New chickens for SoCal. Help!!!

[Caladrius]

Hi there! I am a new member and I need some advice. My family and I live in Pomona, California and we aren't sure if we should be concerned about the heat for the chickens, should we? If so, are there egg laying breeds that are more heat tolerant? We were thinking about Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, or Barred Rocks, would they work?

 

[cavemanrich]

The list is from the following source.
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2015/02/20-heat-hardy-chicken-breeds.html

Appenzeller Spitzhauben
Barred Rock Bantam
Black Faced White Spanish
Black Sumatra
Blue Andalusian
Blue Hamburg
Easter Egger
Egyptian Fayoumi
Exchequer Leghorn
Golden Campine
Golden Lakenvelder
Leghorn
Mille Fleur d'Uccle Bantam
Penedesenca
Sicilian Buttercup
Silkie
Silver Lakenvelder
Silver Spangled Hamburg
Welsummer
White Crested Black Polish

Rhode island Reds are not listed.

WISHING YOU BEST and

 

[Chonke]

Ive heard of a few cases where rhode island reds have died due to heat, however Im not sure how hot Pomona gets compared to other hot cities.

 

[3riverschick]

The list is from the following source.
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2015/02/20-heat-hardy-chicken-breeds.html

Appenzeller Spitzhauben
Barred Rock Bantam
Black Faced White Spanish ( should be White Faced Black Spanish)
Black Sumatra
Blue Andalusian
Blue Hamburg
Easter Egger
Egyptian Fayoumi
Exchequer Leghorn
Golden Campine
Golden Lakenvelder
Leghorn
Mille Fleur d'Uccle Bantam
Penedesenca
Sicilian Buttercup
Silkie
Silver Lakenvelder
Silver Spangled Hamburg
Welsummer
White Crested Black Polish


Rhode island Reds are not listed.

WISHING YOU BEST and

Hi,
I used to live in West Covina. Yes, heat will be an issue. Get a heat hardy breed with a large comb and wattles. that will help them deal with the heat. Some of the breeds listed here are very rare. Other are standard breeds which do well in production and the shows. I would definitely get birds from a fine local source. from a flock which has bee in SoCal for a while so the birds have had time to get acclimatized to the heat.
I bolded the birds above which I think are common enough for you to find and not so rare. Buy from a breeder, look up the National Club for those breeds. They can help you find a quality breeder near you. This is a fine time of year to buy "started birds". That way you know the quality and will be on track to hatch birds with the rest of us next Spring. Or buy "retired breeder birds" the breeder no longer needs as he/she has enough of their chicks. That's a great deal. You pay more but get quality stock which has a season or two left of breeding in them and you can start to hatch chicks right away of you like. fI your birds go into a molt, put them on Nutrena Feather Fixer feed and they will come thru it faster with better feathers. There is a guy on BYC in Death Valley who breeds chickens. They would be good for you, able to handle any heat Pomona can throw at you.
Best,
Karen in soggy western PA. USA