The traditional North American Silver Laced Wyandotte chicken breed is gaining popularity among chicken enthusiasts all over the world. These birds are often gregarious, inquisitive, and occasionally a touch domineering, although their personalities vary greatly. Beautiful birds with an enormous range of hues are wyandottes. The reason this American-bred bird is so well-liked worldwide is not only their stunning appearance but also their high productivity as layers and excellent companions in the backyard. Let’s examine the distinctive characteristics of the Silver Laced Wyandotte, such as its black scalloped pattern on its feathers, genetics, methods of sexing them, a brief history, and breeding difficulties.
The History of Silver Laced Wyandotte
One of the most venerable, popular, and well-known breeds in America is the Wyandotte. It is unique in that it is the first chicken “created” in America with a dual function. While there were numerous breeds of early Americans that produced both meat and eggs, no particular variety excelled at either. There were various varieties of chickens available because they had brought all of the chickens from Britain and Europe, but none of them had been specially designed to meet the demands of the homesteaders and early settlers. The bird that was to become the Wyandotte was once known as the Mooney, Sebright Cochin, or American Sebright. These birds were widespread across the United States following the Civil War and had been recorded as early as 1873. Nevertheless, I haven’t been able to uncover much, if any, information regarding this “proto” bird.
Appearance
- The Wyandotte, like the Brahma, has a big body.
- When viewed from the side, they nearly appear chubby!
- The Silver Laced Wyandotte is a sturdy, small, and rather wide chicken.
- A rose comb crowns the large head of a Wyandotte. Earlobes, wattles, and combs are crimson. Their eyes are a reddish-bay color, and their beak is robust, well-curved, and horn-colored.
- Their feathers are a little tight, and the silver-laced bird has black-edged feathers that resemble lacing. The Wyandotte bird has yellow skin and four toes on each foot. Their shanks are also yellow and should be free of feathers.
- There will be a noticeable difference in the male sickles and hackles.
Size and Weight
A type of chicken called the silver-woven Wyandotte is distinguished by its eye-catching feathers interwoven with black and silver. Generally speaking, these hens are regarded as medium-sized in terms of both weight and size.
Size
Male cocks usually weigh between 8.5 and 9.5 pounds (3.9 and 4.3 kg).
Female hens weigh between 2.7 and 3.2 kg (about 6 to 7 pounds), making them somewhat smaller.
Remember that these are only recommendations and that the size of individual birds may differ. Genetics, food, and general health are just a few of the variables that can affect chicken size.
If you’re specifically looking for the Silver Laced Wyandotte’s measurements, they have a rounded, compact appearance with a rose comb, which is a tiny comb that rests close to the head. The body is well-rounded, and the plumage is characterized by black and silver lacing. To ensure that your hens grow to their ideal size and weight, make sure they receive the right attention, food, and living conditions.
Personality
The Silver Laced Wyandotte is well-known for both its lovely feather pattern and its kind disposition. Due to their reputation for being calm and amiable, these hens are excellent additions to families and backyard flocks. Because they are usually kind and understanding, adults and kids can handle silver-laced Wyandotte. They are gentle creatures, but they also have an inquisitive and lively personality. They like to explore their environment and go foraging. Because of its propensity for sociability, this breed makes for peaceful coexistence in a flock. Because of their adaptive and laid-back nature, Silver Laced Wyandotte are a great option for anyone seeking a charming and amiable addition to their henhouse. They are not very flighty.
Wyandotte Health and Disease
The Wyandotte chicken is not susceptible to any specific disease. Nonetheless, because of their dense feathers, they serve as an excellent haven for mites and lice; therefore, it’s a good idea to treat these minuscule pests on a regular basis and give them a dust bath. Worms can also be a problem, especially for birds that are allowed to roam freely. To keep the birds free of worms, a timetable for treating them should be adhered to.
If you choose to raise Wyandotte’s for breeding, it’s useful to know that they can occasionally have issues with successful mating because the thickness of their feathers can get in the way of the rooster successfully fertilizing the hen. You can achieve a closer connection by reducing the feathers surrounding the spot.
Silver-Laced Wyandotte Characteristics
The plumage of Silver Laced Wyandotte’s (SLW) is a silvery-white ground color with a single black stripe that tapers to a sharp point at the end of each feather. The silver-laced birds are fairly large and spherical, just like the other members of the Wyandotte chicken family. Silver-laced hens weigh about 6.5 pounds (2,9 kg), while silver-laced roosters top the scales at 8 pounds (3,6 kg). Additionally, there is an APA-recognized bantam tiny variant of the Silver Laced Wyandotte breed that weighs around 3.3 pounds (1,5 kg).
Disposition and Egg Laying
Wyandotte’s generally have a pleasant disposition, although some may come across as distant due to their strong personalities. Though this varies greatly from bird to bird, they are generally gregarious but not particularly “cuddly” birds and can be fairly vocal. They are frequently at the top of the food chain or close to it since they are typically rather dominant among other birds. Although they don’t seem to harass other birds, Wyandotte are confident and don’t get harassed too often. They are decent egg layers, laying 200 or more pale to dark brown eggs on average a year.
