Best chickens for Texas humidity?

jwoodsmith

Hatching
6 Years
Jan 17, 2014
6
0
9
Texas
Hi!
I'm new here to the forum, to Texas, and to having chickens. Will anyone please share the breeds they think will do best for:

High heat-humidity and large eggs and frequent eggs and great dispositions?

Am I asking too much for one breed? Basically I'm looking for the Labrador type breed of chicken! I'm a dog person, if you can't tell!

Thanks much! Oh, we need about 40 hens so we're totally open to mixing up the flock if that's wise.

Jodi
 
You really want to look at the Mediterranean type breeds.

So, the skinny ones with big combs. Lots of breeds and colors to choose from.

They are not snuggly breeds, but they are very inquisitive.

Now you just have to decide if you want an historical breed, or if you want to stay with a theme.

Only breeds of one color, or only breeds from one country.

My sister is out in the hill country and thinks that brown birds make her place look drier, she likes only black birds. She is right that the shiny black does help brighten the landscape.

choices:

Ancona
Catalana
Egyptian Fayoumi
Hamburg
Leghorn
Minorca
Penedesenca
White-Faced Black Spanish

some of those breeds come in different colors. Also, that includes white, brown, and dark brown egg layers. All of them lay well, but some don't lay the big eggs you are looking for. (The Hamburgs usually lay on the small side).
 
I agree, Mediterranean breeds will be the way for you to go for the heat. They're not the cuddliest of birds, other than that something like a Leghorn will lay big eggs like crazy, that's the reason they're foundation of the commercial egg industry.

Most of your dual purpose breeds will also do fine, like Rocks, Reds, etc. They might get a little more stressed, lots of folks use a mister or similar.
 
I have also been looking at breeds for our Texas heat. I have four breeds picked out based on four factors.
1. Heat hardy
2. Temperament
3. Broodiness
4. Good egg layers

Black Australorp; Delaware; New Hampshire and Buff Orpington

I can't remember who posted the link, but it was a chart of chicken breeds and was very informative. I printed it and it is titled "Hendersons Handy Dandy Chicken Chart".

Hope that helps! I am also open for other suggestions also.

And welcome to BYC!!!

David
 
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I have also been looking at breeds for our Texas heat. I have four breeds picked out based on four factors.
1. Heat hardy
2. Temperament
3. Broodiness
4. Good egg layers

Black Australorp; Delaware; New Hampshire and Buff Orpington

I can't remember who posted the link, but it was a chart of chicken breeds and was very informative. I printed it and it is titled "Hendersons Handy Dandy Chicken Chart".

Hope that helps! I am also open for other suggestions also.

And welcome to BYC!!!

David
 
Hi David!
The Orpingtons were recommended to me by a friend because they're so love able but another friend who has chickens in Texas said they don't do well in the heat cause they have a lot of feathers. She also recommended the Mediterranean breeds for their heat tolerance.

There's lots of smart folks here on this forum! I'm going to learn a lot! Thanks for your reply. I'm just figuring out how to work this site so apologies if I hit the wrong buttons.
 
I was afraid of that with the Orps. The guide I have said they were hardy, very cold hardy. The others I listed said heat hardy. I was hoping they would work cause they go broody and are good mothers. Oh well.

Thanks for the tip on the Mediterraneans.
David
 
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Even the Mediterranean breeds can go broody. My sister has a Hamburg that loves to hatch out chicks. However, it would be hard to get her to hatch the eggs you want her to hatch since she is extraordinarily good at hiding her nest. When she goes broody she hides out in the brush and doesn't come back to the coop. She is three years old now, and still hasn't been eaten by anything.

After hiding with her eggs, when they hatch she brings them to the house (after she hatches them out, she will let my sister set her up next to the house in a coop with the chicks to raise). One year my sister looked out the window right when a snake came up to that little hen and her chick. The hen attacked the snake, and even though she was bit a few times she kept going after the snake until my sister came out and killed it. (The snake wasn't poisonous so the little hen recovered)

Anyway, even though the Mediterranean breeds would be most comfortable in the heat, you can go with the slightly fatter dual purpose breeds. They might need more help though. My sister has black Australorps and love them. She doesn't help them with the heat, but she has lots of shade and the egg laying definitely reduces.
 

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