SUPER CHICKEN!!!
Posted on 02/17/2009 11:58:23 AM PST by Marie
I need some advice on chicken breeds. Where I live in Central Texas, in the summer it’s not uncommon for us to have a 6 week run of high temperatures going over 100’. So here’s what I’m looking for in my dual-purpose hens:
- I want girls that are temperature hardy that can handle the heat. (I know that I’m going to have to help any chicken survive a severe, prolonged heat-wave, [fresh water, misters, shade, etc.] but I don’t want to suffer 50% losses just because I was stupid enough to get birds which were never bred to handle it in the first place.) They also have to be able to survive a cold snap. (I’m not as worried about the cold. We’ll have a very well constructed coop with electricity.)
- I’m looking for decent layers who would average 80-100 medium eggs a year. (An egg every three or four days. Not asking for much there.)
- Good brooders/excellent mothers. Forget any breeds which are non-setters.
- Friendly enough to be approached by humans. (I’d prefer more docile birds, but I know that we can’t have everything we want. I’d rather have tough birds that live than sweet birds that can’t survive.)
For my roosters, I’m considering getting a completely different breed than that of the hens. These guys need to be just as weather-hardy, but MUCH friendlier and size-compatible with the hens.
Advice on this topic is more than welcome!
Ugh, this is Freepers not Cheapers girl.
I’d immediately rule out Rhode Island Reds. We live in Sacramento and our girls can’t handle the 10-30 100+ days per year and have to come inside where it’s air conditioned. They are paper trained so this is not a big deal, just watch where you step in the kitchen!
I prefer the kind that comes in little plastic bags, already plucked and cleaned. :->
I would advise that the chickens carry sidearms for coyote protection. Or alternately, any breed able to kill a dog
sized animal..
It’s about time someone opened a chicken ranch in Texas, we’ve been needing a new one for a while.
har har
Drive some of the back roads up here in East Texas with your windows down and you won’t eat chicken for a year...
SUPER CHICKEN!!!
If you want chickens that can survive hot temperatures, I would think that white chickens would be best (reflect heat better)—maybe Leghorns.
Call your county extension agent.
http://texasextension.tamu.edu/
http://texasextension.tamu.edu/county/
Darn, 7 seconds!
Less than a minute. I guess great minds ...
Thank you! That’s what I’m looking for. I’ll give them a call.
Uh no, I think you had it right the first time!
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