That’s what chicken math says!
The Brahmas should work better for you than they did for me. They were too fat, too feathery, and too pea-combed to enjoy half the year, let alone lay. All those should be upsides for you!
Ohhhh Fayoumis. As you might remember (I don’t even remember if I mentioned it) I wanted to get some Fayoumi eggs along with the others I ordered during the summer. Hopefully following last year’s epic failure, I’ll manage to bring in some new breeds. Fayoumis are still at the top of my list. I’m willing to bet that you’ll be more successful in getting them, so please do share experiences as they grow up! I’ve heard so much conflicting info about them
Yes I bet the Brahma would be very unhappy with the heat - they are not bred for the hot climates. My Henny Penny is very unhappy with the heat, and seems to be one of the hens here doing not too badly with this cold snap - she's like a little Ptarmigan hahaha (extreme northern type of grouse).
Yes I remember the problems you had with the Fayoumi eggs, I am getting day olds, just 3, going to try them out and see how they do. Wish I could ship some day olds to you
I'll have to come and visit and bring a bunch to you hahahaha.
As for the cold, it doesn't matter how 'winter hardy' they are when we get to the temps I have here it's hard on all of them. There have been many studies done with optimal temps for poultry; the good temp range seems to be 15C - 24C (60F - 75F) which jives with my observations. Though I find mine are 'ok' down to 40F (6C) though they do better around 50F (10C).
In the Summer they definitely do not like the humidity, so 24C and high humidity is warm for them. I think the Fayoumi will do better in those hot temps but I know I will have some issues with the extreme cold here, I also have 6 Hamburg coming (3 silver spangled, and 3 gold penciled), I am not sure how they will handle the extremes.
Today's task for me is to get up some 6mil poly to 'wall off' one end of the barn so that I can put a heater there and warm things up. If I can get it to 40F I will be happy - so will the chooks. I'll put up one of those plastic curtains they use in cold storage places (with the strips so you can walk through), this way the chooks can go into the other part of the barn and dig all they want in horse poop in the stalls, then come back to the warmth, eat and drink - lay eggs...
Well better get cracking and get to the barn - have a wonderful day/evening everyone!
