Heat Tolerant Breeds

[TheOriginalHawk]

I live in the hill country of south texas where the summer temperatures get above 100 degrees F. I have found lots of information about cold tolerant breeds but does anyone have information on heat tolerant breeds? I have considered building a pavillion to provide shade over the hen house.

 

[tygrysek75]

Transylwanian necked necks,spring to mine mind,also many Japanise breeds are heat tolerant .Seramas to,but maybe to small for you. In Israel they had breed the chickens without any feathers but it is still experimental and very disturbing look to them.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=featherless+chicken&hl=en&sa=X&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=XIlgUNb3OfKa1AX40YCgDw&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1440&bih=817

 

[Tim]

You're right, there's not a lot of information on this is there!

I would say look for breeds that are kept locally by others but also thinking of the obvious, that all chickens have the same body temperature and (most) have feathers and cannot sweat to cool down so maybe it's a case of looking for ways to help them keep cool.

Chickens cool by panting to remove heat but also by drinking water which passes through faster than normal in higher temperatures so will remove heat on the way out. I would keep drinkers in the shade, replace water regularly and provide the birds with lots of dappled shade. Trees are the natural habitat for them but in Texas it is more like Cactus!

Call me crazy but I'm wondering if it would be worth digging out a sort of underground shelter for them. Imagine a slope going down into the ground to about 4 or even 5ft deep with a roof over the top of the deepest part that has 12 inches of sand / soil on top. This might just give them a cooler area to sit in? Any building on the surface would of course cook inside!

I hope this helps.. even if it's a little crazy in places :lol:

 

[Marigold]

I can't imagine how anyone could survive in those temperatures, whatever their species, man or chickens! Anything above 80 degrees is too much for me. Well done for adapting to it - how long each year do you get such extreme temperatures, Theoriginalhawk?

Hi Tyg, I would have thought those naked breeds were more susceptible to heat than feathered birds, maybe they would get sunstroke? I believe you have to put sunscreen on hairless breeds of dogs and cats in the summer, I don't think many chicken keepers would be up to that, do you?
I'm sure Tim is right about providing shady shelter - even here in the UK, chickens always seem to prefer shade to sunshine, even on quite cool days.

 

[darkbrowneggs]

I have heard standing shallow trays of water they can stand in to cool down, also freezing fruit or veg in large basins then turning them out so they can peck at them. Shade and breeze would be good, and maybe check out what sort of chickens they keep in say Mexico, where I presume it is pretty hot.

 

[Lordcluck]

Maybe some of the middle eastern breeds like Fayoumis and Dandewaris would be suitable?, or some of the scant feathered Asian Game breeds?. . . .

 

[TheOriginalHawk]

Thanks! I like this forum. I try to leave Texas for the mountains during the month of August. We have temps above 100 degrees F for about 2 to 3 weeks during the summer. I plan to use frozen water bottles in their water dispenser during those times. Thanks for the mention of the Middle Eastern breeds. I lived in Turkey for 3 years but I don't remember seeing any chickens. The climate in South Texas is like southern Turkey (Adana). Again, thank you for all of this information.