Explainer
Cold-Hardy Chicken Breeds and the Breeds That Need Extra Care
Ohio State University Extension lists breeds that winter better than others, among them Brahmas, Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, Buff Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds. The traits behind such lists are a large body, small combs and wattles, and loose feathering. Breeds with large combs, crests, feathered feet or fancy feathering, such as Leghorns, Polish and Silkies, are the ones the sources flag for extra care. No source gives a temperature for any breed.
The short version
Cold-hardy chickens are large, well-feathered breeds with small combs. Ohio State University Extension names Ameraucanas, Anconas, Black Australorps, Black Giants, Brahmas, Buff Orpingtons, Cochins, Delawares, Dominiques, Langshans, New Hampshires, Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Speckled Sussex and Wyandottes. It adds that large combs can still get frostbite in these breeds. Silkies and Polish are not suited for foul weather, according to a University of Georgia extension tip.
AI-generatedQuestions keepers ask
Are Silkie chickens cold hardy?
Partly. A backyard flock tip of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service says Silkies will survive hot or cold weather but are not suited for foul weather because of their fancy feathering. Silkies are bantams, and the University of Maryland Extension notes that bantam breeds do not produce the same amount of heat as large fowl. They need a dry, sheltered coop more than a hardy large breed does.
Are Polish chickens cold hardy?
The sources advise caution. The University of Georgia tip says Polish are not suited for foul weather because of their fancy feathering, and that their plumage tends to block their vision. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension writes that breeds with crests can have problems with ice and snow buildup on these feathers and mentions nipple waterers as a way to keep crests from icing.
What are the best egg-laying chickens for cold weather?
No source ranks layers by winter performance. Among the breeds the University of Georgia tip describes, Rhode Island Reds are considered the best breeds for producing brown eggs and tolerate hot or cold weather. Australorps, Plymouth Rocks and Orpingtons are described as cold-tolerant layers of brown eggs. Leghorns are the most common layer breed but may get frostbite on their combs.
Do cold-hardy breeds need a heated coop?
Breed lists do not answer that, and the extension services disagree on heat in general. The University of New Hampshire Extension advises against heat sources because of the fire risk, while the University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension expects that many keepers of small flocks will want to provide some heat. All of them put a dry, draft-free, ventilated coop first, for every breed.
Which comb type is best for cold climates?
Small ones. Dr. Jacquie Jacob of the University of Kentucky writes that the incidence of frostbite in chickens with the smaller comb types, such as pea and strawberry, is much less. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension and the University of New Hampshire Extension both say that birds with smaller combs are less likely to get frostbite. Roosters are at higher risk because their combs and wattles are larger.
Sources we read
- Ohio State University Extension: Winter and Your Backyard Chickens (ANR-66)
- University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service: Backyard Flock Tip, Which Breed of Chicken Should I Put in My Backyard Flock? (January 2009, PDF)
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension: Preparing for Winter
- University of Maryland Extension: Winter Weather and Small Flocks (FS-1133)
- University of New Hampshire Extension: How should I take care of backyard chickens in winter?
- Cooperative Extension System, Small and Backyard Poultry: Frostbite in Chickens (Dr. Jacquie Jacob, University of Kentucky)
Keep reading
- ExplainerHow cold is too cold?How cold can chickens tolerate? No extension service names a lethal temperature. The one figure that exists, the signs of cold stress, and what makes cold risky.
- TroubleshootingFrostbite in chickensChicken frostbite shows as off-color, then gray or black tips on combs, wattles and toes. What extension sources say about causes, first steps and prevention.
- ExplainerDo chickens need heat?Do chickens need heat in the winter? Three extension services advise against it, one names 35 °F inside the coop, two say it depends. The sources side by side.
- Question & answerDo Bantams, Silkies or Molting Hens Need a Heater?Bantams and molting hens are the exceptions the University of Maryland Extension names. For Silkies the sources ask for dry shelter, not for a heater. The details.
- ExplainerDo chickens get cold?Do chickens get cold? Yes: they are warm-blooded birds that hold about 106 °F. How feathers keep them warm, the three signs of a cold bird and the first steps.
- Buying guideHeated nipple waterersHeated chicken nipple waterers compared by manufacturer data: 2 to 5 gallons, 60 to 100 watts, rated temperatures, and what the makers say about freezing nipples.
Who is behind this page
chickencoopheater.com Editorial Team
Coop heat, winter water and the sources behind both
We are the editorial team at chickencoopheater.com. We read what university extension services, the NFPA and manufacturers publish about heating a coop and keeping water liquid, and turn it into plain-English buying advice with the sources on every page.
- Extension and fire-safety sources named
- Manufacturer data and manuals compared
- Disagreements between sources shown
- Compared by manufacturer data