Hi! I have recently decided that I will have hen/chicken in my backyard as soon as my new house is built (currently I can't build anything in my backyard so it's not even a possibility. I have given up on "supermarket eggs" last years, and now I buy eggs from local producers. I am willing to pay a (slightly) higher price, but unfortunately the supply is unreliable. We eat lots of eggs as I often cook crepes, or prepare egg sandwiches with my homemade sourdough bread.
I live in Bromont, in southeastern Quebec, Canada. My uncle had a few chicken in his backyard in the 1980s, but lost them all during a power blackout in winter... so I was left with the impression that chicken and cold climate were not really compatible. But I now realize that people have been raising chicken in Canada, northeastern USA and even Iceland for centuries!
I will probably try to buy a few Chantecler hen, which were developed in my region in the early 1900 and almost went extinct by the end of the 20th century. I haven't found any information on the BYC site about the Chantecler but I know it's adapted to free-range and is cold hardy.
Our house will be built on a 1.8 acre piece of land, with a stream and a pond, but since it's on a hillside half the superficy is not really suitable for gardening or farm animals. Still, I think we will be able to have a dozen hen and a few rabbits!
Any help/information about hen & cold climate will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Hugo
ps: I have to translate my French thoughts into English words, so please forgive my occasional errors/weird terms. This is especially true when talking about technical stuff, animals and food!
I live in Bromont, in southeastern Quebec, Canada. My uncle had a few chicken in his backyard in the 1980s, but lost them all during a power blackout in winter... so I was left with the impression that chicken and cold climate were not really compatible. But I now realize that people have been raising chicken in Canada, northeastern USA and even Iceland for centuries!
I will probably try to buy a few Chantecler hen, which were developed in my region in the early 1900 and almost went extinct by the end of the 20th century. I haven't found any information on the BYC site about the Chantecler but I know it's adapted to free-range and is cold hardy.
Our house will be built on a 1.8 acre piece of land, with a stream and a pond, but since it's on a hillside half the superficy is not really suitable for gardening or farm animals. Still, I think we will be able to have a dozen hen and a few rabbits!
Any help/information about hen & cold climate will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Hugo
ps: I have to translate my French thoughts into English words, so please forgive my occasional errors/weird terms. This is especially true when talking about technical stuff, animals and food!
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and Welcome To BYC! Try the Canadian thread for people in your area and how they handle the weather. 
