Help me decide on what chicken breed to get

[Love my Critters!]

I have silkies right now. They free range in a 1 acre fenced area and have a horse loafing shed that has been converted into a large coop that they can come and go from as they please. I want to get about 4 standard size hens that will be good layers. My silkies all think they have to be moms ALL the time

I live in the dry desert and the summers get very hot, the winters are very mild. I do not have experience with other breeds and I need one that can handle our weather, not be too aggressive with my silkies, and be good layers. Can anyone please help me with choosing the right breed? Thanks!

 

[ghulst]

The best breed for you would be red sexlinks. They are laying machines and very docile.

 

[77horses]

Red Stars(also known as Cinnamon Queens, Red Sex-Links, and Golden Comets) are great! They are like laying machines and they are sooo friendly!

We have 4. They are also great in cold/hot weather, as long as you provide a lamp. Ours have been laying all winter. This breed usually starts laying at a pretty early age; ours started at about 4-5 months, while it takes about 6-9 months for some other breeds to start.

The Red Star lays tan or brown eggs; usually medium-XLarge, as long as you feed them enough protein(if you want large eggs).

We love our Red Stars!

 

[PortageGirl]

Look over the chart here > http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html for LOTS of info, for a smaller selection which covers the breeds that John Henderson has personal experience with look at the link at the top called "Our Flock" Both charts have very accurate info.

[edit] I don't think it mentions the sex-links either red or black in the charts, but they are nice too. I have friends with Comets... (red star, gold comets, few other names all the same, forget the names of the black ones, but the red ones would probably be better in a hot climate anyway)

 

[Cats Critters]

Try this test to select breeds: http://www.mypetchicken.com/breedQuestions.aspx

 

[Master S.M.C]

Brahmas are heat hardy they should be very nice

 

[bumblebeehillschickenfarm]

Red sexlinks are about the best bird out there for laying and great in cold weather.

 

[frankenchick]

If I lived someplace hot, I'd love to have Asils (also, Aseels). They're a very, very old breed from Asia. They are good mothers, good egg producers, and able to take care of themselves.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[imfowl]

Any sex links, RIR's or buff orps. The buff orps don't lay quite as well as the others, but are very friendly.

 

[4 Love of Baby Chickens]

Red-Sexlinks, Black-Sexlinks, RIRs, Barred Rocks and EEs. I love all these breeds. It gets up to 105* degrees here in the summer and I still get around 5 to 10 eggs.