hen that goes broody though. they are really good for that
haha

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:
I'm sorry I first read don't get Fayoumi, when I reread I realized you posted don't forget Fayoumi

I think they can be noisy otherwise I think they'd qualify - disease resistant, good foragers, fast, excellent layers and heat hardy.

I would like to chime in with Anconas, Black Leghorns, Andalusians all good layers
Hamburgs, Jaerhons both cold hardy, excellent layers
Penedesencas, Empordanesas both very wary, heat hardy and beautiful eggs
Manx Rumpy tops at foraging, good layer.

When a pack of dogs attacked, all my BLeghorns, Anconas and Jaerhons survived. Especially hard hit were my giants, polish
Most dual purpose and heavy meat breeds aren't built for it, nor are fancies.

I just wanted to add. Chickens are prey animals so no breed will be immune to predation, but that's also why they taste so good.