TheFugitivePen
Songster
Hello, chicken friends!
I'm researching a couple of breeds to potentially add to our flock. We currently have 8 black Australorps who, so far, have done great in both heat and cold.
We are in Eastern Tennessee, so it gets below freezing on winter nights and gets into the high 90s F (32+ C) during summer days. We have our coop in a very shady area and make sure our girls have access to plenty of clean water in the summertime.
I've read that Speckled Sussexes do well in winter (as they're originally from Great Britain), but they may a tough time in the heat because their feathers are so dense ... unless they live in shade with plenty of water. I don't want to add a breed that might suffer in our hot SE summers. If we add new chickens, I want to make sure they'll be comfortable and happy.
Has anyone here raised Speckled Sussexes anywhere that gets quite hot in summertime?
If a Speckle Sussex would be uncomfortable in the heat, are there similar dual-purpose breeds you'd recommend for both heat and cold tolerance?
Thank you so much!
I'm researching a couple of breeds to potentially add to our flock. We currently have 8 black Australorps who, so far, have done great in both heat and cold.
We are in Eastern Tennessee, so it gets below freezing on winter nights and gets into the high 90s F (32+ C) during summer days. We have our coop in a very shady area and make sure our girls have access to plenty of clean water in the summertime.
I've read that Speckled Sussexes do well in winter (as they're originally from Great Britain), but they may a tough time in the heat because their feathers are so dense ... unless they live in shade with plenty of water. I don't want to add a breed that might suffer in our hot SE summers. If we add new chickens, I want to make sure they'll be comfortable and happy.
Has anyone here raised Speckled Sussexes anywhere that gets quite hot in summertime?
If a Speckle Sussex would be uncomfortable in the heat, are there similar dual-purpose breeds you'd recommend for both heat and cold tolerance?
Thank you so much!