Creating An extra cold hardy breed - The Cold Weather Egger

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Hey forgive my confusion, You mean they hatch on winter solstice or you start them that day? Forgive me again for asking..you do this to carry on the gene pool of the winter layers? This sounds interesting and makes sense to me. I live in north east tn (mountains). We always get snow in the winter. Just being nosy

I usually set them around solstice. It's not exact but I figure any hens still laying during the shortest daylight hours of the year are the birds I want to replicate.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Also, reflecting more on this... my best winter layers are a standardbred line of brown leghorns from a breeder in Ohio. They have literally none of the physical traits you might expect to make a chicken more cold hardy, but they've been selected for winter laying for who knows how long and if not fully prolific in the winter, they are certainly far and away my most reliable.

Having the physical traits that might seem to make a bird weather cold better DEFINITELY has zero bearing on whether or not it's a better winter layer.

 

[SourRoses]

Also, reflecting more on this... my best winter layers are a standardbred line of brown leghorns from a breeder in Ohio. They have literally none of the physical traits you might expect to make a chicken more cold hardy, but they've been selected for winter laying for who knows how long and if not fully prolific in the winter, they are certainly far and away my most reliable.

Having the physical traits that might seem to make a bird weather cold better DEFINITELY has zero bearing on whether or not it's a better winter layer.

I imagine this is due to certain genes influencing the pituitary gland in the way it responds to light levels, affecting the release of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone). (FSH causes the follicle to develop, and LH triggers the release of the ovum.)
So, it would seem necessary for there to be a difference in the pituitary gland for some hens to be better layers through the short days of winter.
It would likely be just the same in a warm climate, but the cold climates with defined winters highlight the difference in laying.
Leghorns are the most likely breed for exceptional laying, so I'm supposing that pituitary mutation happened long ago.
Some northern European breeds are also supposed to lay through all but the darkest days of winter, which is why I first mentioned them. Perhaps the mutation is particular to certain lines and perhaps it's accidentally bred out at times.

Therefore, your approach of hatching the winter eggs is kinda genius in its simplicity. And it's something that may help all breeders increase their overall egg production regardless of climate, so thank you!

 

[Iluveggers]

I have 2 buff chanteclers but I am looking for a larger body size.

Brahma? Maybe mixed w Ameraucana?

 

[Chickenosauurs_RexNo54]

You could use Bredas for the wattles and combs. In Bredas the wattles and combs are nonexistent, and it shouldn't be to hard to breed into your flock. You can also add in Swedish flower hens and Hedemoras which are both incredibly cold-hardy and lay plenty of eggs.

 

[phasianidae]

You could use Bredas for the wattles and combs. In Bredas the wattles and combs are nonexistent, and it shouldn't be to hard to breed into your flock. You can also add in Swedish flower hens and Hedemoras which are both incredibly cold-hardy and lay plenty of eggs.

Breda have large wattles.

 

[Chickenosauurs_RexNo54]

Breda have large wattles.

Oh thank you, I might be confusing something else for the Bredas then.