Help for starting out

[M To The Maxx]

I love my Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. They are my best layers.

 

[PortageGirl]

If you’re truly worried about the cold, there’s a few breeds which were bred especially for it and have been proven to be hardy all winter long. Chanteclers are from Canada, and are a rare breed due to modern hatcheries watering down the bloodline/type. Much the same holds true for Buckeyes, also developed for cold weather and calm manners, being confined a lot in the cold winter months… Dominiques and Delewares too are quite cold hardy, continuing to lay in the winter months, though egg production should always be expected to drop down in the dark months.

If you’ve got the ability to keep em nice and warm etc, even in harsh months, the sky’s the limit! Me, I keep heat and extra light to a minimum in the winter, so I go for the tough breeds. Most of what others have mentioned are good too, EEs, Buff Orps, Rhode Island Reds (RIR), Sussex, New Hampshire Reds (NHR), Barred Rocks, and most medium to heavy, or dual purpose breeds will do fine… just find one or two you are interested in.

Here’s a chart that I find very helpful, there’s little snowflakes that show if they’re winter hardy! http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

Oh, and

Welcome to BYC!!! Glad you joined our little zoo! Hope you find lots of help here.

 

[fldiver97]

Wyandottes, RIR, Buckeye, Faverolle, BR should all do fine in the winter but there are many other breeds that are suitable. Check Hendersons as the other OP suggested. Oh and welcome from WI

 

[bigoakhunter]

I agree with the Black Australop's, very cold hardy breed and good layers.

 

[Super Admin]

Our first chickens were Black Australorps. They are excellent layers and very cold hardy. I love their black feather that have a green tinge. Buff Orpingtons are also good layers and cold hardy, with a sweet personality on top of that (Blk Ausiess can be a little bossy.

 

[bee_wrangler]

Thank you all for the replies! I found someone who had 3 silkies so I went first thing this morning and picked them up. They are about 1/12 months old. she told me they are females, but also said Silkies are very hard to sex until they are older so I guess time will tell lol. I am keeping them in the house until I pick up a heat lamp to keep them warm. I am not shure right now what other type I am going to get, but am thinking Leghorns or Plymouth Rocks.