Free ranging Buff Orpington Chickens

[gojo]

Hi, I was offered Buff Orpington Chicks today, but I am planning to free range my chickens and I live neer the woods so I'm not sure if they would be hardy in areas with predators.

 

[black404]

Sorry, but most chicks are not hardy in wild wooded areas.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

"Hardy"..... against predators???? rofl You have to be kidding.

Chickens are low man on the totem pole as far as defense. They don't have teeth, claws, can't fly very well or run very fast and are everything's favorite menu.

One week, probably less, unprotected near the woods and there won't be one chicken left.

At least get a couple of LGDs if you are going to free range them so they have a half way fighting chance....and put them up in a secure coop at night.

 

[BFeathered]

Yup, LGD, coop at night, and don't let 'em free range unsupervised until they're full-grown. Orps aren't known for their swift assessment of threats, they're usually pretty docile, so they're REALLY low man on the totem pole, and very tasty to the top guys. Get the chicks, you know you want 'em.... (gotta contribute to delinquency somehow..)