What breed for a hot climate

C

cherrycoop

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I am thinking of adding to my small flock. I currently have RIR bantams who seem to cope with the extreme temperatures we get - regularly 30C + and rarely below 24C. They used to free range but are now in a large run with occasional outings into the garden. What breeds would do well here, or probably the best question to ask is what breeds are NOT suited to these temperatures - I am not too fussy about the egg production as my RIRs keep me well supplied, I rather fancy the wyandottes and would prefer bantams. Any advise appreciated.
 
Are there any other chicken keepers in the Seychelles, Cherry? I just wondered if you could observe how any other breeds and keepers get on locally, or maybe there is an indigenous breed of chicken that has adapted to the conditions? I expect sourcing a breed that wasn't local to the area might perhaps be a problem, unless you could somehow import eggs, though even then you run into problems with the time taken to obtain and send them.
I would imagine its largely a matter of the birds acclimatising to the temperatures, as well as having enough shade etc. if RIRs are OK, I should think any other hard-feathered breed would do quite well, though maybe some of the big fluffy girls like Orpingtons might be a bit too well insulated!
 
They say that generally heavy breeds with small combs and wattles aren't suited to the hotter climates, whereas light breeds and bantams and large comb breeds are. I think bantam Wyandottes should be fine Cherry as I've seen people from Texas and Florida on the forums with them and they have similar summer temperatures to you. I personally think provided you are set up right with shade and water (which you obviously are) most breeds will do ok, there is a member on here who keeps Pekins and Faverolles in Isreal where it can get up to 40C and a few people I know in Portugal keep exactly the same hybrids as we have in the UK.
 
Thanks for the input, locally there seems to be no particular breed, although I do see what appears to be naked necks wandering around, not my cup of tea though! My chickens are very very spoilt by local standards, animal welfare here is generally extremely poor. Will start the process of getting hatching eggs - not easy, but where there is a will as they say ....
 
Our Orpingtons are struggling here and it's only got to 26 degrees. The Wyandottes are completely unaffected, same as the Leghorns. Obviously the Romanian Naked Necks love it!
 
Mediterranean breeds would be most suitable.These are referred to as "light breed"s with large combs and wattles help dissipate heat in the hot months. Their lack of profuse and loose feathers allow them to keep cooler. Breeds such as Leghorn, Minorca, Spanish and Andalusian are just a few of them that spring to mind.

You can find more information about them here..


http://poultrykeeper.com/chicken-breeds


Hope this helps, good luck with your hunt! :D
 
This is only the first year that I have raised chickens. My property is near Cleveland, Texas. The summer time daily high is at or above 35 C beginning from late May until early October. Night time temperature is above 20C And it's not global warming. I have Ameraucana, Australorp, and Rhode Island Reds. They all seem to tolerate the last summer in good shape. Egg production now averaging more than 6 eggs per hen per week. They run loose on 10 acres and roost in a safe coop at night.
 
Many of the Asian Game breeds adapt well to a Hot Climate, most of them originating from S.E.Asia, So the Asils, Shamos, Taiwans, Malays, Saipans, Madagascans etc would settle in well.
 
Despite asking ahead of time for Wyandotte hatching eggs and being assured it would not be a problem, by default I came away with 12 Silver laced Poland hatching eggs, a breed I would not have considered. There was just no way I could pass up the opportunity of getting some eggs back no matter what breed. Due to hatch on 3 July, so no doubt will be asking all sorts of questions about this breed if I have a successful hatch
 
I have just got back from holiday in central portugal where the temperature for my last three days was 41, 41 and finally 42C !!. Really way too much, apparently the death rate went up 15 percent from normal that week and I found myself suffering with minor heatstroke one day. Anyway the lad who owned the place I was staying at had a flock of 24 Australorps, fed on what everyone out there seems to feed which is a wheat corn scratch feed with added vitamins that you can buy in the supermarket which can only have increased their body heat, despite this they were managing better than I was, gaping and raising their wings yes but no sick chickens and he reckoned he has never had a problem with them. They generally aren't cheap birds but for anyone looking for a decent layer for a hot climate then they could be an option.
 
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