Rarest of the rare from Murray McMurray hatchery

[animalwild]

I just ordered twenty eggs from Murray that were in the rarest of the rare. I was just wondering if anybody else has ordered these eggs and what luck they had with them. I live in a place that can get very cold in the winter and was also wondering if the breeds that are listed would survive these temps. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

This is the breed list for the Rarest of the rare on their website :
Sumatras, Dominiques, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Silver, Golden, Buff Laced, and White Polish, Golden Campines, Golden Penciled Hamburgs, Silver Penciled Rocks, Partridge, Black, Buff, Blue, & Silver Laced and White Cochins, Araucanas, Dark and Buff Brahmas, Phoenix, Fayoumis, Salmon Faverolles, W. L. Red Cornish, Lakenvelders, Black and White Langshans, Red Caps, Silver Leghorns, Crevecoeurs, Silver Gray Dorkings, Old English Games, Sultans, Buttercup

I can tell you about them if you'd like but it might take a while lol

You can also ask on the Murray McMurray Thread :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/640796/murray-mcmurray-hatchery

 

[animalwild]

I have researched some of the breeds I was just kind of worried about the birds like the fayoumi and Phoenix since they come from warmer areas then where I live

 

[animalwild]

I was also wondering if I would need to incubate these eggs at a different tempature and humidity

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Nope, incubate them at the same temperature and humidity you usually would.

How cold does it get where you live?

 

[animalwild]

It can get extremely cold. We live in northern South Dakota they would be in a barn for the winter and have planets of bedding and other chickens and animals to stay warm. I have some little bantams that have survived the winter very well so I think on how well there doing hat these chickens would do ok. It can get below zero for long periods of time.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Quote:Okay, in that case I will go through each breed it is possible for you to get and look at how cold hardy they are.

Sumatras - Beautiful black birds that lay around 100 white medium sized eggs a year and should be fine in you environment because they have small combs and wattles so are not as prone frostbite.

Dominiques - Dominiques are large barred birds which lay 230 large brown eggs per year, are cold hardy and have rose combs so are not prone to frostbite.

Golden Laced Wyandottes - Beautiful birds that lay 200 large tan eggs a year. They have small rose combs so are ideal for cold environments.

Silver, Golden, Buff Laced, and White Polish - Large crested birds that usually dont have combs so are not prone to frostbite. Can be LF or Bantam. They lay around 200 medium sized white eggs per year

Golden Campines - Campines lay around 160 medium sized white eggs however they have large straight combs that are prone to frostbite.

Golden Penciled Hamburgs - Good layers of medium white eggs. Ideal for cold environments due to their rose comb.

Silver Penciled Rocks - They have small straight combs, while not ideal for cold environments they would probably for fine.

Partridge, Black, Buff, Blue, & Silver Laced and White Cochins - Cochins lay 160 medium brown eggs. They have small straight combs, while not ideal for cold environments they would probably for fine.

Araucanas - Ideal for their comb environments due to their small pea combs. Good layers of blue/green eggs.

Dark and Buff Brahmas - Large, well feathered birds lay 150 large brown eggs per year. They are quite hardy but
They are ideal for cold environments.

Phoenix - Probably not ideal for cold environments due to their large straight combs that are prone to frostbite.

Fayoumis - Probably not ideal for cold environments due to their medium sized straight combs that are prone to frostbite.

Salmon Faverolles - Faverolles lay 240 medium sized pinkish eggs per year. Have very small combs and muffs so are ideal for cold climates.

W. L. Red Cornish - They have small straight combs, while not ideal for cold environments they would probably for fine.

Lakenvelders - Probably not ideal for cold environments due to their large straight combs that are prone to frostbite.

Black and White Langshans - Probably not ideal for cold environments due to their large straight combs that are prone to frostbite.

Red Caps - Probably not ideal for cold environments due to their large rose combs that are prone to frostbite.

Silver Leghorns - Not ideal for cold environments due to their very large straight combs that are prone to frostbite.

Crevecoeurs - Large crested birds that usually don't have combs so are not prone to frostbite.

Silver Gray Dorkings - Probably not ideal for cold environments due to their medium sized straight combs that are prone to frostbite.

Old English Games - They have small straight combs, while not ideal for cold environments they would probably for fine

Sultans - Large crested birds that usually don't have combs so are not prone to frostbite

Buttercup - Probably not ideal for cold environments due to their medium sized buttercup comb that is prone to frostbite.

I have also linked an article which is about frostbite :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/frostbite

 

[animalwild]

Thanks for the info. I have some Wyandottes and they do very well in the cold. My RIR rooster has experienced frostbite on his comb and handled it very well. Would these chickens do well in the summer. I would assume so that most chickens do. It doesn't get very hot here but we can get a lot of rain which leaves the run muddy do you know if any of these birds have feathered feet. That mud could dry on there feet and lead to problems.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Thanks for the info. I have some Wyandottes and they do very well in the cold. My RIR rooster has experienced frostbite on his comb and handled it very well. Would these chickens do well in the summer. I would assume so that most chickens do. It doesn't get very hot here but we can get a lot of rain which leaves the run muddy do you know if any of these birds have feathered feet. That mud could dry on there feet and lead to problems.

Pretty much all chickens deal well with hot weather.
Although fluffier hens will feel hotter but unless you are regularly experiencing very high temperatures they should be fine.

As for Feathered feet :
Nearly all of the birds on the list do not have feathered feet apart from :
Cochins
Brahmas
Salmon Faverolles
Sultans

I live in a place that can get quite muddy and I have a hen with feathered feet, she fairs quite well but they can get quite dirty.

 

[animalwild]

That's what I was thinking as well I used to have one with feathered feet sadly he died because he was bullied so much. Mainly the only bad thing about fancy feathers is that other birds have a tendency to pick at them. Thank you so much for your help. I will let you know what I get when they hatch.