Best cold-hardy and friendly breed?

[Mountain Peeps]

Just for fun and for future reference, what are the best cold hardy and friendly chicken breeds? My opinion is the buff orp but I've only raised four breeds before so I don't know much!

 

[spotsplus]

Most of the breeds with small combs are considered cold hardy. I favor Silkies and Cochins as friendliest but there are always super friendly individuals in each breed

 

[lazy gardener]

I vote for pea and rose combed birds. I love my EE girls. Their personalities are wonderful, and they are decent layers. This year, I've added Dominiques (rose comb) and rose combed brown leghorns. You might also check out the Buckeye. That's a pea combed variation based on the RIR. I hear that they are excellent mousers. Henderson's chicken breeds chart is a good place to start your search. Have fun!

 

[Kleo]

My Barred Rocks did fine up here in Maine this past winter and it was very cold. They are very friendly but I think that has a lot to do with how they are treated. Our girls are definitely pets and we interact with them daily.

 

[lazy gardener]

Kleo, I'm guessing that you are just a bit warmer than I am, if you're closer to the coast. Your coop may be better than mine as well. (hope to rectify that before next winter!) My RIR did get a bit of frost bite on the tips of her comb and bottom of her wattles, but it healed nicely. In the past, I've had chickens actually get their toes nipped by frost so they lost a nail or 2. That was years ago. Do I see RIR with your PBR? Do you have a rooster? Nice avatar pic.

 

[Going Quackers]

Ameraucanas and EE's are great birds.. very winter hardy, i am sure their are other breeds too but those come to mind. Chantecler are made for winter lol

Here is a great chart to give you an idea..

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

 

[Sjisty]

Brahmas, hands down! They have small combs and feathering on legs and feet. When they hunker down at night and put their heads under their wings, there is no exposed skin. Also, they are my most laid-back and easy-going chickens!

 

[Hayduke27]

I'm going to chime in here. I live in an extremely cold place, and have tried a number of breeds here. If you are looking for friendly and cold hardy, both Easter Eggers and Brahmas are by far the choice chooks. Brahmas are very large, very friendly to all other chickens, and are some of my favorites. Be ready, however, for brahmas to be very food oriented. They love food and eat a lot! EE's are a delight. They have great personalities and are wonderful all around chickens. You couldn't go wrong with either of these breeds!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Thanks so much everyone!! My buff orps actually have gotten frostbite before which is strange for their breed. We might be moving and in case it's to a colder area I wanted to have cold hardy breeds. I'll defiantly look into Brahmas, EE, Barred rocks and Dominiques. Those ate actually some of my fave breeds already! I have an Ameracana who, like some of you said, does well in winter.

Thanks again everybody!

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I'll put in a vote for EEs, which is what I've learned from this forum my Ameracauna mixed breed thingys are called. Just came through their first Canadian winter in the porch of an old bank barn, no insulation, just a deep straw bed and a few extra bales in the coop. Tough, happy, healthy ladies and amazing layers!