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?
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
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.
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
