If you live in a cold climate, choosing the right chicken breeds is important to ensure that your flock will not only survive but thrive through those long and brutal winters. Some breeds will happily trod through the snow and continue laying while others easily succumb to frostbite, stop laying entirely, and can even perish if the temperatures drop too low.
I’ve been raising chickens in northern Minnesota for almost a decade now, so I’ve definitely learned a few things about which breeds do well (and which ones don’t) when the temperature plummets to -35F. In this article, we’ll cover my 6 favorite winter hardy breeds, plus 4 more that are winter-worthy, but not quite on the A-team.
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Winter Hardy Chicken Features
When I’m considering the very best chickens to raise in cold temperatures, I look at which factors will keep their core temperature warm and prevent frostbite. Continued egg laying is an added bonus. Let’s break them down!
Small combs and waddles
Frostbite is one of the major dangers of raising chickens in a cold climate, and unfortunately, it’s pretty common. The most susceptible parts of a chicken to frostbite are their comb, waddles, and toes. While toes are pretty similar between breeds, combs and waddles can vary substantially.
Some combs, such as the single comb, buttercup, carnation, and v-comb, feature tips that jut out from the main comb and can easily fall victim to frostbite when the temperature drops. While this is less of a risk with hens (since their combs and waddles are smaller), it can be a big problem for roosters who boast large ones.
The best combs for cold climates are the small and compact pea combs, rose combs, walnut combs, and cushion combs. I’ve never had a chicken experience frostbite with these kinds of combs, and these breeds are the ones that made my list below. You’ll be thankful for it!
Heavy feathering
If it’s extra cold out, you’re going to reach for your heavy puff winter jacket instead of your flimsy rain jacket, right? Chickens are no different. If you have cold winters, be sure to pick breeds that have dense feathering. Bonus points if they have feathered feet and have a beard for extra protection!
Adequate body fat
Chickens come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, just like humans! Some are lean, fast, and thrive in warm climates, while others are more hardy and built to withstand winter.
I’ve raised all kinds of chickens in Minnesota, and while it is possible to raise the lean Mediterranean breeds in a cold climate, they take a bit more care than the winter-hardy breeds I list below.
The 6 BEST Winter Hardy Chicken Breeds
So, who made the cut? Here are my top 6 chicken breeds that have passed all the tests that we talked about above. If you want a blizzard-ready flock, these breeds will surely be up for it!
- Chantecler – This breed was developed in Quebec, Canada, and is the BEST winter hardy breed out there. This breed has almost no wattles and is the only breed with a cushion comb, which is nearly non-existent (even in roosters!). They have a good amount of feathering and adequate body fat to stay warm. Expect 200-220 eggs per year.
- Dominique – An excellent choice for cold climates due to their tightly arranged plumage and small rose combs. They handle winter like a champ! They are also well-built and can be considered a dual-purpose breed. They are excellent winter layers at 230-275 eggs per year.
- Buckeye – My first rooster was a Buckeye, and he thrived all winter! They have small pea combs similar to Brahmas and Ameraucanas, but Buckeyes have a leg up in that their waddles are tiny as well. They have beautiful, dense plumage and a sturdy frame. Expect 200 eggs per year.
- Brahma – One of the largest chicken breeds out there, with some reaching up to 30″ tall! Not only are they built for winter, but they have small pea combs, extensive feathering, and even have feathered feet to keep their toes warm. They are decent layers at 200 eggs per year.
- Wyandotte – Another great dual-purpose breed that will be able to hold their own on those frigid nights due to their heavy body size, tight rose combs, and dense feathering. They are calm, docile, come in lots of different colors, and lay 180-220 eggs per year.
- Ameraucana – While this breed is a little leaner than the above 5, they make up for it with their small pea combs and muffs (or beards). On chilly nights, they can tuck into their muffs so that their faces are hardly exposed. They lay 180-200 gorgeous blue eggs per year, which is a great way to add color to your egg basket.
