Here are 10 chicken breeds known for their cold-hardiness and suitability for winter climates:
- Plymouth Rock: This breed is known for its cold resistance and can handle winter conditions well. They are known as one of Americas’ oldest breeds. The hen was seen from coast to coast before the end of World War 2, and it became the nation’s main source of chicken meat and eggs. So they are a dual purpose bird.
2. Rhode Island Red: These chickens have a dense feathering that helps them stay warm during colder months. They are also a dual purpose bird so they can be used for eggs and/or meat.
3. Wyandotte: With their rose combs and thick plumage, Wyandottes are well-equipped for winter weather. These are one of my favorite breeds! They come in so many different recognized colors also.
4. Orpington: These birds have a gentle disposition and a lot of fluffy feathers that provide insulation against the cold. The Lavender Orpington is one of my favorite colors of this breed. They are so beautiful!
5. Sussex: Sussex chickens are sturdy and can tolerate colder temperatures due to their dense feathering. They are also a dual purpose bird. Really great for beginners too. The Speckled Sussex is so pretty and one that I personally keep in my flock.
6. Australorp: Originating from Australia, Australorps are good winter layers and can manage colder climates. They’re generally a more friendly bird also.
7. Brahma: Brahmas have feathered feet and a lot of body mass, making them more cold-tolerant. They’re also a dual purpose bird.
8. Delaware: Delaware chickens have a thick coat of feathers and can handle colder temperatures.
9. Marans: Known for their dark brown eggs, Marans chickens have a robust build that helps them endure colder weather. They lay a beautiful brown egg.
10. Easter Egger: While not a specific breed, Easter Eggers often have muffs and beards, which can provide some protection against winter chill.
I can go into more details about each breed in another blog post but always remember that even with cold-hardy breeds, providing proper shelter, access to fresh water (which might need extra attention to prevent freezing), and a well-balanced diet during winter months is essential to keep your chickens healthy and comfortable. They do make heated waterers you can get for your chickens too which make it nice in the winter.
Here is another heated waterer option also.
You’ll need a good coop for your chickens too! Something they can utilize to get out of the weather and keep dry. Here are some great options!
This coop is on the smaller side and will house 2-4 chickens
If you’re anything like me and have a real issue with chicken math lol it’s a thing, I promise! You’ll need something bigger! This coop would be a great option for a larger flock and will house up to 12 chickens.
This coop will house up to 15 chickens and it has 6 nesting boxes!
Installing an automatic chicken coop door for your coop is a great idea too! We have them on all our coops. They’re really nice for those wintery mornings when you really don’t want to go outside to let them out yet. Your chickens will thank you, I promise!
For an extra boost of protein during the winter months, you can feed your chickens mealworms! They LOVE them! You can get a 10 pound bag of them on Amazon 🙂
Anyway, I hope this helps! I will do more blogs about what to feed chickens in the winter and more how-to for the winter months soon. Thanks for reading! 🙂