ADVICE PLEASE on breeds for warm climates

[mmlsavoie]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new. And I need advice. I manage a breeding flock of captive cranes in the deep south (LA) where it gets very hot during April and May (80-90 degrees) with HEAVY humidity. We don't have the option of letting our cranes naturally incubate their eggs and so I'm looking into chickens as surrogate brooders/incubators. Other crane breeding facilities up north (WI and MD) have used standard cochin chickens because of the birds' reputation as being excellent surrogate incubators. I was planning on going the same route, however I'm concerned about cochin's tolerance for heat/humidity. Would they be ok in a warmer climate? They'd have a very nice coop with plenty of shade and access to a fenced yard. Would their feathered feet and seemingly astounding fluffiness (I've never actually touched one) hold in the heat moreso than other breeds?

Any thoughts or suggestions? If standard cochins are the way to go, great! I'd need a larger breed as crane eggs are about the size of a large goose egg. But, if not, as long as the breed is likely to be a great broody hen and tolerate the heat well, I'm up for suggestions!

Thanks in advance, I appreciate any advice you can offer

M

 

[pinkfeather]

!! Gee, I don't have Cochins (and even if I did, they could probably take the summers here), but they seem awful fluffy for warm climates.

Maybe a breed like a Leghorn, Minorca, Buttercup, Spanish, etc. See what other people say......

 

[mmlsavoie]

Thank you, Pinkfeather! I didn't know of some of the breeds you mentioned, so that helps me broaden my search. Do you know if any of the ones you mentioned are good brooders/sitters/incubators?

 

[Year of the Rooster]

I don't think it would matter though it seems logical. As long as they have plenty of water, shade, and *maybe* a fan or something, then I wouldn't worry too much about them. I know silkies are heat tolerant and they're make just as good (or better) mothers.

 

[Catalina]

feathersite has a good article on broody hens http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKBroody.html

And

 

[pinkfeather]

Quote:
No, I don't think any of the ones I mentioned are good broodies.

It's always the fat 'n fluffy ones that make good broodies. Here's a good chicken chart though about all the breeds- http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
I live in Tampa Bay Fl

All my birds I ever raised took the long summer Florida heat well, but my lot is shaded by grandpa water oaks.

I do not know about feather footed breeds like Cochins, but Brahmas do well in Fla, they go broody and they are large very calm birds. I never raised them but there are some good Brahma breeders in Fl so I assume they do well here.

Also I am sure the black Australorps can take heat, also loose feathered Naked Necks.

I think that for your purpose (large eggs to hatch) Brahmas could be a good choice.
They are one of the largest chicken breeds, go broody, and they are majestic calm birds.

The only drawback they mature slowly, but so do all large breeds including Jersey Giants and large Orientals in general.

 

[mmlsavoie]

Thanks for the input so far, pascopol and everybody!! I'm going to research the Brahma idea since they do so well in Florida. The climate there is very similar to southern LA.

More ideas welcome! I'm learning a lot

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

As to Minorcas, it depends on the lines of broody birds. I have a Minorca that goes broody every May 25.

I have noticed the Cochins pant a bit more, but in all honesty, they have no more issues than my other birds do. Just make SURE you have plenty of shade and ventilation for them. As well as plenty of water.