Hello, I live in Ohio where the weather is impossible to predict. I was wondering if anyone would know of the right chicken(hens) that would adapt well in the freezing cold, hot weather, and rainy days and would produce a well amount of eggs. I know this is asking a lot but if you had any information that would be great. Thank you
Hi Glad you could join the flock! Australorps and black sex links would probably be the most recomended for your varying weather along with their good egg production. Here is the link for the breeds section https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds Wishing you the very best of luck and hope you enjoy BYC. I am sure you will everyone here to help and very friendly
Hello and Welcome To BYC! Here are a couple of links to some nice chicken breed comparison charts you might like http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html and http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf and http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/breed-list.aspx when you have narrowed down your choices, don't forget to check the BYC Reviews section for member reviews on the different breeds. https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds The Black or Red Sex Links (like Golden Comet, Red Stars, ISA Browns etc) are probably the most popular layers around. If you want breeds that don't lay quite as well but will lay for a longer time, X2 that Orpingtons and, Australorps are a good choice, Plymouth Rocks, Sussex, Delaware and Wyandottes are some other popular breeds, the Easter Egger, is a fun breed because they usually lay green/blue eggs, all those breeds usually do fine in the Ohio area.
Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us. I suggest the Wyandotte. Mine have been hardy to -20 degree temperatures and 100 degree heat. They've been pretty good layers (250+ eggs each per year) and have had excellent temperaments.
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help. Aside from the breeds already suggested, I would recommend buff orpington, speckled sussex and easter egger chickens. They are all cold hardy and usually do well in heat. They are great layers and very friendly birds.
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided join our flock. I would recommend Australorps. They are extremely hardy. I've raised them where winter temperatures dropped to 30 F below zero, and where summer temperatures frequently reached 117-118 F (sometimes more), and in both climate extremes they did just fine. In addition they are very calm and gentle (my children and granddaugher made lap pets of them), and the best layers of the standard, brown egg laying breeds. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Whatever breed you decide to get, good luck with your flock.
In contrast to other areas of USA, I think the Middle west - OHIO have fairly normal weather. At least for people living there.
Thank you for the wonderful suggestions. I have done some research and was wondering if the Plymouth rock, Rhode Island red, and/or the white leghorn chicken would do well for a beginner like me?
I've had all three of those breeds and I would give a big thumbs up to the Plymouth Rock which is a very hardy, dependable, productive, and generally docile breed. I've occasionally had an aggressive PR over the years, but that's definitely been the exception rather than the rule. Rhode Island Reds are slightly better layers than PRs, but are sometimes aggressive (especially the roosters and hatchery quality RIRs). I wouldn't personally recommend White Leghorns for beginners even though they are egg laying machines as they are typically high strung and flighty. My Leghorns screamed bloody murder whenever I handled them and my children were never able to make the lap pets of them that they were of our dual purpose breeds (It's the reason I don't have Leghorns anymore).
