by Wendy EN Thomas of Lessons Learned from the Flock
Now that the spring chicks have hatched and are well on their way to the hen houses, some people are starting to realize that while they may have hatched some great chicks, they may also very likely run into some trouble down the road when the seasons turn.
We live in New Hampshire, the winters are cold and the nights, usually late into Spring, are chilly. According to McMurry Hatchery’s, this means that the birds who will do best in our climate include the fully feathered types like:
- Cochin
- Orpington
- Plymouth Rock
- Rhode Island
- Star
- Silkie
All of these birds are considered “hardy” chickens. They tend to run around 7-9 pounds each (putting them in to the “heavy” category) and they retain enough fat on their bodies to get them through our freezing winters.
This does not mean that “lighter” birds won’t fare as well (they will, if they are protected and probably fed) it’s just that the heavier breeds tend to do better overall where it is colder.
Breeds to consider in the warmer areas include:
- Araucana/Americana
- Blue Andalusian
- Hamburg
- Leghorn
- Quail Antwerp Belgian
These warmer climate birds tend to be smaller in size, have lighter colors, and tolerate the heat better.
Does this mean that if you hatched the wrong birds, you’re going to lose your flock when the seasons change? Not necessarily, but it does mean that if you have birds that typically fare better in a hotter climate, then you should make extra sure they have proper protection in the winter and that their diet contains a little more fat when it’s cold to compensate for their lack of body fat.
Likewise, if you’ve chosen some of the heavier, darker feathered breeds for your flock and you live in a warmer part of the country, then you must make sure your chickens have access to plenty of water and shade when the temperatures rise.
Knowing your chicken’s types and your geographic location, and then adapting to that information will ensure that no matter what breed you’ve hatched; your chickens will be happy and healthy where they are living.
3 Comments
I love our chickens. Never thought I would say that! LOL My grandmother is teaching us how to care for them and what is some of their behaviors are. Lol Thank goodness for older folks. Gotta Love em!
The Appenzeller Spitzhauben in your photo was bred to forage in the Alps. I think that makes it pretty hardy.
I love my Spitz.
Deirdre
That’s something I hadn’t considered before…where can we find more information on the best breeds for the area/weather we have? Thanks!