- Feb 22, 2010
- 9
- 6
- 7
I've had chickens before, in fact quite a few little backyard flocks. But we have two young energetic male dogs, who enjoy those chickens-- and not for their looks or eggs.
Also there is a problem with Hawks and other chicken-eating predators.
But my family has recently installed an underground low-shock fence, which shocks our dogs if they go over the buried wire while wearing their special collars. This wire goes in front of the "chicken area", which is fenced in with a normal fence as well.
I'm getting chicks sometime in early-mid April, but I read a chicken book and learned a lot of new things, and one of these things is that different breeds of chickens have a harder/ easier time in cold or hot weather.
We live about a hour away from San Antonio Texas, which is a little hotter and more humid than here. But it still gets very hot in the summer, I remember one time when it was 109. I know that the heavier breeds are not as good for very hot weather, and I know that it will be much easier for any chicken to have shade and cool water. I've also heard of people who put ice jugs around where the chickens live. The "Chicken area" has a good amount of shade in the front, and lots of close-up shade in the back of the hen-house, and cold/cool water can easily be taken care of. But I want to make sure the chickens are some what happy with the heat in the summer, or at least as happy as they can be.
So my question is, does anyone know of specif breeds that will be pretty heat-tolerant?
A book I read mentioned that Bantams are good for hot weather, but don't Bantams have smaller eggs?
My family has six people including me, and all love eggs for breakfast.
My chickens will be more pets than egg machines, but as long as we have them, we might as well have good egg layers, right?
Thanks soo much for your help!!
Also there is a problem with Hawks and other chicken-eating predators.
But my family has recently installed an underground low-shock fence, which shocks our dogs if they go over the buried wire while wearing their special collars. This wire goes in front of the "chicken area", which is fenced in with a normal fence as well.
I'm getting chicks sometime in early-mid April, but I read a chicken book and learned a lot of new things, and one of these things is that different breeds of chickens have a harder/ easier time in cold or hot weather.
We live about a hour away from San Antonio Texas, which is a little hotter and more humid than here. But it still gets very hot in the summer, I remember one time when it was 109. I know that the heavier breeds are not as good for very hot weather, and I know that it will be much easier for any chicken to have shade and cool water. I've also heard of people who put ice jugs around where the chickens live. The "Chicken area" has a good amount of shade in the front, and lots of close-up shade in the back of the hen-house, and cold/cool water can easily be taken care of. But I want to make sure the chickens are some what happy with the heat in the summer, or at least as happy as they can be.
So my question is, does anyone know of specif breeds that will be pretty heat-tolerant?
A book I read mentioned that Bantams are good for hot weather, but don't Bantams have smaller eggs?
My family has six people including me, and all love eggs for breakfast.
My chickens will be more pets than egg machines, but as long as we have them, we might as well have good egg layers, right?
Thanks soo much for your help!!
