Top Chicken Breeds for Hot Weather
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Picking the top chicken breeds for hot weather is crucial to keeping a thriving flock. We humans can head into the air conditioning or swim in the pool to cool off. Chickens rely on adaptations and behavior to make it through hot weather and stay cool; some breeds are better at it than others. So, if you live in an area that experiences hot weather, it's best to pick chickens that can handle the rising mercury!
1. Colorful Egg Layers
Colorful egg baskets are popular; these two backyard chicken breed varieties will keep yours full of green and blue eggs. The Olive Egger and Easter Egger are both hybrid birds that are hardy, friendly, and good egg layers. Because these are designer birds, they come in many color options, including:
- Gold Kissed Granite Olive Egger
- Partridge Olive Egger
- Lavender Dream Easter Egger
- Bountiful Blue Egg Layer
2. Leghorns
While many breeds do well in hot weather, the best hot weather breed award has to go to the Leghorn. This famous breed (remember the cartoon Foghorn Leghorn!) originated in the Mediterranean, so it's no stranger to hot weather, and its body is built to handle the heat. The Leghorn's distinctive large floppy comb and large wattles allow body heat to circulate, be exposed to the air, and cool before reentering the body. These white egg-laying birds are the best chickens to own for hot weather. They are available in three varieties:
The White is the most prolific layer of the three (they can lay almost every day of the week), but the other two varieties aren't far behind.
3. Brown Egg Layers
If brown egg layers are a must-have, along with hot weather tolerance, plenty of breeds fit this bill. Below are two fan favorites:
- Plymouth Rock – The popular Barred Rock is one of the most popular dual-purpose chickens on small farms today. They're very friendly and excellent layers of large brown eggs. Other varieties are White, and Silver Penciled. No matter the variety, this American breed does well in hot and cold weather.
- Welsummer – This dark brown egg layer came to America via Holland. They are famous for their deep reddish-brown egg color; many eggs are also speckled! Welsummers are good foragers meaning you'll save on feed if you allow them to range freely!
As you pick your new flock members, keep the best chickens for hot weather in mind. They will provide a solid base for a happy and healthy flock.
2 comments
Are all pet chickens compatible living with each other ? Thanks, Ray.
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My Pet Chicken:
Hi Ray, great question!
Not all chicken breeds are naturally compatible, but many can live together peacefully with the right setup and a little management. Just like people, chickens have unique personalities. While some are mellow and gentle, others can be more assertive or flighty. When mixing breeds, it’s helpful to match similar temperaments and sizes. For example, more docile breeds like Cochins and Silkies may not do well with high-energy or more dominant breeds like Leghorns or Rhode Island Reds unless there’s plenty of space and supervision during integration. Chickens will naturally put themselves in order (the pecking order) and there will be the bossy girls at the top and the most docile usually at the bottom.
No matter the mix, giving your flock enough room, multiple food and water stations, and places to hide or get away from bossier hens can go a long way in helping them all get along. That said, the neat thing about having a mixed flock is that it’s easy to tell them all apart and you will have a beautiful rainbow egg basket!
We’re always happy to help you figure out which combinations might work best for your goals and setup!
I find that when it is over 80 degrees my chicken lay less eggs than when the temperature is 70 and below , I have the Barred Rock and a few leghorns, is there a reason for this, I go and give fresh water 💦 daily ( twice day and make sure they have feed, just wondering!! 🤔