Help a beginner decide!

[Jaime918]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-breed-traits.77006/
You can try my article if you want...?

Love the organization. Thank you! This list is awesome!

 

[-Flash-]

Love the organization. Thank you! This list is awesome!

Wow! Thanks!

 

[BlueBaby]

Thank you. I was originally looking at Barred Rocks, but read they aren't fans of confinement and I can't allow free range due to coyotes, ravens, hawks and eagles all living nearby. So I didn't want them in a setting they wouldn't be okay with. I don't believe I have looked into the Delawares, I'll make a note to do so.

I can understand where you are coming from. Summer's are really hot down here in Arizona also, and I do not free range because of the predator's. Whatever breed or breed's that you decide on, make sure that they have some shade from the sun.

 

[Jaime918]

I can understand where you are coming from. Summer's are really hot down here in Arizona also, and I do not free range because of the predator's. Whatever breed or breed's that you decide on, make sure that they have some shade from the sun.

Oh absolutely! I couldn't imagine not giving any animal shade in these temperatures.

 

[Tervuren]

I’m farther north than you, so not quite the extremes you get, but I am in a desert and had to deal with 100+ temps this summer for weeks! And all during my first year with chickens. I found that my Australorp dealt with it very well and she is just fine with being confined to a backyard run/coop. My EE also handled the heat decently. You’re going to want to look for breeds with big straight combs generally speaking. Heads up that a lot of Mediterranean breeds have this buuuuut they don’t have a reputation for being super family friendly and like their free ranging. I also found that a great way to cool them off in desert climates like ours is a mister and a fan. One benefit to being in a desert! lol it’s too humid in the south for this to work.

 

[HumbleAmerican]

Thank you. I was originally looking at Barred Rocks, but read they aren't fans of confinement and I can't allow free range due to coyotes, ravens, hawks and eagles all living nearby. So I didn't want them in a setting they wouldn't be okay with. I don't believe I have looked into the Delawares, I'll make a note to do so.

Mine do just fine being confined. They bang sticks on the fence and chant about overthrowing their oppressors… but there’s rarely bloodshed.

 

[Jaime918]

I’m farther north than you, so not quite the extremes you get, but I am in a desert and had to deal with 100+ temps this summer for weeks! And all during my first year with chickens. I found that my Australorp dealt with it very well and she is just fine with being confined to a backyard run/coop. My EE also handled the heat decently. You’re going to want to look for breeds with big straight combs generally speaking. Heads up that a lot of Mediterranean breeds have this buuuuut they don’t have a reputation for being super family friendly and like their free ranging. I also found that a great way to cool them off in desert climates like ours is a mister and a fan. One benefit to being in a desert! lol it’s too humid in the south for this to work.

Thank you so much! This is super helpful. Yeah, this summer was pretty terrible! Seemed a lot hotter than past years. I already have a fan picked and on the way with the coop. I will most definitely look into misters. Not sure why I never thought of something so simple. Haha.

 

[Jaime918]

Mine do just fine being confined. They bang sticks on the fence and chant about overthrowing their oppressors… but there’s rarely bloodshed.

I absolutely love your wording! This was a nice morning chuckle.

 

[ChickenLeg]

I agree with 3killerbs, if you get them from a hatchery from the heat like in Texas, you know theyll be pretty heat tolerant, and since theyre hatchery stock theyll do well in confinement I keep ameraucanas and easter eggers, and dominiques. I live in west tn where summers are usually high 80s to mid 90s for a few months. My birds all laid pretty well but my bantam dominiques did the best. I have big easter eggers and they do pretty well all year long and are pretty meaty

 

[Jaime918]

I agree with 3killerbs, if you get them from a hatchery from the heat like in Texas, you know theyll be pretty heat tolerant, and since theyre hatchery stock theyll do well in confinement I keep ameraucanas and easter eggers, and dominiques. I live in west tn where summers are usually high 80s to mid 90s for a few months. My birds all laid pretty well but my bantam dominiques did the best. I have big easter eggers and they do pretty well all year long and are pretty meaty

Thank you. Everyone is so helpful and insightful. It's amazing. I love it. I'll definitely look into the locations of the hatcheries I look at. I actually discovered Domoniques last night. I loved the look of the Barred Rock, but not fans of confinement and then saw the Domoniques and their temperament all around seems like it would be a better fit for my setup and the heat.