New chickens, new place

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7dwarfs

In the Brooder
Oct 11, 2024
2
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My 4th flock is 6 weeks old but I’m new because we moved to Alaska and raising chickens here will definitely be different than the deserts of the southwest. My first question is what breeds provide protective roosters that are good with the girls, not too mean, and can protect against bald eagles, fox, weasels, dogs, etc?
Additionally, we are in a temperate rainforest. It rains about 12 feet a year here. What do I need to know about keeping the girls healthy in such a wet place?
 
Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad to have you here in the fun loving poultry community. You will need a lot more than a rooster to protect from those predators. More like a metal covered run with welded wire and hardware cloth on the sides of the run. It's like Janie said the Rooster alerts the hens to take cover until the threat is over.
 
I have a really nice Speckled Sussex / Rhode Island Red Rooster. He is very good with his hens and us. I don't count on him going to battle or scaring away predators, though, I have a livestock guardian dog for that.

He might have too large of comb for super cold climates, although he did fine when it got close to -30°F and hasn't gotten any frostbite. I think their personality depends a lot just on the individual rooster and not so much the breed, though. I hope you find a good one!

Welcome to BackYard Chickens!
 
Hiya, and welcome to BYC! :frow

We border a forest, but with two dogs, a bunch of solar motion lights, a Fort Knox coop, and several wind spinners, we've managed not to lose a chicken to predators for seven of our eight years out here in the sticks. The roosters warn, and they all run to the coop if there is something near.
 

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