Heat-hardy breeds? South Louisiana/Gulf Coast (zone 9)

[Joz]

As I was firming up my list on MPC, I noticed that their sorted lists of chicks (brown egg layers, tinted egg layers, etc) also noted cold and heat hardy breeds. And so I opened the heat-hardy list to verify my choices thus far.

I'd considered both Australorps and Buff Orps for my medium-brown egg layer (I'm trying to diversify my eventual 4-5 bird flock with different egg colors, and hoping the EE will lay something other than tinted white or light brown). I decided on the Buff Orp strictly based on color; as both were chunky breeds, I figured the buff coloring wouldn't absorb as much heat as the black.

However, MPC's "Especially Heat-Hardy" list contained Australorps, and NOT Buff Orps.

SOOOoooOOOoooo...... Whaddya think? Is one better than the other in extended hot, humid conditions? My coop is going to be the roofed run only (might slap on 3-4 corrugated metal panel "walls" in the winter). I believe the run will be mostly shaded. They'll be able to "free range" (I have a fairly tiny yard) in the late afternoon, when I get home from work.

My other choices are:
Easter Egger
White Crested Blue Polish
Welsumer
Speckled Sussex

Thank you.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I don't know that you couldn't raise buffs down there. People do as far as I know. I say ask around the Louisiana state thread, and see if others have them. You should be able to get the birds you want.

 

[easttxchick]

I also live on the Gulf Coast(East Texas) and my chickens did fine last summer.

I have BR, BA, PR(they are bred to be heat tolerant), BO, SLW, GLW, and other different breeds. As long as they had access to shade and plenty of water, I would think they would be fine-mine were.

 

[Kewlhanded]

I live in FL, and a lot of peep's have Buffs, it's hot as hell here. My EE's do great in hot weather, even my RIR's are fine. I recommend buying you chick's from a hot weather state and they will probably be more environmentaly adaptable.

 

[Trinam]

I also live on the Gulf Coast(East Texas) and my chickens did fine last summer.

I have BR, BA, PR(they are bred to be heat tolerant), BO, SLW, GLW, and other different breeds. As long as they had access to shade and plenty of water, I would think they would be fine-mine were.

Hi, I'm brand new ... looking forward to starting a flock later on this year and am researching breeds.. Is there a list of acronyms somewhere around ?