16+ Heat Tolerant Chicken Breeds

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Heat-tolerant chicken breeds are the perfect choice for hot climates, and these breeds are some of the best choices for warm regions.

This article is written by Rea Yoh, a freelance writer who grew up in rural Illinois, raising backyard chickens. She graduated with honors in Biology and Science, Technology, and Society from Brown University, and her background in research helps her get to the heart of any question. She has a passion for animals, the environment, and sustainable living.

Watching the weather channel for the last few summers has blown my mind—it feels like each year we reach a record high! Good thing we have ways to keep cool, like making a pitcher of ice-cold lemonade or taking a dip in a lake. You might be wondering about your animals, though. Can you keep chickens in hot weather, when they’re covered in feathers? The answer is yes! Heat and humidity won’t keep you from owning some chickens of your own. There are plenty of chicken breeds that do well in warm climates.

 There are a few factors that make some chicken breeds more tolerant of the heat than others: they have large and exposed combs, wattles, and earlobes, have legs free from feathers, have light-colored feathers, have smaller body sizes, and have light-colored eggs.

A chicken’s ideal body temperature is 105-107 degrees Fahrenheit, although they like their surroundings to be much lower than this. Most chickens will tolerate a pretty wide range of temperatures, from 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit. When it reaches 90 degrees, that’s when they get unhappy. Luckily, chickens have a few ways of keeping themselves cool naturally. Did you know that chickens don’t sweat like we mammals do? To get rid of body heat, there are a few physiological adaptations that warm-weather chickens have. Tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, that run through large exposed parts of a chicken’s skin will take heat away from the rest of their bodies to be dissipated. Large combs wattles are great for keeping chickens cool. It also helps when a chicken has fewer feathers, as you might guess, as feathers trap heat—you don’t want to be wearing a sweater on a hot day! Most breeds of chicken have clean legs (unlike feather-legged breeds like the Brahma), which help keep them cool.

The colors of the feathers also play a role in keeping a chicken cool. Dark colors absorb and trap heat, while light colors reflect it. If you wear a black t-shirt on a sunny day or have black hair, you’ll know what I’m talking about. On a similar note, breeds that lay white or cream eggs might do better because the pigment of the shells will trap less heat and won’t be so hot if they’re exposed to sunlight.

The size of a chicken matters as well—large chickens are much better at staying warm in the winter, while small birds are better at keeping cool.

Chickens also perform certain behaviors to keep cool. You might catch your chicken panting like a dog in the summer, with her beak open. They also lift their wings, since their under-wing does not have as many feathers. Chickens also love to dust bathe, and providing them with a cool patch of dirt in the shade will be luxurious during the hottest summer days.

What can you do as a chicken owner to help your flock in the hottest months? First, make sure that your chickens always have access to water. Dehydration is deadly for chickens. You can also add ice cubes to their water.

Setting up a chicken waterpark by putting out a shallow wading pool and sprinklers will be lots of fun for your birds.

You can make your coop more heat-friendly, too. It should be insulated and well-ventilated. Some people will install coop-friendly fans and air conditioning systems.

Here are some signs to look out for if you think your chickens are overheating:

• Not eating
• Lethargy or inactivity
• Slow, labored breathing
• Panting
• Seizures
• Convulsions
• Diarrhea

If you suspect that your chicken has heatstroke, see your vet immediately. Heatstroke can be fatal. 

Now, let’s meet the breeds of chicken that are best suited for hot climates:

• Ancona
• Andalusian
• Aseel
• Ayam Cemani
• Catalana
• Cubalaya
• Egyptian Fayoumi
• Jungle Fowl
• Leghorn
• Minorca
• Naked necks
• Pendesenca
• Serama
• Sicilian Buttercup
• Sumatra
• White-faced Black Spanish

I’ll take you through each heat-tolerant chicken breed one by one.

 Ancona

At the top of our list is the Ancona, a chicken breed that was developed in Ancona, Italy. Ancona chickens are well-suited to living in the heat, given their Mediterranean heritage. Their large single combs are effective at keeping them cool. Anconas are also fairly good in cold weather as well, if you’re looking for a breed that can live in a variety of climates—though you will have to pay attention to their combs and frostbite.

