I'll tell you one thing ...

[perrypogue]

So, last June I bought 15 straight run Rhode Island Red pullets. They shipped 17. From June til present, I've lost 12 of the 17 to dogs and hawks. I free range 100% of the time.

Here's the punch line. Of the 5 chickens I have left, which are finally mature birds, 4 of them are ROOSTERS!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They taste just like chicken.
Apparently, none of the RIR boys found it in their best interest to put much effort into protecting their sister/spouses.
With my breed, I lose the boys to predation first and end up with flocks of girls.

I recommend electric fencing for dogs and other ground predators. A more wary and agile breed for hawks.

 

[perrypogue]

They taste just like chicken.
Apparently, none of the RIR boys found it in their best interest to put much effort into protecting their sister/spouses.
With my breed, I lose the boys to predation first and end up with flocks of girls.

I recommend electric fencing for dogs and other ground predators. A more wary and agile breed for hawks.

I really should eat them. Especially now that it winter.

 

[perrypogue]

I agree with your recommendations ChickenCanoe but looking back I just wish I had protected the chicks for a while. They were allowed to free range immediately and all my losses came early. Now, just 6 months later the remaining birds seem much more capable of surviving. I'll make another order as soon as they are available but I've lost a year.

This time I'm adding some Game Chickens. As I have roosters and the Game Chicken hens seem to set eggs well maybe I can raise some.