New chickens in Yuma

[Chickandroo]

Hey there, we are new to AZ and going to get chickens this fall. We need chickens that do well in the heat, are pretty good layers and are maybe a bit unique in appearance. We are new to this so were thinking 3-4 chickens. Any breed suggestions? We wanted to have a couple types.

 

[Silviaschicks]

Barred Rocks, Brahmas, Easter Eggers, Leghorns, Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Speckled Sussex, Welsummers

 

[Outta Here]

Ditto to what Silviaschicks listed, but also there's a fairly new breed that is supposed to be very heat hardy and a great forager: Sapphire Gems. This hybrid was developed by crossing a Blue Andalusian with a Barred Rock female to get a Blue Plymouth Rock. Then they crossed back with the Barred Rock again to produce the superior egg-laying Sapphire Gem, as the story was told to me. (The feed store guy said he hadn't been as impressed with the Blue Rock and the Sapphire Gem.)
I have two of them and find them equal to our Arizona heat. They are the first to leave the pen and the last to come in--not a good chicken to coop up, I'm told, but great to forage. They're very friendly and calm and sorta exotic looking.

 

[Parront]

Hi! I have some Az bred Naked Neck chickens. The heat does not stop them from laying eggs, they were the ones laying when it hit 100 here. They were bred in phoenix, az. Come on over to the AZ thread for more local desert people.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/arizona-chickens.31227/page-7830#post-24732506
Here is one of my Naked Necks. They look like dinosaurs! Very hardy in the heat, they have less feathers.

 

[springvalley123]

Hi @Chickandroo ! I second @Parront's suggestion for some desert-bred chickens, because "heat tolerant" isn't enough when it comes to the extreme heat of the Valley let alone Yuma.
As for getting a couple of types, I'd suggest buying them all together, that way you wouldn't have to deal with integrating birds just yet.
Between sapphire gem and Andalusian (I've had both at different times), the andalusian probably wins the extreme heat contest, but mine didn't exactly welcome the next generation to the flock even after a seemingly successful integration.
Hopefully between the suggestions on your other thread (regarding coops), and the advice on this thread, you'll be off to a great start!
Looking forward to seeing you on the Arizona thread!

 

[Parront]

Hi @Chickandroo ! I second @Parront's suggestion for some desert-bred chickens, because "heat tolerant" isn't enough when it comes to the extreme heat of the Valley let alone Yuma.
As for getting a couple of types, I'd suggest buying them all together, that way you wouldn't have to deal with integrating birds just yet.
Between sapphire gem and Andalusian (I've had both at different times), the andalusian probably wins the extreme heat contest, but mine didn't exactly welcome the next generation to the flock even after a seemingly successful integration.
Hopefully between the suggestions on your other thread (regarding coops), and the advice on this thread, you'll be off to a great start!
Looking forward to seeing you on the Arizona thread!

Even though I am not in the desert, I like that the NNs keep laying when it is hot. I once kept Orpingtons, I really liked them, but no eggs @ 100 degrees. Many molted golden feathers! Now, I have 2 white Rocks an a brown sex-link which all 3 quit laying during the heat wave when it went over 90-100. They lived, but were standing on frozen bottles of water and ice blocks!

 

[My Bagurks]

I am in Alabama and I have an assortment. I recently got 7 Saphire Gems and I have been very impressed with the quantity and size of their eggs. And out of 38 chickens, they love roosting outside the coop. Some open air roosting bars under a tarp is their favorite spot.
My brother lives in Phoenix and has barred rocks and a New Hampshire Red. They all do great and keep his cartons stocked. They seem to be very heat tolerant as long as they have shade.