Chickens have an impressive range of adaptability, allowing them to thrive in a wide variety of settings. However, some varieties of chickens do better in warmer or colder environments.
Leghorns and Minorcas, both of which originate from the Mediterranean, are ideal for warm weather. These heat-tolerant, lighter-weight fowl make excellent egg layers.
However, if you’re looking for a heavier, dual-purpose breed that thrives in hot weather, Plymouth Rocks are a fantastic choice.
Depending on your farming needs, hens of the seven breeds we choose for you in this article should do well in the Georgia countryside, so continue reading!
Table of Contents
Climate of Georgia
Summer High | Around 95°F |
Winter Low | Around 30°F |
Georgia is among the warmest regions in the United States of America.
The state of Georgia has all four of the yearly seasons.
The summer season is characterized by extended stretches of hot and humid weather.
In the summer, temperatures in Georgia typically range from a low of 80°F to a high of 95°F.
Winter months have more extreme temperature swings. It’s common for chilly spells to be interspersed with milder weather periods.
Highs throughout the winter typically range from the mid-50s to the low-60s. The mid-30s are the typical lower temperatures.
List of the Best Chickens for Laying Eggs in Georgia
Welsummer | Lays about 160 eggs each year. Bird with a calm attitude and high intelligence. Dual purpose breed. Good for beginners. |
Leghorn | Lays about 280–320 eggs each year. Great forager. Not recommended for beginners or kids. Noisy. Flighty. |
Minorca | Lays about 120–220 eggs each year. Thrives in hot climates. Good for kids and new chicken keepers. Robust and requires little care. |
Blue Andalusian | Lays about 160–200 eggs each year. Great forager. Hardy and requires little care. Does not tolerate confinement well. |
Egyptian Fayoumi | Lays about 150–200 eggs each year. Hardy and heat resistant. Not recommended for beginners or kids. |
Campine | Lays about 150 eggs each year. Friendly. Great forager. Hardy and low maintenance. Flighty. |
Plymouth Rock | Lays about 200–300 eggs each year. Dual-purpose breed. Ideal for novice chicken keepers and younger kids. Hardy and requires little care. |
1. Welsummer
Since “summer” is part of the Welsummer name, it’s not surprising that these chickens do well in warm climates.
Despite their development as dual-purpose birds, the Welsummer is smaller and lighter than most meat-producing birds.
Hens are typically approximately 6 pounds in weight, while roosters average 7.
Welsummer eggs have a striking appearance. Their shells look gorgeous, covered with freckles in chocolate and reddish tones.
Because of their unusual coloration, these eggs stand out from the crowd of standard brown ones.
The average first-year yield is around 150–180 eggs, with the second year yielding around 120–140. From there, a hen’s egg production gradually decreases over the next four to six years.
Welsummers have a reputation for being lively birds, yet they are also calm and social. They aren’t as friendly as some breeds, but they’re fairly tame and appear to enjoy being handled.
2. Leghorn
The Leghorn chicken is a famously heat-resistant Mediterranean breed developed in Italy’s Tuscany region.
They are the best layers due to years of selective breeding and work on the development of these hens in terms of efficiency in egg production.
These birds endure confinement well, which is important because they are good flyers and rapid runners, so owners should consider restricting their freedom to forage freely.
Since they descended from wild birds, these chickens have retained their fierce independence. In general, they are not hostile, but they are also not particularly pleasant and friendly.
Due to their personality, there are better options than Leghorns for families with young children or adults looking for pet chickens.
3. Minorca
Minorca chickens, originally from Spain, are the biggest and heaviest of any poultry breed across the Mediterranean.
Despite being productive layers, they are commonly kept for their aesthetic value.
Minorca is also known as the “Red Faced Black Chicken,” and it is easy to see why. Long, muscular bodies, bright red combs and wattles, and sleek black feathers contribute to their outstanding appearance.
The hens rarely go broody, but they provide a steady supply of huge, white-shelled eggs throughout the year.