The Ancona is a very reliable layer, producing 180-220 large white eggs per year, and lay year-round without much broodiness. The Ancona is a very active bird, with plenty of energy and curiosity. They don’t like to sit still and are quite flighty, so make sure your Ancona has access to lots of space. Due to their vitality, Anconas are great foragers.

Among the Mediterranean breeds, Anconas are one of the most beginner-friendly. They are hardy and predator-savvy.

• Breed Name: Ancona
• Breed Type: Mediterranean, layer
• Size: Hens 4.5 lbs, roosters 6 lbs
• Personality: Flighty, active
• Eggs per year: 180-220
• Egg size: Large
• Egg color: White
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Comb type: Single
• Feather type: Standard, clean legs
• Lifespan: 8+ years
• Time to Maturity: 20-24 weeks

Andalusian

Andalusian chickens are a very robust breed of chicken that are well-adapted to hot climates. From Spain, Andalusian chickens are a Mediterranean breed. They have large single combs. Andalusians are rather large birds, used for meat and eggs. An Andalusian hen should lay 150 medium to large white eggs per year. Like other Mediterranean breeds, the Andalusian is active and loves to roam, making access to space very important. 

Thankfully, Andalusians are very agreeable birds—they’re gentle, curious, and friendly, especially compared to their Mediterranean cousins. Andalusians are also very pretty birds, with distinctive blue and black plumage. 

For a friendly, chatty, and impossibly hardy bird, the Andalusian is a great option.

• Breed Name: Andalusian
• Breed Type: Mediterranean
• Size: Hens 5.5 lbs, roosters 6 lbs
• Temperament: Friendly, active, curious
• Eggs per year: 150
• Egg color: White
• Hardiness: Heat tolerant, tolerates some cold
• Comb type: Single
• Feather type: Standard, clean legs
• Lifespan: 8+ years
• Time to Maturity: 20 weeks

Aseel (or Asil)

The Aseel is a game bird from Pakistan that has plenty of sass. Aseels are known to be pugnacious and aggressive, which isn’t a surprise considering their background—they used to be used for cockfighting. Nowadays, the Aseel is used for meat and brooding. 

An Aseel hen will not lay many eggs per year, but the eggs that she does have she will protect fiercely. From a young age, Aseel chickens are tough. They will fight other chicks and must be separated. The scrappy Aseel does very well in hot climates. They don’t like the humidity, though, and prefer to be dry.

• Breed Name: Aseel 
• Breed Type: All other, meat, ornamental, exhibition
• Size: Hens 4 lbs, roosters 5.5 lbs
• Temperament: Aggressive, confident, tough
• Eggs per year: 40
• Egg color: White, cream
• Hardiness: Cold hardy and heat tolerant
• Comb type: Pea 
• Feather type: Standard, clean legs
• Lifespan: 8-10 years
• Time to Maturity: 30 weeks

Ayam Cemani

The Ayam Cemani is one of the most unique-looking chickens you’ll ever see. You might mistake one for a raven. Ayam Cemanis are pure black, from their feathers to their internal organs. The Ayam Cemani is valued as an ornamental chicken, originally raised in Indonesia for religious and mystical purposes. 

Ayam Cemanis aren’t particularly good for eggs, only laying about 80 per year, and they don’t sit on their eggs, either. They’re still very nice chickens and are known to be affectionate. As for meat, an Ayam Cemani is quite tough and gamey. 

Because the Ayam Cemani originated in Indonesia, it is well-accustomed to heat and humidity. 

• Breed Name: Ayam Cemani
• Breed Type: All other, ornamental, exhibition
• Size: Hens: 3.5 lbs, roosters: 6.5 lbs
• Temperament: Intelligent, active, friendly
• Eggs per year: 80
• Egg color: Cream
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Comb type: Single
• Feather type: Standard, clean legs
• Lifespan: 6-8 years
• Time to Maturity: 20-24 weeks

Catalana

The Catalana chicken breed thrives in the heat. With exceptional heat tolerance and egg laying capabilities, the Catalana is a natural choice for a warm climate. These Mediterranean birds are adapted to the heat of Spain, and they have large single combs that keep them cool. 

