Just starting...any suggestions on cold weather hardy breeds?

[cjeanean]

Here's an INVALUABLE chart for chicken breeds! Hope this helps, and

!

Chicken Breed Chart

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

That chicken breed chart will help. I ended up choosing Barred Rocks, Buff Orps, GL Wyndotts, and Lt. Brahmas. They should be cold hardy, friendly and relatively quiet. Any breeds with a rose comb would be a good choice since they're less likely to frostbite.

 

[crooked stripe]

I have saved Henderson's chart in my documents. It is very helpful in even learning about chickens. John

 

[Karlachix]

I used the chicken breed chart (above) and I also liked this selection tool ... http://www.mypetchicken.com/breedQuestions.aspx

 

[Cetawin]

Our Ameraucana and SL Wyandotte are absolutely sweet...one is a stalker, stalking me everywhere I go and one went with my girl to school the other day for sharing...all the kids touching her and making noise and she was a darling...never even went Poo the whole time...she waited till we got outside.

The BA's are huge and sweet too but not as cuddly as the others.


I am unfamiliar with the isabrowns...I am ordering Iowa Blues...they are a rare breed, brown egg layer and were created in iowa so I am sure they can handle the cold.

Good luck choosing...it is hard. I am placing my second order soon and still trying to decide exactly what I want. LOL

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

Quote:
You won't find ISA Brown's on breed charts because they are a hybrid. I'm not sure of what the cross, but I think they were bred especially for laying. They are probably better in that regard because of "hybrid vigor" although most people get more eggs than they can use from their full blooded chickens. I think most people get the full blooded chickens just because they like there looks. I have buff orpingtons for that reason, I think they are pretty. If your feed store sells them they should be able to take the cold in your area. Most chickens take cold better than heat.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

We live at 2500' elevation in the lower North Cascades. We get 4+ feet of snow at our house from the end of October until (usually) early April. We have MONTHS of below freezing temps and sometimes weeks on end of below ZERO temps.

I have Light Brahmas & Golden Laced Cochins. Both breeds are extremely cold hardy (I do have a heat lamp in the coop in the winters but it's not insulated, yet). In addtion, both of those are very gentle breeds. They don't fight. The roosters, you can walk up to & pick up. They aren't mean at all.

I have some Light Brahma eggs for sale, if you're interested.....

 

[BaronRenfrew]

Oh please.

A heat lamp? We have 3 weeks of -20F and the birds do fine without a heat lamp. Save your hydro and money and the planet by not wasting energy on that. If the shed is windproof the birds will do fine. Just get a heated base so the water doesn't freeze. In my experience chickens have more health problems with dampness and somewhat cold temps (30-40F) than with real frozen temps.

Even bantams and quail have no trouble in my barn.

Breeds, I'd suggest a "laying hen" special of chicks from a hatchery. Then you can have a mix of breeds, colors, and egg sizes/colours.

If you are really worried about cold then get a breed with a pea or rose comb. Keep in mind all the other things that you want or don't want in chickens: broodiness, whether or not a roo, whether you want to hatch your own next time, whether you want to help keep a disappearing breed going. Also think of end of production: how big a bird for the table. Dark cornish are reasonable layers, great on the table and great in the cold but will eat you out of house and home.

Good choices are wyantoddes, brahmas, and Rose comb Rhode island reds.

 

[BaronRenfrew]

Oh yeah, we only got 10 feet of snow this year. Parents were afraid that kids could climb the snowbanks and touch the hydro wires. Snow is good. It actually insulates the ground and buildings.

 

[addietief]

We have a adult Leghorn, New Hampshire Red, Australorp and Barred Rock. We also have two five day old Ohio Buckeyes and one Rhode Island Red. I'm hoping that all do well for the winter. Our coop will be insulated a bit. We are in New England so each year is different regarding snow and cold. How old can the chicks be before they can go outside? I know we have to introduce the new and old ones gradually, but how do we keep the chicks from freezing? Keep them inside for a few months? Thanks.