About 120 white eggs are produced annually from laying hens, and they begin laying as early as 26 weeks.
The Minorca chickens are friendly and love to be around their owners. But they are a flighty breed, so make sure their enclosures are secure.
4. Blue Andalusian
The Andalusia region of southern Spain is often believed to be the original home of the blue Andalusian chicken.
With their high heat tolerance and adaptability, Andalusian chickens are a great option, especially for people with the space to let their flock roam freely.
Chickens of the Blue Andalusian breed range in size from small to medium; hens weigh around 5.5 pounds, while roosters average 7 pounds.
Andalusian hens are not only smart and curious but also strongly independent.
The Andalusian chicken is a remarkably energetic breed that likes to roam about rather than be kept in captivity, and they do not tolerate confinement well.
On the other hand, unlike many different varieties of Mediterranean poultry, they are both less flighty and less noisy.
5. Egyptian Fayoumi
The origins of the Egyptian Fayoumi chicken may be traced back to exotic and hot Middle Egypt.
Although the Egyptian Fayoumi breed has likely been around for centuries, it wasn’t introduced to the US until just eighty years ago.
In comparison to other breeds, they mature early and stay rather small. A rooster typically weighs around 4.5 pounds, while a hen is closer to 3.5 pounds.
They are stunning birds with a graceful appearance. They stand out from the crowd because of their long necks and huge black eyes.
Although smaller than a regular egg, these are not only delicious but also have significantly less cholesterol.
This breed of chicken is not the best choice if you want a lap chicken.
Generally speaking, the Egyptian Fayoumi is difficult to fully domesticate. Even if you begin socializing chicks right away as they hatch, it is quite hard to totally tame them.
6. Campine
A classic European egg layer, Campine chickens may be traced back to northern Belgium.
They lay an average of 3 eggs per week, which works out to roughly 150 eggs per year; therefore, Campines are also regarded as good layers.
A Campine chicken is a lively and energetic bird. They are expert foragers and do their best when given plenty of opportunity to roam around.
These birds have great flying abilities. It’s also possible for them to be fearful and anxious.
Although they do not enjoy being handled, these curious birds are still friendly and pleasant.
7. Plymouth Rock
The Plymouth Rock is an American chicken breed famous for its sociability, hardiness, and tolerance of extreme temperatures.
Male Plymouth Rocks are also highly recommended as roosters for the backyard flock because they are generally more docile and sociable than other roosters.
The hens are sociable and would make wonderful companions for kids. They also have the potential to become broody and are excellent mothers.
In addition to being hardy in both hot and cold weather, Plymouth Rock hens require little in the way of care.
Although Plymouth Rocks can adapt to captivity, they thrive when allowed to roam freely.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best chicken breeds for your flock requires careful consideration of a wide range of characteristics.
Selecting a chicken that can withstand high temperatures requires some knowledge. Chickens that can survive hot temperatures have the following traits:
- Bigger is better when it comes to the comb and the wattle because they provide cooling properties.
- Pick a species that has fewer feathers overall and none on its feet.
- Lighter-colored chickens are more comfortable in the sunlight.
- Pick a lighter, more compact chicken with less mass to cool.
You can use this as a general rule of thumb, but keep in mind that there are exceptions to every rule.
So, save your time for research and use this article before making your final decision.
Resources
- https://www.typesofchicken.com/best-chickens-for-georgia/
- https://www.daculaweather.com/4_climate_new.php
- https://farmhouseguide.com/best-chicken-breeds-for-hot-climates/
- https://cs-tf.com/welsummer-chicken/
- https://a-z-animals.com/animals/leghorn-chicken/
- https://www.domesticforest.com/minorca-chicken/
- https://a-z-animals.com/animals/blue-andalusian/
- https://cs-tf.com/egyptian-fayoumi/
- https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage-breeds/heritage-breeds-list/campine-chicken/
- https://www.mypetchicken.com/blogs/our-blog/plymouth-rock-chicken-the-ultimate-guide