Best Chicken Breeds for Maryland, Virginia and Delaware Weather
Chad SimsShare
By Chad Sims, founder, Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery, Preston, MD
The Mid-Atlantic is hard on chickens in both directions. Summers on the Chesapeake are hot and humid, and winters bring cold, wet weather and the occasional deep freeze. The best breeds for Maryland, Virginia and Delaware handle both. These are the ones we recommend from raising them on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
Quick picks
- Best all-around for our weather: Barred Plymouth Rock
- Best for hot, humid summers: White Leghorn
- Best for cold winters: Golden Laced or Silver Laced Wyandotte
- Most eggs: Rhode Island Red
- Friendliest: Buff Orpington
- Bred for our region: Delaware
Breeds that handle heat and cold
Barred Plymouth Rock
Hardy in heat and cold, steady layers of about 200 large brown eggs a year, and calm with families. If you only pick one breed for the Mid-Atlantic, pick this one.
Rhode Island Red
Tough, low-maintenance and one of the most productive brown-egg layers, at about 200–300 eggs a year. They handle both our summers and winters well.
Delaware
Developed right here on the Delmarva Peninsula, Delawares are a hardy dual-purpose breed that lays large brown eggs and stays calm and friendly. They're a great local choice.
Black Australorp
A strong brown-egg layer that tolerates cold well. Their dark feathers absorb heat, so give them good shade in July and August.
Breeds that do best in summer heat
White Leghorn
Lighter bodies and large combs help Leghorns shed heat, which makes them one of the best choices for humid summers. They're also top white-egg layers. They're more active and flighty than most backyard breeds.
Cream Legbar
A lighter-bodied breed that handles warm weather well and lays blue eggs.
Breeds that do best in winter cold
Golden Laced and Silver Laced Wyandotte
Small rose combs resist frostbite, and dense feathering keeps them warm. They keep laying better than many breeds through short winter days.
Light and Buff Brahma
Large, heavily feathered birds with feathered feet that do well in cold. They're slower to mature and can take 28–32 weeks to start laying. They need extra shade and water in summer.
Buff and Lavender Orpington
Big, fluffy, cold-hardy and very gentle. Their thick feathers mean they need shade and airflow in summer.
Weather tips for Mid-Atlantic flocks
Summer: - Provide deep shade and good airflow through the coop. - Keep water cool and plentiful. Add a second waterer on hot days. - Panting and wings held away from the body mean a bird is too hot.
Winter: - Block drafts at roost level but keep ventilation up high. Damp air causes more frostbite than cold air does. - Check that water isn't frozen at least twice a day. - Healthy, fully feathered adult chickens don't usually need a heater.
Wet seasons: - Keep the run well drained and add fresh bedding often to keep feet healthy.
Common questions
What's the most cold-hardy chicken for Maryland? Wyandottes and Brahmas are the most cold-hardy breeds we hatch. Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds and Australorps also do well in our winters.
What chickens handle Virginia summers best? White Leghorns handle heat best, followed by Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds.
Where can I buy these breeds locally? We hatch all of these at Chesapeake Farm & Hatchery in Preston, Maryland. Pick up free on the Wednesday after your hatch date, or have them shipped. See our pages for Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.