Catalanas are very flighty and do well as free-roamers. They’ll forage food with no problem and evade predators as well. Catalanas are very independent, and they’re very wary of people and other animals. 

They’re a good choice if you want a hands-off breed that lays tons of eggs. These productive chickens will lay over 200 eggs per year! 

• Breed Name: Catalana
• Breed Type: Mediterranean, dual-purpose (meat and eggs)
• Temperament: Energetic, skittish, flighty
• Size: Hens 6 lbs, roosters 8 lbs
• Eggs Per Year: 200-240
• Egg Size: Large
• Egg Color: White, cream
• Feather Type: Standard, clean legs
• Comb Type: Single
• Hardiness: Very heat tolerant
• Lifespan: 5-8 years
• Time To Maturity: 16-20 weeks

Cubalaya

Developed by crossing Sumatras and Malay chickens, both of which originate from hot locations, the Cubalaya is well suited to the heat. Cubalayas are muscular, elegant chickens with beautifully long tail feathers, making them excellent exhibition birds. 

Cubalayas are used for many purposes–originally, they were bred for cockfighting. Nowadays, Cubalayas are used for their eggs, meat, and ornamental qualities. 

• Breed Name: Cubalaya
• Breed Type: All other, dual-purpose (eggs and meat), exhibition
• Temperament:  Affectionate, brave, aggressive with other chickens
• Size: Hens 4 lbs, roosters 6 lbs
• Eggs Per Year: 125-175
• Egg Size: Small to medium
• Egg Color: White, cream
• Feather Type: Standard, clean legs
• Comb Type: Pea
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Lifespan: 8+ years
• Time To Maturity: 24-26 weeks

Egyptian Fayoumi

A breed from Egypt, the Egyptian Fayoumi is certainly able to handle the heat. These are close to wild birds–probably around since the days of Egyptian pharaohs, Fayoumis are exceptionally hardy. Their alertness makes them difficult for predators to catch, and they are quick to sound the alarm in the face of danger. 

Fayoumis are very pretty birds, with silver heads that fade into mottled black bodies. They’re more meant for show than companionship, but they are quite a sight.

• Breed Name:  Egyptian Fayoumi
• Breed Type: All other, dual-purpose
• Temperament: Loud, flighty, alert
• Size: Hens 4 lbs, roosters 5 lbs
• Eggs Per Year: 150-200
• Egg Size: Small to medium
• Egg Color: White, cream
• Feather Type: Standard, clean legs
• Comb Type: Single
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Lifespan: 5-8 years
• Time To Maturity: 20-24 weeks

Jungle Fowl

The Jungle Fowl is the closest thing you’ll get to a pre-domesticated chicken. Likely the ancestor to our modern-day breeds, Jungle Fowl are an amazing breed that can still be found in the wild. Jungle Fowl are super hardy chickens that take the heat well. They also don’t fall sick very easily. 

A Jungle Fowl is very much a hands-off chicken, which is perfect if you want a self-sufficient breed. They forage well and evade predators with ease. The trade-off is that they’re not very affectionate and prefer to do things separately from their people. 

Despite being a small breed of chicken, Jungle Fowl produces reasonably large white eggs, up to 250 per year! They’re also valued as ornamental birds, which isn’t surprising given their gorgeous multicolored plumage.

• Breed Name: Jungle Fowl
• Breed Type: All other, layer, ornamental
• Temperament: Independent, wary, active
• Size: 4 lbs
• Eggs Per Year: Up to 250
• Egg Size: Medium to large
• Egg Color: White
• Feather Type: Hard, clean legs
• Comb Type: Single
• Hardiness: Very heat tolerant 
• Lifespan: 15-20 years
• Time To Maturity: 20-25 weeks

Leghorn

The Leghorn is one of the best-known breeds of chicken that exists, especially for people who want lots of eggs. Leghorns hail from Italy and have large single combs, making them well-adapted to heat. 

Leghorns have plenty of personality and are known to be nervous, flighty, and energetic. There’s a reason that Leghorns are used so frequently in the egg industry, as they can lay up to 300 eggs per year! 

They also don’t consume as much food as other breeds, making them very efficient. Leghorns are better in hotter climates than in cold ones, making them a great choice if you live in a warm place and love eating eggs for breakfast.