Second-Best Choices
Just because you live in a cold climate, doesn’t mean that you ONLY have to raise the very best winter hardy chickens that I listed above. There are 4 other breeds that have a few qualities that suit them for cold winters. If you want to try some of the single-comb breeds below, I recommend sticking with hens only.
If you choose a rooster with a single comb, he’ll likely end up with frostbitten tips like my black cochin in the photo below (the frostbitten tips fell off by spring).
- Orpington – One of the most popular breeds out there! They are heavily feathered and have a heavy body, so they’ll be well-insulated for winter. They also lay well at 200-250 eggs per year. However, they have that pesky single comb and large waddles that are prone to frostbite.
- Cochin– One of the largest chicken breeds, and they have copious amounts of fluffy feathers (including feathered feet), making them exceptional in cold weather. However, if their feathers get wet and then freeze, they can suffer frostbitten toes, so be sure to keep their run dry with a covered run to prevent that. Another negative is that they have a single comb, which can get frostbitten easily (see above photo).
- Salmon Favorelle – This breed checks a lot of the boxes with its cute muffs, dense feathering, and feathered feet. The only immediate knock against it is its single comb, which is a frostbite risk. Plus, they aren’t very smart. One of my Salmon Favorelle hens ended up with completely frozen legs, all the way up to her body. I have no idea how she managed it, and I’ve never had it happen to any other chicken. Expect 150-200 eggs per year.
- Silkies – This is the only breed that has a tiny walnut comb. Their waddles are small as well, so they are fairly safe from frostbite. For being a bantam-sized chicken, they are fairly meaty, and their muffs and pompoms keep their faces protected. However, they have unique feathers that aren’t quite as warm as most chickens. Keeping them dry is of utmost importance. They are also terrible layers at only 100-120 eggs per year.
Maximizing Egg Laying in Winter
It’s natural for chickens to reduce their egg laying (or stop entirely) during the winter. It gives their bodies a little break while they go through their fall molt, and conserve their resources while they endure the dark and cold days of winter. While some folks just let nature take its course, there are a few things you can consider to boost productive, if desired.
Light
Daylight hours are one of the main drivers of egg production. When the days start to dwindle below 14 hours of sunlight, laying drastically decreases. So, you can consider adding a light to the coop to get the daylight hours back to 14+, and then you’ll likely notice a boost in egg production.
The best way to do this is to set up a timer to automatically come on in the early morning. That way it feels a bit more natural and in rhythm with their circadian rhythms rather than having the light come on at night. Just be sure to add light gradually (no faster than +30 minutes every few days).
You could start the light right away in the fall, however, I’ve found that this just delays their molt, which can create a dangerous situation if they start molting in December or January. So, I like to give the ladies a few months off and then turn the light on in late December to get the eggs going again.
Protein
The cold and dark months of winter are an essential time for more protein. Chickens need more nutrients to keep their metabolism up and their fat layer adequate so that they stay warm when the temps drop below freezing.
Unfortunately, protein options are scarce in the winter since bugs, frogs, and any other critters aren’t active, so consider adding a supplemental protein source to help support your flock.
Water glassing
While the above tips can help some, our best strategy for having consistent eggs in the winter is by preserving our summer surplus eggs via water glassing. It’s such a simple method and it WORKS! I love eating eggs with deep orange summer yolks on a blustery winter day.
We water glass a full 5-gallon food grade bucket worth of eggs and it lasts us until they start laying well again in February. This method takes the stress load off of the hens and we still get to have eggs for breakfast every morning.
How to Prepare Your Coop for Winter
While picking the right chicken breeds to withstand winter is important, their coop will still need some winterization efforts in order to keep them safe when those temperatures plummet. Check out my article Chicken Coop Winterizing (6 Essential Steps!) for all of my best tips!
Other Chicken Articles You’ll Love:
- Chicken Coop Winterizing (6 ESSENTIAL Steps!)
- The 7 Best Meat Chickens for Your Homestead
- The 5 Best Chickens for Meat and Eggs (Dual Purpose Breeds)
- How to Predator Proof Your Chicken Coop
- How Much Space Do Chickens REALLY Need?
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