Connecticut!

[new chick 203]

I just picked up a bottle of Coyote urine to scare them away, but I'm only going to use it for a week or 2 - don't want to start attracting Coyotes.

 

[wantedman66]

Yah you don't want to attract one predator for another.

 

[NewtownChicks]

Favorite free ranging egg layers?

I have 1 buff Orpington, 1 Australorp, 2 RIR & 2 Dominiques. The Doms are my fav of this batch, they are most likely to let me pet them and 1 of them lets me cuddle her.

Purchased as chicks from mypetchicken and arrived May 15 but no eggs yet. Realized my coop is plenty big for at least 6 more (8x10) so thinking I'll get another 8 (in Feb? need to start planning!)

They've only been free range the past 2 weeks. Had them in a chicken tractor before that. Def nervous about it still as I've heard and seen fisher cats, coyote, fox in our neighborhood in the 4 years we've lived here. But the 2 I lost this year were due to genetic problem (not sure what, but developed oddly & just died one day around 6 weeks old) and then getting attacked while in run. Figure loose at least they can run & hide.

It's important they be good free rangers & cold hardy. I supplement feed but it's grain free (BOSS, millet, flax, safflower & sesame) and they get a big mixing bowl full of produce scraps every morning - which, obviously with more birds there will be less to go around.

 

[new chick 203]

When I had Wyandotts, I found that they were the best foragers. Alway came back with a full crop. depending on color they could have good camouflage. They say the white or black and white striped birds are the easiest for hawks to see and the first to get picked off.

 

[Veer67]

Favorite free ranging egg layers?

I have 1 buff Orpington, 1 Australorp, 2 RIR & 2 Dominiques. The Doms are my fav of this batch, they are most likely to let me pet them and 1 of them lets me cuddle her.



Purchased as chicks from mypetchicken and arrived May 15 but no eggs yet. Realized my coop is plenty big for at least 6 more (8x10) so thinking I'll get another 8 (in Feb? need to start planning!)

They've only been free range the past 2 weeks. Had them in a chicken tractor before that. Def nervous about it still as I've heard and seen fisher cats, coyote, fox in our neighborhood in the 4 years we've lived here. But the 2 I lost this year were due to genetic problem (not sure what, but developed oddly & just died one day around 6 weeks old) and then getting attacked while in run. Figure loose at least they can run & hide.

It's important they be good free rangers & cold hardy. I supplement feed but it's grain free (BOSS, millet, flax, safflower & sesame) and they get a big mixing bowl full of produce scraps every morning - which, obviously with more birds there will be less to go around.

Here's my favorite hen Sugar, a Red Cross (also known as a Red Star, Red Sex-Link, and etc...). Sadly she was taken away by a fox this year.


You might notice that her toes are weird, they were caused by a raccoon.

 

[jan12]

Here's my favorite hen Sugar, a Red Cross (also known as a Red Star, Red Sex-Link, and etc...). Sadly she was taken away by a fox this year. You might notice that her toes are weird, they were caused by a raccoon.

I'm so sorry What time of day did these attacks occur?

 

[wantedman66]

My best layers are my Dominique ,delaware and australorps they lay almost every day and 2 years old now I'm considering breeding them with either my barred rock or RIR roo's to see if I can pass it on.

 

[NewtownChicks]

My best layers are my Dominique ,delaware and australorps they lay almost every day and 2 years old now I'm considering breeding them with either my barred rock or RIR roo's to see if I can pass it on.

Are they free ranging? I thought about the Delaware but then wondered if it would be an easy target for predators.

 

[Veer67]

I'm so sorry

What time of day did these attacks occur?

I wasn't there at the time, but according to a friend who was taking care of them, the fox appeared in broad daylight.

 

[buckbye]

When I had Wyandotts, I found that they were the best foragers. Alway came back with a full crop. depending on color they could have good camouflage. They say the white or black and white striped birds are the easiest for hawks to see and the first to get picked off.

In his book, "The Small-Scale Poultry Flock," Harvey Ussery writes that "the barred gray pattern is said to be the best camouflage, followed by the black-breasted red pattern."