Can you help me find the right breed?

[TheOrganicSister]

Hi all! We're just starting out (building the coop!) and I've been researching chickens. There are obviously a lot of options and I'm having trouble finding the right pick for our circumstances. Can anyone help?

We're looking for a chicken to fit these criteria:

- must be more heat-tolerant...our summers can reach up to 118 but usually hover around 110 (no humidity tho). we plan on keeping a chicken tractor but our area to move it in is half shade and half sun. We'll be working thru the sunny part first to amend the soil for planting and I don't want to totally fry the little guys!

- needs to be friendly with people, especially kids. Between us, our 9 yr old and our friends a sociable chicken would be most loved.

- good layer for obvious reasons.

- is there such thing as a quieter chicken than most? we have a small lot and I don't want to give the neighbors any reason to complain.

We're looking into getting 2-4 chickens. Locally-ish, we can easily find Buff Orpingtons, Production Reds, Golden Comets (and a few others not named in the ad). Would any of those fit?

Thanks!

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

All of the three that you listed locally sound like they meet the criteria okay.

Buff Orps are very friendly.

They all are heat tolerent

They are all good layers, (But for laying I would go with Production Reds & Comets)

The quietness varies more-so from one chicken to another. Not as much from breed to breed.

These are just my personal opinions, and some may disagree.

Good Luck!!
Jason

 

[trilyn]

I gotta tell you-I love my comets! I got them first before my others, they're my "big girls" and are about to lay here pretty soon! Maybe it's because I handled them the most, but they're very friendly and quite striking with their coloring being red and white. They've got my vote, although the Rhode Island Red's are gorgeous and the Ameraucanas come in a variety of colors, the naked necks are supposed to be good layers. The polish are a riot with their feathers and I am not helping at all-shutting up now! lol Good luck with whatever you decide!!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Cover the tractor with 60 or 70% shade cloth. You can get up to 90%, but it hold the heat in more.

 

[TeaLady]

Buff Orpingtons are sweet, as Jason says. Black Australorps were bred from Orpington stock. They are good layers and very sweet & gentle. I have more experience with the Aussies than with the BOs -- got a few BOs for the first time this year and they seem to be just as sweet as the Aussies. Don't know how they compare for heat tolerance.

 

[JenEric Farms]

I have a Buff Orpington and a Black Australorp and the BA is so much quieter...they are equal in the very friendly department and the BA lays more consistently. But, I tend to agree that noisiness is going to be more of a chicken to chicken than breed to breed thing.

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

This chart should help you find heat tolerant, productive layers.

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

 

[speckledhen]

I believe that a Plymouth Rock, most particularly the barred variety, is the best all-round chicken breed. They are rarely broody, though on occasion you may get one that tends to be that way, they are heat and cold tolerant, terrific layers, generally friendly and curious. The Barred Plymouth Rock is my favorite breed. I love Orpingtons, too, but they can be broody. If you want a broody type, that's terrific. I have buffs and blues and both varieties here have been broody this year. None of my Barred Rocks ever have, though.

 

[JenEric Farms]

My Buff Orpington is ALWAYS broody! My Black Australorp, never once. I have a Barred Rock and she a family favorite. She seemed more interested in interacting with us than the BA does.

 

[Mahonri]

Leghorns are heat resistant. Also Anconas and Minorcas. Most of those are not the friendliest.

Leghorns are very good layers!

Black stars and Cinnamon queens also do well in the heat.