We lost a couple of chickens our first year from free-ranging. Our property borders a forest on one side and farmers' fields on the other sides. We got a bunch of motion solar lights that don't do anything for them during the day, but it must scare them enough at night to just keep them away. We got the border collie that helps too, and now a corgi who thinks she's the guard dog.I cant tell the difference in a standard, show, hatchery chicken. They all look the same in the freezer........just kidding, but really I dont know the difference if I stood there and looked at them.
Getting eggs, have 6 new hens. lost 4 of 9 chicks I bought this early summer, predators I imagine. Really wanted the faverolle hens those 3 are among the missing. Lost 3 chicks from hen hatching eggs 1 predator and the other 2 I think the rooster.
Might have lost a hen or 2, lost count of them from last winter. I will have to ask wife.
Guess thats free ranging.
All we raise is silkies. We have backyard silkies and fancy silkies. The fancy ones have beards and vaults, so they're easy to spot as they can't see where they're going.
