I'm in southwestern Va in the mountains. We've had 2 foot snow on the ground for 2 weeks now, high winds, looooww temps. My black australorps are such good girls. Granted, I have 23 hens and are getting 6 to 8 eggs daily for 2 weeks, before the cold and snow I was averaging 12 daily. I do not have an insulated coop, I have 2 nightlights on from 4:30 pm til 8:30 pm. They free range and get all the kitchen scraps, sratch thrown in the hay twice day for their scratching pleasure, and a trough full of layena. I pick up discarded veggie and fruits at the local store and if there aren't any available that day, I give them a head of lettuce for greens. They are only a "little" spoiled".
They're very easy to keep and friendly. My alpha roo is a great guardian and provider and not aggressive. The extra roos we processed in June were delicious. Very good dual birds.
