Needing help deciding

[Kelby675]

Hello everybody! Ive been combing through different sections here in BYC. However im still stuck. My original plan was to go for silkies because they are fluffy, tiny, and just adorable (never mind that i have an obsession with tiny things lolz). While ultimately whatever breed i get will be my "babies" and receive the same love (if they are willing lolz) and care that any other animal ive kept has received, i also would like to have eggs i can give/sell to family and neighbors. Through my research on silkies (which i still plan to have at least one maybe 2) the egg production seems to vary between 1-4 a week. So im here looking for advice from people with similar climates on what breed(s) to keep.

My location temp/climate info:
Winters have been know to drop close to or below 0°F with wind chills as a normal occurrence.
Spring temps can range from 30s to 90s and can run from dry to humid.
Summer and fall tend to blend together here temps getting as high and 120 (that was for a week several years ago) we also tend to get storms and high winds in late spring through early fall, with high flooding, often accompanied by tornados in the smaller communities around us. And later in the fall (around halloween) the night temps start dropping off sharply going from extreme heat to really cold in a matter of a few hours.

For a better idea of where im located im in west texas On the caprock which is the tail end of the desert southwest of the US.

So far ive seen Australorps recommended, plymouth rocks, rir, and wyandottes. I prefer bantams if they are better but open to all (except maybe the naked necks, the bare skin bothers me lolz, i dont know why)

 

[500Chickens]

I recommend Australorps and RIRs. Bantams are not good for production laying

 

[Kelby675]

I recommend Australorps and RIRs. Bantams are not good for production laying

Ya. Its just that they are small. Lolz, my obsession with tiny things started along time ago when i rescued my service dog at 3 weeks old (hes been gone 2 yrs in july, but the obsession is still strong lolz). I will probably go with RIR and Australorps, standard sized. But i will keep a look out to see if any other recs come through

 

[WingItRanch]

Haha naked necks freak me out too.

I'd always recommend Easter Eggers. They're usually on the smaller side, are good layers, and they come in all different colors. Their eggs are usually blueish so that's a fun bonus. Note that they're not pure bred but mixes. Which is why I say "usually." I have a mixed flock with 3 Easter Eggers. 2 lay blue eggs and 1 lays mint green.

Also, they typically have pea combs which is good if you're worried about frost bite. The large single combs are suseptible to frost bite.

 

[Kelby675]

Haha naked necks freak me out too.

I'd always recommend Easter Eggers. They're usually on the smaller side, are good layers, and they come in all different colors. Their eggs are usually blueish so that's a fun bonus. Note that they're not pure bred but mixes. Which is why I say "usually." I have a mixed flock with 3 Easter Eggers. 2 lay blue eggs and 1 lays mint green.

Also, they typically have pea combs which is good if you're worried about frost bite. The large single combs are suseptible to frost bite.

I wonder if i could crochet hats for them for winter . Or some sort of cover for the combs lolz... So many ideas in my brain

 

[Iluveggers]

If you want a breed that is more ok w being handled, I highly recommend Orpingtons. My two are cuddly girls! I also think Sussex would be a good option, they are very friendly & curious and have great personalities. They probably lay 4-5 eggs a week each breed. Good luck!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

RIRs have a rep for being mean to other breeds, so maybe not a good mix with silkies, which tend to be very meek, I've read here. I don't have personal experience with these breeds myself though. I will give a hearty second vote for EEs, Easter Eggers. Great breed. Hardy and productive, laid-back, calm with other birds and people. Not subject to frostbite, good foragers. I also like Dominiques, they look a lot like Barred Plymouth Rocks but don't have the big single comb, so again, not subject to frostbite. Another calm, productive bird, brown eggs. Neither breed tends to be broody.

 

[Sic]

Ya. Its just that they are small. Lolz, my obsession with tiny things started along time ago when i rescued my service dog at 3 weeks old (hes been gone 2 yrs in july, but the obsession is still strong lolz). I will probably go with RIR and Australorps, standard sized. But i will keep a look out to see if any other recs come through

You can get bantam EEs or bantam barred rocks, either should give decent amount of eggs and be capable of handling the weather extremes you have. Of course, bantam usually lay much smaller eggs.