What breed for New York Chickens?

[Katbird59]

I found BackyardChickens.com in the spring of 2015. We used the site and the members to find out all the details we needed to get started. We bought 6 Golden Comets and put them in a big dog crate on the back screen porch. Then we had to race to build our coop using a model found on the website. The chicks started laying at 18 weeks and were very productive, giving us 6 eggs every day. Eventually, a rooster belonging to a neighbor decided to move in. He was being abused by the neighbor's guinea hens and was missing a lot of feather and his plume. The girls love him, our neighbor approved the move, and his feathers grew back. This past spring, a hawk killed one of our chickens and then in June, 2 of them died a few weeks apart. So we are down to 3 chickens and are looking to get 6 more. We started with the Golden Comets because they are hardy, friendly and early steady layers. But their life span is so short that we are looking to get a different breed this time. Suggestions for what breed to get and where to get them would be welcome. They need to be hardy enough for our winters.

 

[rjohns39]

Welcome to BYC from middle Tennessee I'll leave it to someone living in cold country to recommend birds but a heritage breed will likely be more hardy.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Buff Orpingtons, they are decent layers, friendly, long life span on average, winter hardy, and good looking birds. Other good breeds are barred rocks, and Australorp. Places like My Pet Chicken sells small chick orders, otherwise you will need to find them locally if you want older birds.

 

[Kiki]

Welcome aboard! You could ask around your state thread here:
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[drumstick diva]

Yes, ask folks in NY thread what breeds do best for them during the weather extremes. As a rule chickens handle cold much better than heat.

 

[Katbird59]

Welcome to BYC from middle Tennessee I'll leave it to someone living in cold country to recommend birds but a heritage breed will likely be more hardy.

Thanks for the welcoming email!

 

[Katbird59]

Buff Orpingtons, they are decent layers, friendly, long life span on average, winter hardy, and good looking birds. Other good breeds are barred rocks, and Australorp. Places like My Pet Chicken sells small chick orders, otherwise you will need to find them locally if you want older birds.

Thanks for the suggestions.