What is the right breed for me?

When starting your flock, choosing a breed that matches your needs and constraints goes a long way.  Living in Southern Ontario provides certain conditions that make caring for certain breeds a bit more challenging.  But a good care plan and quality feed and supplies will keep your birds strong, happy and healthy!

Let us help you make the right choice for you!

Meat or Layers

Depending on the purpose of your birds, your breed selection is important. 
If you are looking for your flock to provide eggs through throughout the year, a layer variety such as the Red Sex-link would be a great choice.
For meat, A White Rock or Rustic Ranger may be a more appropriate selection

Temperament

A good match in regards to temperament of the breed is also very important if your family will be interacting with your flock. Certain breeds can be more aggressive (mostly one cockerel side) or broody.  But if hen cuddles are what you are looking for, a Brahma or Silkie could be just what you need!

Size and Space

The amount of space that a chicken needs in a coop depends a great deal on the breed.
Standard breed: 4 sq/ft per bird
Standard heavy breeds: 8 sq/ft per bird
Smaller breeds: 2-3 sq/ft per bird
Large breeds: 4-5 sq/ft per bird

.
Breeds for Southern Ontario

As anyone who lives in Ontario knows,  we have 4 distinct seasons.  Some breeds are more adapt to live and thrive in Canadian winters!  Here are a few breeds that would be a prefect fit for your backyard!

Cold-Hardy Breeds: Given the cold winters in Southern Ontario, it’s important to select breeds that are tolerant of lower temperatures. Some breeds are more cold-hardy due to their thick feathers and smaller combs.

Rhode Island Red: Known for being hardy and productive, these birds lay medium to large brown eggs.

 

Plymouth Rock: Cold-hardy, gentle, and great layers of brown eggs.

 

Australorp: Known for their excellent egg production and cold tolerance.

 

Orpington: Hardy in cold weather and lays large brown eggs.

 

Wyandotte: Beautiful, cold-hardy birds that are also good layers.

 

Marans: Known for laying dark brown eggs, these are also fairly cold-tolerant.

 
Dual-Purpose Breeds: Many of these breeds can be raised for both meat and eggs, which is a consideration if you plan to harvest some chickens for meat.

 

Sussex: Known for their docile nature and high egg production.

 

Barred Rock: Great for beginners, good egg layers, and calm temperament.

 

Other Considerations:

 

Temperament: Some breeds, like the Rhode Island Red, can be more dominant. If you have young children, breeds like Sussex or Plymouth Rocks may be gentler.

 

Egg Production: If your primary goal is egg production, breeds like the Australorp, Rhode Island Red, and Sussex are excellent choices, as they lay up to 250 eggs per year.