• Breed Name: Leghorn
• Breed Type: Mediterranean, dual-purpose (meat and eggs)
• Size: Hens 5 lbs, roosters 7.5 lbs
• Personality: Active, flighty, loud
• Eggs per year: 280-320
• Egg color: White
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Comb type: Single
• Feather type: Standard, clean legs
• Lifespan: 5-7 years
• Time to Maturity: 18-20 weeks

Minorca

The Minorca, despite its large size, is well-adapted to living in the heat. The Minorca is the biggest breed of Mediterranean-class chicken, with roosters weighing a whopping 9 pounds and hens 7.5 pounds! While they are big, they have plenty of lean muscle and don’t have a tendency to store excess fat, which helps them in hot climates. 

Minorcas are not only good meat birds but also produce lots and lots of eggs without running the risk of broodiness. For a vivacious dual-purpose bird that is great in the heat, choose a Minorca.

• Breed Name: Minorca
• Breed Type: Mediterranean, dual-purpose  
• Temperament: Active
• Size: Hens 7.5 lbs, roosters 9 lbs
• Eggs Per Year: 140-200
• Egg Size: Jumbo
• Egg Color: White
• Feather Type: Standard, clean legs
• Comb Type: Single
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Lifespan: 6-8 years
• Time To Maturity: 20-26 weeks

Turken (or Naked necks)

No, this chicken breed is not part turkey, even though their featherless necks make them look that way. The quirky, ever-so-charming Naked Neck is a very unique breed of chicken. The Naked Neck lacks feathers on its neck and rump. 

Unsurprisingly, their baldness makes them great at tolerating the heat. They also have large single combs to keep them cool. 

Turkens, despite their bizarre appearance, are very robust birds that make a great addition to your flock, especially if you live in a hot climate. Naked Necks are very affectionate and kind birds. 

They’re large, easygoing, and not flighty at all (they don’t have enough feathers to fly!). Due to their size, turkens make good meat birds. They also produce a fair number of eggs per year.

• Breed Name: Transylvanian naked neck, showgirl, turken
• Breed Type: ornamental, dual-purpose (meat and eggs)
• Temperament: Friendly, docile and affectionate
• Size: 7 lbs
• Eggs Per Year: 150-180
• Egg Size: Medium
• Egg Color: Light brown
• Feather Type: Hard, clean legs, no feathers on legs, head, neck, or rump
• Comb Type: Single
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Lifespan: 8+ years
• Time To Maturity: 20-22 weeks

Penedesenca

The Penedesenca is notable for its heat tolerance. They’re descended from Spanish chickens; like many other Mediterranean breeds, they’re great layers that do well in the heat. What makes the Penedesenca extra special is the color of eggs it lays. They’re capable of laying very dark reddish-brown eggs. 

When your Penedesenca hen lays eggs, expect her to make a big deal of it—this is a very loud and active breed of chicken. They’re very flighty as well, happiest when they can freely run about and forage. Penedesenca chickens are very hardy, resistant to disease, and good at evading predators.

• Breed Name: Penedesenca
• Breed Type: Mediterranean, layer
• Temperament: Loud, active, skittish
• Size: Hens 4.5 lbs, roosters 5.5
• Eggs Per Year: 150-200
• Egg Size: Medium to large
• Egg Color: Dark reddish-brown
• Feather Type: Hard, clean legs
• Comb Type: Single
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Lifespan: 5-8 years
• Time To Maturity: 20-24 weeks

Serama

The small, mighty Serama is highly heat tolerant. From Malaysia, it’s no surprise that they thrive when it’s hot out. Their relatively large combs and tiny bodies allow them to dissipate heat easily. The Serama is a lovely breed that’s valued for its ornamental qualities. Their bodies are highly geometric, and the Serama’s posture mimics that of a soldier. 

For tiny birds, they lay a very large number of small white eggs–up to 200 per year! Consider adding this pint-sized fowl to your hot weather flock, and you won’t be disappointed!

