To anyone that knows, what breeds of chickens tolerate heat well? My mom always had chickens- Rhode Island and Barred, but we lived in the mountains and now I am in the desert with over 100 degree days common in summer, wondering what kind of chickens will be happy here.
A recent question from one of our blog readers was:
I live in the Deep South and I am wondering which breed of chickens would best tolerate the heat and humidity? I am looking for layers, that produce well year round.
For a hot climate, we recommend the Leghorns and Minorcas, which are Mediterranean breeds. These lighter weight chickens tolerate the heat well and are good layers.
Heavier, dual purpose breeds that can handle the heat well are Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire Reds, and Turkens. Many people have also had success with Barred Rocks (Barred Plymouth Rocks).
While it is not as hot here as where you are, my Buff Orpingtons seem to handle our hot spells pretty well as long as they have plenty of water...