What breed of chicken do I need?

[Kmath]

Looking for some chickens to throw in with my Pygmy goats. Looking for ones that aren't great layers and can handle colder temperatures without heat lamp. Ideas??

 

[holm25]

Cochins are a great breed or possibly Brahmas.

 

[varidgerunner]

Your profile says you are from Canada, eh. Be patriotic and get some Chanteclers.

 

[donrae]

Your profile says you are from Canada, eh. Be patriotic and get some Chanteclers.

x2

 

[Michael OShay]

Cochins are a great breed or possibly Brahmas.

Your profile says you are from Canada, eh. Be patriotic and get some Chanteclers.

Any of the above breeds will work. Other breeds that would work well for your purposes are Orpingtons, Australorps, Wyandottes, and Barred Rocks. If you want lots of eggs, I would suggest getting Black Sex Links which are very friendly and hardy, egg laying machines. I raised them for years (as well as dozens of other breeds and hybrids), and my BSLs have been my best layers, consistently churning out more than 300 large brown eggs per hen per year with double yolks not being uncommon.

 

[varidgerunner]

Everybody pushes the feather footed breeds for cold climates. They are fine for a cold DRY climate. If they are in a cold, wet climate the feathers on their feet will be a detriment to them. They will have ice and mud balls stuck to their feet. If they stay inside, unless you change bedding really frequently, which can be a pain in really cold weather, they will end up with frozen poop balls hanging off their feet. If you don't have as much rain and snow, and the snow you do get is fine and powdery and doesn't melt until spring, they do good.

 

[holm25]

Everybody pushes the feather footed breeds for cold climates. They are fine for a cold DRY climate. If they are in a cold, wet climate the feathers on their feet will be a detriment to them. They will have ice and mud balls stuck to their feet. If they stay inside, unless you change bedding really frequently, which can be a pain in really cold weather, they will end up with frozen poop balls hanging off their feet. If you don't have as much rain and snow, and the snow you do get is fine and powdery and doesn't melt until spring, they do good.

I'm from Minnesota amd breed Cochins and have never jad this problem. But I make sure everything inside stays dry and keep the runs covered with hay and straw.

 

[Kmath]

Your profile says you are from Canada, eh. Be patriotic and get some Chanteclers.

Eh? Lol

 

[Kmath]

I ended up getting some frizzle crosses for cheap