What Breed for meat and eggs in the deep south?

[galump]

Finally got out to the country and now need chickens. I want about 25 chicks to start off with. Put 20 of them in the freezer after growing them out and save 5 for egg laying. I will do my own "processing" as I have dressed out uncounted game animals over the years.

What breed is the best for both eggs and meat? These will be free range as I have a yard full of bugs and little money for feed. I live in the deep south and these babies will have to deal with 100 degree heat and 98% humidity for most of the summer.

Thanks for answering a question that has probably been asked 50 times.

Alan

 

[CovenantCreek]

My Delawares love being free range birds down here in Franklin. So does my BR hen. My RSLs do quite well, but wouldn't make meat birds. There's a guy from the co-op who keeps Cochins as dual purpose birds. Orps seem to do well, too. You really aren't limited in your choices around here.

BTW,

from your neighbor to the south.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I'm starting a flock of Delawares, myself (south central KY here - about 100 miles north of Nashville)). I also have some Light Brahmas right now with my BIG Delaware rooster. (I've ordered dellie pullet chicks, and am getting some brahma chicks too - to have two flocks of purebreds.)

I've been hatching out the Delaware over Brahma chicks, though, and they are some fat big chicks!!

I have a mixed flock of layers, - black australorp, oeg, barred rock, new hampshire red, etc... but they are all dark chickens, and they have a harder time in the really bad heat. I'm hoping the lighter colored chickens will do better in the heat.

I went with something that had some black in them, too, though, to make them not AS obvious to the hawks. Plus, I love the columbian pattern.

My Dellie roo weighs probably a good 9 pounds, and he is about a year old. The brahma girls, even though they are fluffier, aren't lightweights, either. The mix chicks from them are MUCH larger than the chicks from my mixed laying flock.

meri

 

[Southern Gardener]

I don't know that I'd recommend Buff Orps. My two girls pant the worst. Last summer I found my sweet hen laying in the coop when I got home from work. She suffered heat exhaustion. I brought her inside and fed her water with electrolytes and yogurt. She was fine the next day and I put her back in the coop.

I diligently spray the coop and the birds on hot days. My BR's and Americana's don't seem to be as effected by the heat.

Joan

 

[becky3086]

I have several breeds here but for meat and eggs, I would recommend the Barred Rocks.

 

[Patch of Heaven Farm]

My RIR and barred rocks do great here but my RIR seem to be better layers than the rocks. The heat doesn't seem to bother them at all.

 

[packinaglock]

Im in South Florida and I have RIR, BR, BO and a few mixed breed and they all seem to thrive well here. I don't think you will have a problem. My BO's seem to be the biggest meat wise and they also lay well.