Best Chicken Breeds for Extreme Temperatures

[SirPecksALot]

Hi! Where I live, sometimes the temperature will dip down to -20 degrees Celsius during the winter, and 30 degrees Celsius during summer. Often, some of my hens will be very cold during winter, and one of my hens even got pretty bad frostbite on her comb a year or two ago. Then, in the summer, they're all really hot, drinking tons of water, sometimes panting, and I usually have to bring cold treats down for them. I was wondering if there are many breeds of chickens that do well in both hot and cold temperatures.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hi! Where I live, sometimes the temperature will dip down to -20 degrees Celsius during the winter, and 30 degrees Celsius during summer. Often, some of my hens will be very cold during winter, and one of my hens even got pretty bad frostbite on her comb a year or two ago. Then, in the summer, they're all really hot, drinking tons of water, sometimes panting, and I usually have to bring cold treats down for them. I was wondering if there are many breeds of chickens that do well in both hot and cold temperatures.

My temps are a bit more extreme, and I haven't had a lot of issues- just a Welsummer who didn't do well once temps got into the 100°+ F (40°+C).

My best adapted breeds are EE, Naked Neck, Spitzhauben, Brahma - and surprisingly - my Silkies.

What breeds do you have currently?

 

[SirPecksALot]

We currently have 4 production red hens, two Plymouth rock hens, 2 Marans cross hens, 1 Easter egger hen, 1 less fluffy Easter egger pullet, 2 really young Marans-Easter Egger cross pullets, 1 really young silkie of unknown gender, and a legbar cross cockerel. The production reds always seem to fare the worst. The hen who lost part of her comb was a production red, and they always seem to get really hot very easily in the summer.

 

[Aunt Angus]

We currently have 4 production red hens, two Plymouth rock hens, 2 Marans cross hens, 1 Easter egger hen, 1 less fluffy Easter egger pullet, 2 really young Marans-Easter Egger cross pullets, 1 really young silkie of unknown gender, and a legbar cross cockerel. The production reds always seem to fare the worst. The hen who lost part of her comb was a production red, and they always seem to get really hot very easily in the summer.

Frostbite is relatively easy to avoid if you can keep their coop well ventilated. You have probably already addressed this, but you might try adding ventilation in case you haven't.

Deep shade is probably the best way to keep chickens cool in hot weather, but some folks use misters, pans of cold water, or frozen water bottles for hot days.

But it sounds like you might need to avoid the production birds in your climate.

 

[alaskanchickies]

We currently have 4 production red hens, two Plymouth rock hens, 2 Marans cross hens, 1 Easter egger hen, 1 less fluffy Easter egger pullet, 2 really young Marans-Easter Egger cross pullets, 1 really young silkie of unknown gender, and a legbar cross cockerel. The production reds always seem to fare the worst. The hen who lost part of her comb was a production red, and they always seem to get really hot very easily in the summer.

We live in Alaska. We put either Vaseline or bag balm on combs and get. Don't have the coop too hot if they go outside. The sudden change can make them sick. We raise all breeds at some points.

 

[alaskanchickies]

We live in Alaska. We put either Vaseline or bag balm on combs and get. Don't have the coop too hot if they go outside. The sudden change can make them sick. We raise all breeds at some points.

Meant to say feet not get.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Meant to say feet not get.

I knew what you meant.

 

[Iluveggers]

Chantecler & Orloff should do very well in the cold, they don’t have the big straight comb so much less likely to get frostbite.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Chantecler & Orloff should do very well in the cold, they don’t have the big straight comb so much less likely to get frostbite.

I don't think chancteclers handle high temperatures very well

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Pheonixes have been my reigning champions so far with the heat and cold. They lose their combs, but where I live it gets to -20F days and -30F nights occasionally in the winter, and then up around 100F days in the summer.

I have yet to lose any birds to the heat though, including cochins and brahmas