Heat Tolerant Chickens: 8 Breeds for a Backyard Flock

If You Live in a Warm Climate, These Breeds Can Thrive When the Temperatures Soar

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by Erin Snyder
PHOTO: Adobe Stock/aoverholt

Heat-tolerant chickens lay an abundance of eggs throughout the hot summer months and pay no mind to hot, humid climates. From Leghorns to Delawares, these eight heat-hardy breeds may surprise you.

#1 Leghorns

Whether you choose the White Leghorn or the less common Brown Leghorn, these robust birds are extremely heat hardy. Their big, floppy combs and wattles help these girls stay cool and keep laying an abundance of eggs during the dog days of summer.

Leghorns are exceptional layers, with each hen averaging three hundred medium-sized white eggs annually (five to six eggs per week). These hens are such exceptional layers that factory farms favor them over any other breed, due to their excellent feed-to-egg ratio.

Leghorn hens have a flighty personality, but if kept in small numbers in a mixed flock with more docile breeds, they can sometimes be tamed.

Leghorns get picked off by predators easily and should never be allowed to free range.

#2 Rhode Island Red

Known for being extremely hardy in the cold, many people never consider Rhode Island Reds to be heat tolerant chickens. However, these hens do well in the heat, producing eggs throughout the hottest summer months.

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Due to their hardiness, Rhode Island Reds are ideal for individuals who live in a climate with hot summers and cold winters.

Rhode Island Red hens are exceptional layers, producing an average of two hundred and eighty light brown large/extra large eggs annually (about four to six eggs per week).

Hens are friendly, curious, and calm. Due to their curious nature, Rhode Island Reds are more prone to pecking than other breeds. This trait may put them at a disadvantage for families with small children.

#3 Hamburg

With their striking feather patterns and unique rose combs, the Hamburg is truly a one-of-a-kind chicken. But their looks aren’t the only thing these chickens have going for them. Hamburgs are also one of the best heat-tolerant chickens available.

Despite their ornamental look, Hamburg hens are good producers, averaging one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty medium white eggs annually (about three to five eggs per week).

A Hamburg hen’s personality is a little unpredictable, as some strains of this breed have a nervous and high-strung personality, while others are friendly, talkative, and sociable. However, all Hamburg chickens love adventure and are full of energy, preferring to free-range over confinement.

Roosters of this breed are extremely loyal and devoted to their hens and are always on the lookout for danger.

Did you know? While a Hamburg’s feather pattern may be eye-catching for humans, their unique feather pattern makes it extremely difficult for predators to spot them.

#4 Speckled Sussex

This typical barnyard-looking hen is one of the best heat-tolerant chickens available. Speckled Sussex are not only heat and cold hardy, but these delightful hens have few health concerns and are ideal for the novice and veteran chicken keeper alike.

Speckled Sussex hens are dependable egg layers, rarely dropping in production (with the exception to molt and overwinter) for the first four years of their lives. Each hen produces an average of one hundred and fifty light brown, medium-sized eggs annually (about four to five eggs per week).

Speckled Sussex are highly intelligent, curious, energetic, and friendly, and they love to carry on animated conversations with their owners. Ideal family pets, Sussex hens quickly become part of the family.

#5 Buff Orpington

You have probably read that Buff Orpingtons are a cold-hardy breed, so it may be surprising that they are also heat tolerant chickens.

heat tolerant chicken breed buff orpington walking in grass
Adobe Stock/alkerk

Buff Orpington hens are good egg layers, averaging one hundred and twenty large light brown eggs annually (about three to four eggs per week). Buff Orpington hens are more prone to go broody than other heat-tolerant chickens.

With their beautiful golden feathers and sweet, docile personalities, Buff Orpingtons continue to be one of the most popular heat tolerant chickens. These sweeties love to interact with their human families and enjoy snuggling on their favorite human’s lap.

#6 Andalusian

The Blue Andalusian is a striking chicken and is easy to recognize with their slate-blue feathers and bright red combs. Andalusians are extremely heat hardy, preferring the hot days of summer over winter.

Hens of this breed are among the most popular white egg layers kept in backyard flocks. They are excellent layers, producing an average of two hundred medium white eggs annually (about 4-6 eggs per week).

Blue Andalusian hens are talkative, noisy, and active. They enjoy free-ranging and prefer little to no human interaction.  Due to their flighty nature, the breed is not recommended for the novice.

#7 Golden Comet

Golden Comets are not only one of the most commonly kept brown egg layers, but they are also heat tolerant. With their small bodies and medium-large combs, these hens thrive in the heat.

Comets are excellent layers, producing an average of two hundred and eighty to three hundred large brown eggs annually (about five to six eggs per week). Even during the hot summer months, Golden Comets will continue to outlay all your other brown egg layers.

Comets have a calm, friendly, and relaxed personality and will happily seek out their owners for a snuggle and some treats. Golden Comet hens have a winning personality that makes them ideal family pets.

#8 Delaware

With their white plumage and big single combs, it’s no wonder Delawares are one of the best heat-tolerant chickens.

Delaware hens are excellent layers, averaging two hundred extra large brown eggs annually (about five eggs per week).

These clever hens possess a quirky personality unique to the breed. Delawares are friendly, entertaining, calm, enjoy interacting with their human family, and make a fun addition to the flock. However, Delaware hens can be moody when they don’t get their own way.

Many of the heat-tolerant chickens discussed in this article are also cold-hardy, making them ideal breeds for almost any climate while adding a splash of color and personality to both your flock and your egg basket.

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