chickenslithers
In the Brooder
- Jul 4, 2015
- 4
- 1
- 22
Hey everybody - I've been lurking for a while but this is my first post, and if it isn't in the right spot, I apologize!
Most of the "breeds for free range" threads I've seen focus more on feed utilization/foraging ability and less on predator avoidance. I'd love to know which breeds you've found are the best at spotting predators and then keeping themselves alive if one comes 'round the neighborhood.
Do you find that more flighted breeds fare best, or are the heavier birds decent at escaping provided they know how to utilize cover? Which breeds of rooster, in general, are the most skilled protectors of the flock?
I thought that daytime predator pressure in my area was low, since I've kept rabbits in tractors for a year and have not once seen any predator...track...scat...disturbed cages, etc. I didn't have any misgivings about setting some chickens out to free-range. But my brand-new batch of Buff Orpingtons (roo and 3 hens, all mature) recently became lunch. I suspect fox or coyote and am working on solving THAT particular problem...but it was also apparent that those birds were not suited for the free-range lifestyle. They weren't alert, miserable flyers and runners, and had no instinct for using cover or taking shelter off the ground.
What breeds, in your experience, retain those traits? Egg production and friendliness are definitely secondary considerations - I'd rather have a bunch of wily birds and a few eggs here and there than a pile of eggs one day and NO birds the next!
Most of the "breeds for free range" threads I've seen focus more on feed utilization/foraging ability and less on predator avoidance. I'd love to know which breeds you've found are the best at spotting predators and then keeping themselves alive if one comes 'round the neighborhood.
Do you find that more flighted breeds fare best, or are the heavier birds decent at escaping provided they know how to utilize cover? Which breeds of rooster, in general, are the most skilled protectors of the flock?
I thought that daytime predator pressure in my area was low, since I've kept rabbits in tractors for a year and have not once seen any predator...track...scat...disturbed cages, etc. I didn't have any misgivings about setting some chickens out to free-range. But my brand-new batch of Buff Orpingtons (roo and 3 hens, all mature) recently became lunch. I suspect fox or coyote and am working on solving THAT particular problem...but it was also apparent that those birds were not suited for the free-range lifestyle. They weren't alert, miserable flyers and runners, and had no instinct for using cover or taking shelter off the ground.
What breeds, in your experience, retain those traits? Egg production and friendliness are definitely secondary considerations - I'd rather have a bunch of wily birds and a few eggs here and there than a pile of eggs one day and NO birds the next!
