Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[ronott1]

I'm interested in raising a large fowl heritage breed that can handle the South Florida heat and is a very good large egg layer. Any suggestions ?

First, get them from someone in Florida since they should be acclimated(I have heard of people using Air conditioners) to the heat.

Australorps lay in the heat and are surprising heat hardy
Penedesencas. There are breeders in Florida with them. I hatched a pair from Black Penedesenca hatching eggs form there. Penes are Ultra heat hardy--They hardly pant at 100 degrees. They will keep laying eggs in the heat too.
Leghorns and other Mediterranean breeds too.

 

[Arielle]

Thank you. I was worried about breeds from up north that they would not handle the heat well. I just got a black australorpe but wish i had seen this thread first so i could have gotten from breeder on here instead of feed store to make sure i have true bloodlines. I was looking at Delaware but none in my area so i thought they must not handle heat. I cant really breed for strong traits as im 100 yards outside of agricultute zoning so i am restricted to only 4 hens on my half acre.

Welcome to BYC!!

I would look for a local poutry club and contact the secretary-- they seem to know everyone that shows and ask to find local breeders that already have birds adapted to your area.

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote:
I was considering Penedesencas at one point but decided against them because they were rumored to not take confinement well. Wondering how true that was. Are yours particularly flighty? Or can they be reasonably calm?

My Black Javas did surprisingly well in the heat. They panted, but so do the wild birds when it's 115 degrees out. The pullets laid all summer. I was getting 6-8 eggs/day out of 8 pullets (hatched in January). Still getting 3-5 eggs/day from them even though they are going into a molt and one is raising a brood of chicks. No air conditioned coops here. Even if I could air condition the coops I can't trust the power to stay on. Birds that are not acclimated are going to struggle. I'd rather have birds that can deal with the heat on their own. Shade and water are key for their survival.

Sarah

 

[MagicChicken]

Anyone else from this thread planning to be at the show in Tucson Nov 23-24?

Sarah

 

[ronott1]

I was considering Penedesencas at one point but decided against them because they were rumored to not take confinement well. Wondering how true that was. Are yours particularly flighty? Or can they be reasonably calm?

My Black Javas did surprisingly well in the heat. They panted, but so do the wild birds when it's 115 degrees out. The pullets laid all summer. I was getting 6-8 eggs/day out of 8 pullets (hatched in January). Still getting 3-5 eggs/day from them even though they are going into a molt and one is raising a brood of chicks. No air conditioned coops here. Even if I could air condition the coops I can't trust the power to stay on. Birds that are not acclimated are going to struggle. I'd rather have birds that can deal with the heat on their own. Shade and water are key for their survival.

Sarah

No, they are not flighty and do take confinement well. So far none have been aggressive. They do not particularly like me but they do not want to kill me either. I have a Black Penesesenca pullet that is penned up with Australorps and a Breeding Quad of Partridge Penedesencas penned up with a Wheaten Pene and two Horstman RIR Pullets. They all get along fine. The Black Pene Pullet is a couple of weeks younger than the Australops. One of the Australorps adopted her as mom at two weeks old, which was very funny to see.

Black Penes are bigger and are almost Dual Purpose(They are listed as being Dual Purpose but they are not that big LOL)

 

[jermoatc]

Looking for any Heritage LF Barred or White Plymouth Rock breeders near Colorado Springs, CO. Anybody know of anyone?
Speckled Sussex too.

 

[ronott1]

Looking for any Heritage LF Barred or White Plymouth Rock breeders near Colorado Springs, CO. Anybody know of anyone?
Speckled Sussex too.

@ChooksChick moved to Colorado a new Farm but I do not know what She has now.

 

[wsmith]

@ChooksChick
  moved to Colorado but I do not know what She has now.

You may try posting the inquiry on the Colorado thread, or maybe try the Colorado Chickens FB group. I know that Judy Casey (pozees) near Pueblo has Suzzex, but not sure if they are speckled. I don't know off the top of my head of any breeders in the COS area specializing in Barred or White rock LF

 

[har]

Thank you. I was worried about breeds from up north that they would not handle the heat well. I just got a black australorpe but wish i had seen this thread first so i could have gotten from breeder on here instead of feed store to make sure i have true bloodlines. I was looking at Delaware but none in my area so i thought they must not handle heat. I cant really breed for strong traits as im 100 yards outside of agricultute zoning so i am restricted to only 4 hens on my half acre.

The persons name in Florida is Cpartist. She has not sure how many breeds but I know she has Delawares and New Hampshires

 

[BGMatt]

I'm interested in raising a large fowl heritage breed that can handle the South Florida heat and is a very good large egg layer. Any suggestions ?

Really seconding the Mediterranean breeds suggestion that Daniel made. Leghorn, Minorca, Ancona, Andalusian, Spanish, Buttercup, Catalana.