Trying to set up a few backyard hens. Help please!!

[Michael OShay]

I don't think I want a Red. I was thinking more of a Sussex or a Barred Rock.

Sussex are friendly and calm birds. My children made lap pets of them.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

I love sussex and barred rocks chickens! So curious and docile!

 

[Abbiem00]

So...Barred Rock, Sussex, Australorp or Wyandote.

Nice!!! Now to find them

Thank you all for the help!!!

Abbie

And if anyone knows of any of these breeds being noisy or harder to deal with -
please let me know.

 

[Michael OShay]

So...Barred Rock, Sussex, Australorp or Wyandote.

Nice!!! Now to find them

Thank you all for the help!!!

Abbie

And if anyone knows of any of these breeds being noisy or harder to deal with -
please let me know.

I've had all of those breeds at one time or another over the years, and they are all generally docile, and pretty quiet as chickens go.

 

[Abbiem00]

I just realized another question. Of the four I'm considering - which ones can deal better with cold and heat?

Barred Rock, Sussex, Australorp or Wyandote

 

[Michael OShay]

I just realized another question. Of the four I'm considering - which ones can deal better with cold and heat?

Barred Rock, Sussex, Australorp or Wyandote

All four of them are very cold hardy, but Australorps are easily the most heat hardy out of the four. I've raised them where summer temperatures frequently reached 117-118 F (sometimes more), and while my other dual purpose breeds were listless, panting, and holding their wings out, my Australorps were going about their usual business like trooper. This isn't surprising when you consider that Australorps are commonly raised in the Australian outback where temperatures get very hot.

 

[Abbiem00]

Thank You. Australorps first on my list. I need to know which others for cold and HOT.

 

[Michael OShay]

Thank You. Australorps first on my list. I need to know which others for cold and HOT.

None of the other three are really good high heat breeds, but of the other three, it seems to me that Barred Rocks probably handle high heat the best. Two other breeds you might want to consider are Leghorns and Minorcas, which like most Mediterranean breeds are good in high heat. However, be aware that their large combs can frostbite rather easily in freezing temperatures. Also, among the hybrids, Easter Eggers, and Black and Red Sex Links are very cold hardy and handle heat pretty well.

 

[Abbiem00]

It doesn't usually get past the low 90's here. Should I worry about that or stick with Australorps and Barred Rock? I have to look up the other ones.