Any cold hearty, docile breeds that look like red jungle fowl?

[Kessel23]

Most chickens can go through Wisconsin winters easily if you keep them dry and out of the wind. I have an Egyptian fayoumi that went through that winter vortex and she is only 1 pound, a breed that was domesticated in Egypt and smaller than a leghorn. All of my birds made it through that weather without a problem.

 

[Kessel23]

I even have juvenile turkens that are not anywhere close to full grown who made it through just fine. This winter made me wonder if cold hardy is really even a thing in chicken breeds, I am kinda assuming that if the chicken has functional feathers it can make it through most climates in a dry, draft free coop. It was -30F inside the coop for two days.

 

[Cyprus]

I even have juvenile turkens that are not anywhere close to full grown who made it through just fine. This winter made me wonder if cold hardy is really even a thing in chicken breeds, I am kinda assuming that if the chicken has functional feathers it can make it through most climates in a dry, draft free coop. It was -30F inside the coop for two days.

True point. My Leghorns do fine. In fact, most of my single com birds do.

 

[CradG]

Would 1 or 2 actual red jungle fowl do ok mixed with my flock or would he confinement (or cold) drive them crazy? I spoil my chickens every way i can but my run is still only 12x10 for 9 chickens. 5x10 inside coop space.

 

[ThracianHorse]

Would 1 or 2 actual red jungle fowl do ok mixed with my flock or would he confinement (or cold) drive them crazy? I spoil my chickens every way i can but my run is still only 12x10 for 9 chickens. 5x10 inside coop space.

If your goal is docile birds.... then probably (if the run is big enough), but don't expect them to ever be personable. Best I've ever heard of red junglefowl is they will tolerate you.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Brown Leghorns:

They may not be generally docile, but are the most similar in color.

 

[Birds of a Feather]

Light Brown Dutch Bantams look even more like Jungle Fowl (slate legs and beak) but they’re really tiny.

 

[centrarchid]

The Red Jungle Fowl that Cackle Hatchery has tolerates cold very well on hen side. They are also easy to tame. Roosters will have frostbite issue on comb if it gets really cold.

Another that might be worth considering are Icelandic Chickens. Their colors are all over the place, but genetics present to give at least a few the wild-type coloration. The rose comb variant should be resistant to frost bite in males.

https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/icelandic

https://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Iceland/BRKIcelandic.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/icelandic-or-viking-hen.11339/

 

[ThracianHorse]

The Red Jungle Fowl that Cackle Hatchery has tolerates cold very well on hen side. They are also easy to tame. Roosters will have frostbite issue on comb if it gets really cold.

Another that might be worth considering are Icelandic Chickens. Their colors are all over the place, but genetics present to give at least a few the wild-type coloration. The rose comb variant should be resistant to frost bite in males.

https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/icelandic

https://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Iceland/BRKIcelandic.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/icelandic-or-viking-hen.11339/

So, this is going to come across as maybe a snotty comment.... which I don't mean, but I am genuinely curious... I haven't ever raised junglefowl, but I know a couple of people who have raised them. Their behavior to me seemed very pheasant-like if I had to characterize their behavior. Prone to pacing fences, maybe once in a blue moon you get one that is tame, but otherwise a breed that tends to be (at least the behaviors I have observed) very stand-offish, somewhat poor (and highly seasonal) layers.

Have you had a different experience with this breed? I'm really interested - I've toyed with the notion more than once of raising them, mainly because pheasants appeal to me. I'd be very, very interested to know if you got birds from Cackle or elseware, if you have.

 

[CradG]

So, this is going to come across as maybe a snotty comment.... which I don't mean, but I am genuinely curious... I haven't ever raised junglefowl, but I know a couple of people who have raised them. Their behavior to me seemed very pheasant-like if I had to characterize their behavior. Prone to pacing fences, maybe once in a blue moon you get one that is tame, but otherwise a breed that tends to be (at least the behaviors I have observed) very stand-offish, somewhat poor (and highly seasonal) layers.

Have you had a different experience with this breed? I'm really interested - I've toyed with the notion more than once of raising them.

I love the idea of having some, but that doesn’t sound ideal as mine are pets. All my other girls come when called, eat out of my hand, follow me around the yard, etc. Seasonal laying and stuff doesn’t bother me as much as them real being skittish.