Good breeds for Central FL? Hot, harsh weather, humid, mosquitoes.

[Cherylann76]

Hi there! Thank you so much for this info! Central Florida here.. I don't even notice typos no worries.. I don't mind small eggs., is the only reason you don't want small chickens anymore the small eggs, or for other reasons too? Did you select your breeds for heat tolerance? Do you notice that some are more tolerant than others? Are there any breeds you have noticed hate the heat? The silkies didn't mind it? I dont want a silkie or any show chickens like that but it confuses me that they could survive here in the heat they're so fluffy! I picture them looking like wet mops here..do chickens sweat? ..My backyard is so cool and breezy all the time, very shaded by the neighbors huge oaks, and that is where i'm legally required to keep them, though I plan to put them in the chicken tractor in the sunny parts of the yard when its nice out and i'm here with them..I was worried about them getting enough sun because I read they need 8 hours full sun to lay eggs but these comments are making me happy i have the shade for them. Love the watermelon tip!

North Central Florida here. I have Easter Eggers and they are sweethearts. I also have Black Australorps, Barred Rock, New Hampshire Reds, White Leghorns and Iso Browns. My birds do well in the heat as long as they have access to water and shade. I have given them frozen mixed vegetables (the cheap ones you get from the dollar store) during the hottest days. I'm in it for the eggs, not to spend money just to have chickens on feed. Of all the breeds I have the NH Reds are bossiest. Oops, forgot I also have Cuckoo Marans.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I looked up the Key West chickens. I don't believe you'll want them. They are feral, live traps are donated to home owners who have too many nuisance birds then sent to wildlife center where they are then sent to the mainland of Florida for "adoption". The Keys have self imposed "no kill" so they are dumping their problem of overpopulation on others for a fee. It's a scheme using cute advertisement and "Gypsy" name to control their problem of what is a nuisance.

The birds will never be tame and are not accustomed to confinement. You'd be adopting a grown feral bird. They are the result of released cockfighting bird flocks decades after that sport was outlawed. With a "no kill" policy and law against any act of malice on them their only threat is migratory hawks. The population is basically unchecked considering how prolific chicken reproduction is.