Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[BlindLemonChicken]

Well…I locked the chickens out of the coop. Four ended up in the trees but when I went to move the others the rooster made a bunch of squawking “don’t mess with my girls!” noises so I told him “you’re in charge, bro,” unlocked the bottom of the coop and left them alone. I’ll update tomorrow.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Everyone survived my coop lock-out experiment! Didn’t count on the rooster protesting a rearrangement but I guess he knows what he’s doing. One of the Buckeyes did return to the coop of her own accord at some point. I think I will leave the coop open and see what happens tonight without my interference.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I look forward to the day when I can just shrug off predator attacks.

That sounds weird, but it's true. 3 cockerels down and a foiled attack yesterday on another hen. Neighbor's dogs. So far they've taken birds I wasn't planning to keep, but still.

So far it appears that all the losses have been unwary birds wandering alone, and in open spaces. Interestingly, it's the Dorking-Sussex cockerel in the bachelor pad who alerted in all cases.

Another few weeks before I let him out to see if he's settled down.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Neighbor's dogs.

Ugh. This makes me angry on your behalf. I feel like I could handle a loss to an actual predator more calmly than a loss to someone else’s uncontrolled dog. Are the neighbors doing anything to compensate you?

 

[Mrs. K]

I don’t want to rain on your parade, but the predators have not found you. Every night you are risking it afresh. Predators move and out of an area, depending on a food source.

This would be so sweet if it worked, and I know this is what this thread is about. I have just been wiped out so many times.

I wish you the best of luck, but be wary.

Everyone survived my coop lock-out experiment! Didn’t count on the rooster protesting a rearrangement