Most hardy free range

[Kassaundra]

My father and step mom are considering getting some chicks this spring. They live in rural OK in a very heavily wooded area w/ lots of wild preditors. Their birds will be free range w/ a night coop, which breed would be best at survival under these conditions? They will not be eating them, and they don't care much about eggs, they want BUG control.

 

[NellaBean]

Probably some of the flightier breeds......game types came up first in my mind. My leghorns are awesome free rangers. Always go to bed with a full crop......go sprinting out of the coop in the morning and straight to scratching around for bugs. Probably most of the flightier mediteranean breeds are better....their flightiness tends to lead to them lasting longer out while ranging.

 

[EricH]

id say a brown leghorn. very good camo in the dirt and man are they FAST... if you really want bug control maybe they should think about guinea-fowl?

 

[NonnasBabies]

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I agree with this, much better bug control!!

 

[Kassaundra]

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They are considering that option also, but think the noise issue has given them pause.

 

[EricH]

there really are a ton of good breeds to use though. In my experience barred rocks have always been super hearty and awesome foragers too.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Dark colored breeds will be less prone to being attacted by hawks, etc... Any of the old breeds will do ok like games, barred rocks, rhode islands, things like that.
I agree that guineas would be much better for bug control though.

 

[Mahonri]

Light Brown Leghorns, Games... Great foragers, quick and decent flyers.

 

[Kassaundra]

Thanks everyone for the information, I'll pass it along.

 

[Mozelly]

Old English game bantams. Those guys can fly pretty good for a chicken and they roost high off the ground.