We free range our chickens and losses are frequent and always difficult. My hope is that eventually natural selection will produce a flock with the savvy to survive. So far the theory isn’t working perfectly, but attrition is sloping off after a couple years and 100 or so lost chickens.
Discussion
I didnt think i would get so sad over a chicken. But it'll be ok.
Chickens can be surprisingly personable. I know each one we have. For a while I had a set of four that closely resembled all the members of Old School Van Halen. Roth was a black dainty bird with a white feather top hat, Eddie was a heavier feather footed, Anthony was feather footed with opposite colors, and Alex was a small crested lanky hen. Probably you had to see them to picture it, but it was so perfect and they hung out together! It literally made me laugh out loud every day at feeding time.