The best chicken breeds for cold climates have the right weight, feathers and comb size. Here are 13 hardy varieties to consider.
Picture from Dimitri Hotman From Know almost
13 best chicken breeds for cold climates
On our homestead in North Carolina, our weather was extremely cold in the recent winter. In fact, some of our nights were so cold that I reconsidered my choice of chicken breed.
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Fortunately, most of my ladies were strong at first. But my light, huge, groomed Rakenveld rooster and my dear, lovely rooster Rasputin made me a little worried. As I discovered, when it comes to Rasputin, my fears are correct.
you can Learn more about the plight of my poor frostbitten chicken Rasputin here.
Now, read on for some suggestions to help you choose a chicken breed that can survive the cold with outstanding performance!
When picking chickens in cold weather, there are 3 simple things to remember: weight class, feathers and comb size.
Let’s take a look at the weight class first.
The best chicken breeds for cold climates by body weight class
Rhode Island Red Chicken has fat suitable for winter consumption; the picture comes from Chatzer From Know almost
Choose chicken breeds that contain a lot of fat. Heavier birds tend to have higher cold tolerance than lean birds. In most climatic conditions, dual-use varieties that are conducive to egg and meat production are usually sufficient to handle temperatures slightly above single digits, and possibly even below Fahrenheit.
Consider these winter-friendly fats:
- Plymouth Ban Rock
- Black australian
- Rhode Island Reds
- Delaware
- Buff Orpington
- New Hampshire Redskins
If you live under conditions that need to cope with warm summers, these varieties tend to have good heat tolerance, as long as they have enough shade and plenty of fresh and cool water.
Overweight feathers make these chickens more resistant to cold
Cochins have extra feathers, which can increase their cold resistance by several degrees; the picture is from Nicholas Online From Know almost
In order to get more winter protection, please choose chicken breeds with overweight feathers. Eclosion provides several degrees of cold resistance. However, in some cases, if wet feathers freeze, feathery feet may actually be more susceptible to frostbite. Therefore, under extreme conditions, please take measures to keep chicken feet and feathers dry.
Consider these varieties to get extra feathers:
- Cochins
- Favor
- Brahma
4 types of chickens with smaller comb sizes
In cold weather, one of the biggest risks facing chickens is frostbite on the comb. At warm temperatures, the comb is actually a cooling device that helps regulate the rest of the chicken’s body temperature. This is why roosters with more fat and feathers usually have larger combs than hens. (Well, that, and because those huge big combs are like shimmering neon lights of masculinity and masculinity, they help attract beautiful ladies.)
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Unfortunately, in humid, windy, and icy conditions, a large comb is a burden. They are more likely to lose blood circulation and get frostbite due to cold.
Choose a chicken with a compact comb, such as a pea or rose comb, to reduce the risk of frostbite. In addition, it is important to pay special attention to the condition of the larger male combs in winter.
Buckeye chicken has a pea comb. In cold weather, smaller combs are less prone to frostbite.
Consider using these types of compact combs:
- Horse chestnut
- Dominican
- Wyandotte
- White Dorkings (Note: Dorking varieties may have single combs or rose combs. If you are looking for cold-resistant combs, please choose White Dorking with rose combs.)
The real beauty of all the hardy breeds above is that they are great laying hens, excellent backyard chickens, and they just happen to be beautiful! Therefore, you don’t have to sacrifice the cuteness, productivity and good character of chickens to get excellent all-winter birds.
No matter which breed you choose, if you live in an area with possible cold conditions, you need to make sure to provide your chickens with a coop to provide adequate protection and good ventilation.
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In addition, if your weather is more extreme than normal (as many of us did last winter), you should be prepared to provide your chickens with some emergency cold conditions remedies.you can Read more here for some simple ideas for increasing the comfort of winter chicken.
Also, remember the lessons learned from the frostbitten chicken Rasputin. And make sure you have a plan on how to prevent and treat frostbite.
What do you think?
What is your favorite chicken breed for cold climates and why? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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This is an updated version of the article originally published on February 24, 2018.
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Tasha Greer is a regular contributor to The Grow Network and has co-authored several e-books with Marjory Wildcraft.author “Grow your own spices” (December 2020), She also blogs for MorningChores.com and Mother Earth News. For more tips on homestead and herb and spice gardening, follow Tasha Simplestead.com.
