Arizona Chickens

[Parront]

I'm going to buck the conventional wisdom here and suggest that heat tolerance has less to do with fluffy feathering and more to do with body composition. I say this because I've noticed massive differences in fat accumulation and content in the birds I've butchered, and those with more body fat have definitely had a harder time dealing with the heat than my leaner birds irrespective of feathering. Just my two cents of experience.

You are the one who should know! My old Orpingtons had a lot of fat, BTW. The temps in Riverside CA did not come close to yours in the desert, but they did not lay well at over 90 degrees. We were at 105 only a few days at a time back then, I believe it is warmer now.

 

[BlueBaby]

I'm going to buck the conventional wisdom here and suggest that heat tolerance has less to do with fluffy feathering and more to do with body composition. I say this because I've noticed massive differences in fat accumulation and content in the birds I've butchered, and those with more body fat have definitely had a harder time dealing with the heat than my leaner birds irrespective of feathering. Just my two cents of experience.

I have to believe what you say about this, because you do butcher yours and can see what is going on with them underneath all of the feathers and skin. Those who will not eat their birds, will be mostly ignorant of this fact. So, if you have any bird's that are still living that you think might be fat, would you separate those ones from the other's and put them on a diet to get them to trim back down a bit?

 

[igorsMistress]

I'm going to buck the conventional wisdom here and suggest that heat tolerance has less to do with fluffy feathering and more to do with body composition. I say this because I've noticed massive differences in fat accumulation and content in the birds I've butchered, and those with more body fat have definitely had a harder time dealing with the heat than my leaner birds irrespective of feathering. Just my two cents of experience.

That makes complete sense actually. I think we focus on fluff because that's what we see on a daily basis. We think "feather coat in summer" which isn't really the case.

 

[DesertChic]

Actually, I do need to clarify one thing about the feathers. Back in the early 1900s extensive research was conducted on how feathering impacts a bird's ability to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It was determined that tightly feathered birds like the Dark Cornish shrug off cold that leaves other birds feeling miserable because they're better at trapping a warm, insulating layer of air between those dense feathers and their skin. Comparatively, birds with fluffy feathers struggle more to keep warm in the winter, but have an easier time cooling off as they can lift their feathers away from the body more easily to allow air flow.

There's a lot of fascinating information in those old books.

 

[DesertChic]

I have to believe what you say about this, because you do butcher yours and can see what is going on with them underneath all of the feathers and skin. Those who will not eat their birds, will be mostly ignorant of this fact. So, if you have any bird's that are still living that you think might be fat, would you separate those ones from the other's and put them on a diet to get them to trim back down a bit?

In my experience, putting a bird on a diet is about as effective as putting me on a diet.
Okay, actually it's harder, because reducing the volume of food seems to result in changes in muscle mass before eliminating all that extra fat. By the time it has accumulated in significant volume it's essentially too late. I tried it on a few of my more robust eaters and I wound up with a ton of fat to render down and much less meat than I'd previously felt on the birds. I've tried reducing feed volume and also changing the protein content of the feed. Neither worked. The one thing I haven't actively tried was increasing green forage because up until this year I really didn't have much to offer. I think it's possible that giving them more pasture to roam through while cutting their feed could give positive results.

 

[BlueBaby]

@meetthebubus I purchased birds from a local breeder because of the heat. Her stock has bloodlines from another breeder who had many generations bred here. Beating the heat should be in their blood.

Also, Australorps have big combs. My EE roo had the hardest time with the heat last summer...he has a pea comb.

My Aussie girl still panted, still got hot, but she didn't seem as uncomfortable as the others and typically seemed to stop panting sooner. A short stand in cool water and she was good. She's also the most relaxed bird I've ever seen. Nothing bothers that girl!

There's never a guarantee of course. Too hot is just too hot. I can't afford to put a/c in my coop, it's not designed that way, but I wish I could!

I was just sitting here watching some tv, but it kept popping into my mind about your mention about your peacomb not doing good in the heat. I was looking into starting a flock of the necked necks too, but maybe I should stay away from the one's that might have the peacomb's?

 

[BlueBaby]

In my experience, putting a bird on a diet is about as effective as putting me on a diet.
Okay, actually it's harder, because reducing the volume of food seems to result in changes in muscle mass before eliminating all that extra fat. By the time it has accumulated in significant volume it's essentially too late. I tried it on a few of my more robust eaters and I wound up with a ton of fat to render down and much less meat than I'd previously felt on the birds. I've tried reducing feed volume and also changing the protein content of the feed. Neither worked. The one thing I haven't actively tried was increasing green forage because up until this year I really didn't have much to offer. I think it's possible that giving them more pasture to roam through while cutting their feed could give positive results.

Thanks for your incite and info about the diet thing with them. If you try that increasing of the green forage thing, would you please let us know how that goes for you?

 

[igorsMistress]

I was just sitting here watching some tv, but it kept popping into my mind about your mention about your peacomb not doing good in the heat. I was looking into starting a flock of the necked necks too, but maybe I should stay away from the one's that might have to peacomb's?

They still have NN characteristics so it might not be an issue. Maybe @DesertChic can answer your question better than I can. I'm going for NNs without pea combs when I get some, but that's primarily because I like the larger combs.

I don't have any idea what Emmetts mix is and he's a hatchery bird from...somewhere.

 

[BlueBaby]

They still have NN characteristics so it might not be an issue. Maybe @DesertChic can answer your question better than I can. I'm going for NNs without pea combs when I get some, but that's primarily because I like the larger combs.

I don't have any idea what Emmetts mix is and he's a hatchery bird from...somewhere.

That's how it is with hatchery ones, you never know where they actually came from, or what they were bred with. By the way, I sent you an email with a bit of info.

 

[DesertChic]

I was just sitting here watching some tv, but it kept popping into my mind about your mention about your peacomb not doing good in the heat. I was looking into starting a flock of the necked necks too, but maybe I should stay away from the one's that might have the peacomb's?

I have several NNs with pea comb and it really doesn't make a whole lotta difference in their heat tolerance. Body composition is much more important. My meatier NNs pant the most irrespective of comb or color.