Grooming
The maintenance of Silver Laced Wyandotte’s plumage, general health, and living environment are the main aspects of grooming. Their remarkable look requires frequent grooming due to their complex feathers braided in black and silver. To ensure a clean and colorful coat, brushing and examining their feathers can help eliminate dirt, debris, or loose feathers. Additionally, it’s critical for their health to look for indications of parasites like lice or mites. Unless the chicken is really unclean, bathing is usually not necessary, though if it is, it should be done carefully to prevent stressing the bird. Regular examinations of their eyes, beaks, and nails are part of their entire grooming regimen. Their comfort and hygiene depend on having a clean, roomy coop with appropriate bedding. To keep these stunning birds content and healthy, Silver Laced Wyandotte’s require a combination of feather care, health monitoring, and upholding a clean living environment as part of their grooming regimen.
Feeding
- These hens will flourish on a high-quality 16% layer ration once they begin to lay.
- If they are restricted, you can also provide them with insoluble grit and oyster shell in a different dish.
- You can raise the feed’s protein level to 20% during the molting season.
- Both regular feeding periods and free feeding are acceptable to silver Wyandotte’s. Simply choose one and follow it.
Care
In general, Wyandotte are quite independent birds. Their especially fluffy and feathery backside can occasionally produce a mess from droppings, so if this becomes an issue, a fast clip of the feathers should solve the issue.
Coop Setup
Giving each standard-sized chicken 4 square feet of coop area is a good general rule of thumb. This is the smallest size that is advised for inside the coop because the Wyandotte is a little larger than average. It’s a blessing, especially with such big, fluffy birds, if you can give them a little extra space. The typical 8 inches of space will be sufficient for them to roost, but the more space you can provide them, the better. They will spread apart in the summer to be cooler, but they will probably huddle close to each other in the winter to stay warm.
Silver Laced Wyandotte Price and Purchasing Info
The least expensive part of keeping chickens is rearing them, regardless of breed! Large, placid, and amiable, silver-laced Wyandottes are excellent meat eaters as well as excellent friends. They can be bought online and from nearby farms, but they are typically not seen in your neighborhood farm stores. Take caution while selecting an internet retailer. The sale of farm poultry is fraught with scams.
For females, silver-laced Wyandotte’s cost $5 to $8 each, while males cost roughly $2 less. Before buying hens, if you are new to raising chickens, make sure you do a lot of studying. Having a variety that yields eggs of various colors and sizes is enjoyable. If the size of the egg is essential to you, stick with larger breeds because smaller chicks will always produce very small eggs. Additionally, you will be able to charge $3 to $10 for a dozen “farm-fresh” eggs. The cost varies according to the state and region you are in. In farming communities, trading eggs with your neighbors is an excellent way to make ends meet.
A Few More Facts About the Silver-Laced Wyandotte
- Winter-hardy birds are the silver-laced Wyandotte. They are more resilient to cold weather than many breeds of hens and very seldom suffer frostbite. Because of their thick feathers, they do not fare well in hot temperatures. Always provide cool water, and be sure to include some electrolyte solution.
- In order to avoid the summer heat, they require cool, shaded spots. Highly skilled foragers and silver-laced wyandottes have a tendency to stray. The best defense against predators is to have a rooster nearby.
- Every year, these hens lay between 200 and 250 eggs.
- Wyandotte chickens are excellent for suburban backyards because they don’t produce much noise other than the rooster’s call and the occasional squawk from an egg.
- Wyandotte chickens with silver linings are immune to common chicken illnesses.
Why We Love Them!
Amazing, resilient birds, Wyandotte provide us with year-round backyard companionship and fresh eggs. There are so many gorgeous color options available that we wish we could own one in every hue! Choosing the right breed of chicken for your family may be extremely challenging and complicated, regardless of whether you believe Wyandotte are the right breed for you or are thinking about one of the many other options available.
Fortunately, our good colleagues at Chickenpedia have produced a fantastic course on chicken breeds. This comprehensive online course offers helpful guidance on the amount and frequency of eggs laid, as well as how to choose the best hens for you. Through this well-organized training, you’ll even get to know their unique personalities and be able to use their family-friendly compatibility scale.
Silver-laced Wyandotte chickens are good with kids.
The hens get along well with children, but the roosters should be evaluated individually. This breed might be just what you need to motivate your kids if you’re worried about getting them to put down their iPads. They are content to be handled, calm and slow-moving, and not easily startled.
Pros and Cons of the Silver Laced Wyandotte
Pros
- Able to withstand cold
- Outstanding foragers
- Breed with two purposes.
- Gorgeous hues
- Not much more care is required.
Cons
- More room is needed.
- Breed dominance
- Poor performance in warm climates
Are silver-laced Wyandotte roosters aggressive?
Aggressive Roosters do exist. Personalities vary a lot; you’ll hear some owners boast about how soft they are, while others warn that if they don’t learn to chill their beans, they’ll soon be living in a crockpot. As with any breed, roosters are unique individuals, but regrettably, they do have a slight propensity to act aggressively toward humans and other chickens.