• Breed Name: Malaysian Serama
• Breed Type: Exhibition
• Temperament: Confident, affectionate, friendly
• Size: Micro roosters are up to 13 oz; micro hens up to 8 oz; Class A roosters are under 13 oz; Class A hens under 12 oz; Class B roosters under 16 oz; Class B hens under 15 oz; Class C roosters under 19 oz and hens under 19 oz.
• Eggs Per Year: 180-200
• Egg Size: Tiny
• Egg Color: White
• Feather Type: All other standard, feather-legged
• Comb Type: Single
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Lifespan: 7-10 years
• Time To Maturity: 15-18 weeks

Sicilian Buttercup

A dainty, spritely breed of chicken, the Sicilian Buttercup does well in the heat. Sicilian Buttercup chickens were likely developed in Northern Africa, and they are well-suited to hot Mediterranean climates. 

They are the only breed to have a buttercup comb, which is shaped like a crown. A Sicilian Buttercup’s comb is effective at keeping them cool. 

Sicilian Buttercups have a typical personality for a Mediterranean breed of chicken—they don’t keep still and love running around and exploring. As such, they don’t do well in confinement and prefer to spread their wings and chase bugs. They’re excellent foragers. The Sicilian Buttercup is used for both eggs and ornamental purposes; they lay up to 180 eggs per year and aren’t broody whatsoever. 

They have a very unique appearance. As mentioned before, they’re the only breed to have a crown-shaped comb. Sicilian Buttercups also have green legs. Their feathers are buff with black spangles, and their tails are black with hues of iridescent green.

• Breed Name: Sicilian Buttercup
• Breed Type: Mediterranean, layer, ornamental
• Temperament: Active, alert, flighty
• Size: Hens 5 lbs, roosters 6.5 lbs
• Eggs Per Year: 150-180
• Egg Size: Small to medium
• Egg Color: White
• Feather Type: Standard, clean legs
• Comb Type: Buttercup
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Lifespan: 5-8 years
• Time To Maturity: 20-30 weeks

Sumatra

A Sumatra chicken is a sight to behold. With glossy, flashy feathers and an extravagant tail, you’ll appreciate the grace that is this ornamental breed. Originating in Indonesia, Sumatra chickens are accustomed to living in heat and humidity. 

The primary reason that someone might own a Sumatra is its ornamental qualities, since they’re a bit small for meat birds and don’t lay many eggs per year. They make good mothers, though, and brood very well. Sumatra chickens are great at free-roaming. Their energy and flightiness make them good foragers.

• Breed Name: Sumatra
• Breed Type: Ornamental
• Temperament: Proud, active, independent
• Size: Hens 4 lbs, roosters 5 lbs
• Eggs Per Year: 100
• Egg Size: Small
• Egg Color: White
• Feather Type: Standard, clean legs
• Comb Type: Pea
• Hardiness: Very heat tolerant
• Lifespan: 6-8 years
• Time To Maturity: 30-35 Weeks

White-faced Black Spanish

The aptly-named White-faced Black Spanish chicken is a perfect choice for hot weather. Also referred to as the clown-faced chicken, the plumage on a White-Faced Black Spanish is very distinct, making them look a bit like a clown. They have huge, bright red combs that keep them cool, making them a good choice for hot climates. 

White-faced Black Spanish chickens are used for both meat and eggs, as they’re very large for a Mediterranean breed and lay a good number of white eggs each year. White-Faced Black Spanish chickens are pretty friendly for their breed class. As chicks, they might be a bit skittish, but adults are considerably calmer than babies.

• Breed Name: White-faced Black Spanish, Cara Blanca, Española Cara Blanca
• Breed Type: Mediterranean, dual-purpose (meat and eggs)
• Temperament: Loud, active, independent
• Size: Hens: 6.5 lbs, roosters: 8 lbs
• Eggs Per Year: 160-180
• Egg Size: Large
• Egg Color: White
• Feather Type: Standard, clean legs
• Comb Type: Single
• Hardiness: Heat-tolerant
• Lifespan: Up to 10 years
• Time To Maturity: 20-22 weeks

Chicken Breed Guides

Looking for more chicken breed guides?

• Best Egg Laying Chickens Breeds for Beginners
• Chickens that Lay Colorful Eggs
• Cold Hardy Chicken Breeds
• Fluffy Chicken Breeds
• Best Broody Chicken Breeds for a Self-Maintaining Flock
• Chickens That Lay the Most Eggs
• Best Dual Purpose Chicken Breeds