Photo: mavo (Shutterstock)
Backyard chicken coops became increasingly popular during the pandemic as people scrambled to stay sane; and more recently, soaring egg prices have pushed “backyard chickens” to the top of search results everywhere as folks dream of becoming Egg Wealthy in the coming apocalypse. While raising backyard chickens will not save you any money once you factor in everything it takes to, you know, raise chickens, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still raise backyard chickens for many other reasons.
The eggs your chickens lay will almost certainly be better quality than the ones you buy at the store, and you’ll increase your overall independence with a flock. Plus, chickens are beautiful, many breeds make great pets, and even their shit is pretty useful. Before you start ordering chickens online, however, you should pause and think about exactly what kind of chickens you want in your backyard.
One vital thing to consider when choosing chicken breeds for your backyard egg factory is the climate. Different chicken breeds tolerate heat or cold to different extents, so a breed’s climate tolerance is a key consideration. Keep in mind, though, that even if you choose a breed that matches up with your region’s climate, you still have to provide some protections. Heat-tolerant breeds should still have access to plenty of shade and water, and cold-tolerant chickens should still have shelter where they can warm up. And in either case, if temperatures swing to extremes, you’ll need to ensure your chickens will be safe.
