Breed suggestions for 100% forage diet!

[Weeg]

Hey guys! I am restarting everything in the spring. Culling, getting rid of the coop, taking apart the run. It is all a mess. The run is muddy, and the coops are to small, I just need to restart. I have a plan I have been getting together. I have an idea on how to keep grass alive in the run, but the run will mostly only be for the ducks. I am going to do a 100% free range and forage diet! I have a BYC member who did this helping me on the idea, but I want to know if you have any breed suggestions.

I don't want heavy or light colored breeds, because heavy could be an easy catch for a predator, and light colored could be easy to stop. I have already decided on Games, and Jaerhons. Jaerhons are speedy, and the website suggests they are great foragers! They were also suggested by another BYC member. Here is the link to the website I may buy them from, any other breed suggestions? Thanks for taking the time to read this!

 

[black_cat]

Brown Leghorns?

I was about to say brown leghorns!!! They're super light, so don't eat much, great fliers, and super good at foraging.

 

[NatJ]

What are you thoughts on Mille Fleur Belgian Bearded d'Uccle?

If you want them to forage for their food, and to avoid predators, I would avoid any breed with extra feathers on the face or head (muff/beard or crest). I've seen some muffs that stuck out far enough to interfere with the chicken's vision, and of course we've all seen photos of crested birds with their eyes covered.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I agree with some kind of game breed or similar. The feral chickens here are descended from RJF and game and do quite well for themselves in the wild (a random domestic chicken is thrown in the mixes here and there as well).

 

[Weeg]

I'm not sure. They're kind of rare now a days (which is why they're on that list), but you might be able to get hatching eggs from a breeder if they're closish to you.

Okay, I also saw them at Murray Mcrray hatchery, but they are all the way in Iowa, and have a 6 chick minimum. I may be able to find them at another hatchery though, I really only want a few of each breed, shooting of uno more then 20 chickens to start with.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Adding to the list! I now have 5 breeds listed, if I get 3 of each, I will have 15 birds, 4 of each is 20 birds. I am going to try to only purchase 5 different breeds but am still adding ideas to the list! Availability will likely be the choosing point. Keep the ideas coming!

Keep in mind that not all breeds do well with other birds. (For instance, some game birds are a bit aggressive. Hens tend to go broody and can also be a bit aggressive to others at that time.) Not to mention the rooster issues.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Sumatras

Red JungleFowl, or hybrids

Heavy weight Hawk Fighter: Malay.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

What are you thoughts on Mille Fleur Belgian Bearded d'Uccle? I was looking on Meyer hatchery for the breed sI may not be abel to find in feed stores, and I came upon them. They have thought spots that may be able to fide the outline of the bird, and they are brown to hopefully blend in?

They are also tiny. The smaller they are, the more predators they are prey FOR.

 

[alwaysthere4chickens]

Brown Leghorns?

 

[Weeg]

I was about to say brown leghorns!!! They're super light, so don't eat much, great fliers, and super good at foraging.

Awesome thank you! I was interested in them already as well, so I will surely look into them! Here are the other breeds available on the website- https://breezybirdfarms.com/poultry.php