Top 20 Cold-Hardy Chicken Breeds

Top 20 Cold-Hardy Chicken Breeds

October 3, 2021


(The flock free ranging on an early rainy morning!)

Chickens tend to be cold-hardy in general, handling the winter months far better than the heat of the summer. But certain breeds, like those with large combs and wattles, with smaller body masses and some of the more fragile breeds don't do as well in the winter as the breeds considered cold-hardy.


    My top 20 cold-hardy breeds include:

    • Ameraucana  
    • Australorp 
    • Barnevelder  
    • Brahma  
    • Buckeye
    • Buff Orpington  
    • Cochin
    • Delaware 
    • Dominique  
    • Easter Egger  
    • Faverolle  
    • Jersey Giant  
    • Marans 
    • New Hampshire Red  
    • Plymouth Rock  
    • Rhode Island Red 
    • Silkie
    • Sussex  
    • Welsummer  
    • Wyandotte

    Fun fact: Some of the names of these breeds are a tip-off, as is the case of the Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire Red, Plymouth Rock, Buckeye (named for the state of Ohio) and Jersey Giant.
    If you live in a warmer climate, then consider some of the heat-hardy breeds instead. Most will do just fine in cold weather, but are better equipped to handle the summer heat!

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