The Silver Laced Wyandotte chicken is a unique American breed. The bright color of their feathers is what makes this chicken so pretty. People who know her best say she is calm, independent, and easy to fit in with most groups. Even better, they lay a good number of eggs every year.
In general, Silver Laced Wyandotte Chickens are great hens for farming. Reading on will teach you more about the Silver Laced Wyandotte and why she should be in your group.
Silver Laced Wyandotte Chicken Breed History
Silver laced Wyandotte chicken past is very well known for a breed that is still pretty new. Four people came up with the idea for this breed because they wanted a better dual purpose bird than what was already available in the United States. These four men got to work making the bird look better. There were some good things about American chickens before the Wyandotte, like being good layers, game birds, and hardy, but none had all of them.
In the 1870s, Mr. Doubleday, Mr. John Ray, Mr. L. Whittaker, and Mr. Fred Roulette began making an American breed of dogs that could do more than one thing. They used to work with the Mooney bird, which is no longer around, and other kinds. We have yet to determine the exact recipe for the Silver Laced Wyandotte, but we know that Dark Brahmas and Silver Spangled Hamburg’s came from it.
As early models, they came with both single and rose combs. However, after they were approved by the American Poultry Association in 1883, only rose combs were allowed. The Wyandotte got great reviews and shook up the chicken world. It was an American first. People in the UK were also pleased with this new chicken, and the Silver-Laced Wyandotte was a top worker for many years.
But things were about to change. Machines were brought into the chicken business when the Second World War started.Newer types of chicken that could lay more than 200 eggs a year were made, and the Wyandotte slowly went out of style. It was true that some groups were in the hands of fans, and things stayed that way until 2016. Recently, though, they’ve become trendy again as pet birds.
Silver Laced Wyandotte Chicken Overview
Undoubtedly, the silver laced Wyandotte is a gorgeous chicken. Their feathers are beautiful, a mix of silver and white with small black lines running through them. But these chickens aren’t just pretty to look at. Wyandotte’s are a tough breed that can do two things. This means they not only lay good eggs but also make good table birds.
They are strong, calm, and able to take care of themselves. There are more than nine types of Wyandottes, but the Silver Laced was the first to be seen. The Gold Laced came right after it. Wendat or Wyandotte Indians were friendly with and helped the first white settlers in the area, which is how the name Wyandotte came to be.
In the mid-1900s, there was a fear that they would go extinct, but now the Wyandotte is doing very well and is a peaceful, hardworking, and pretty chicken that does well in a garden.
| Weight: | Hen (6-8.5lb). |
| Lifespan: | 5+ years. |
| Egg Production: | 4 per week. |
| Color: | Black and White. |
| Beginner Friendly: | Yes. |
| Egg Color: | Cream or light brown. |
| Known For Broodiness: | No. |
| Good With Children: | Ok. |
| Cost of Chicken: | $5 chick. |
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very beautiful feathering in silver and white.
- It’s a powerful breed.
- Two purposes.
- Personable and calm.
- It’s a perfect egg layer.
Cons:
- It could be better for places that get very hot.
- Tell them to stay with their kind.
- Not known for being emotional.
Appearance Of Silver Laced Wyandotte Chicken
The silver laced Wyandotte chicken, like the Brahma, has a big body. From the side, they almost look fat! A silver laced Wyandotte chicken is a small, strong chicken that is quite big. Its head is significant, with a rose comb on top of it. It has a red comb, wattles, and earlobes. Their eyes are a dark bay, and their beaks are thick, well curved, and horn colored.
Their feathers are a little tight, and in the silver laced bird, the black edges of the feathers make them look like they are lacing. That’s right, the Wyandotte has yellow skin, and its shanks should be yellow, too. Each foot should have four toes.There will be a big difference between the male hackles and sickles. But sometimes, a rooster is born with hen feathering, which means his feathers are the same color and shape as a hen bird.
Size and Weight
These birds are big by usual bird standards.
Roosters weigh 8.5 pounds, and ladies weigh about 6.5 pounds.
A Wyandotte about the size of a bantam bird and weighing 3 to 3 3⁄4 pounds is also available.
How Does It Feel To Have A Silver Wyandotte?
People say this bird is reliable, easygoing, and able to handle the cold. It was bred with northern winters in mind. They don’t seem to mind being cold, and their rose combs help them avoid frostbite.
These chickens usually hang out with other chickens of the same kind; they don’t care about other chickens.They like to look for food, and walking around the yard keeps them fit and busy. It is a calm and steady bird that doesn’t want to fly and doesn’t do it often.
Personality
The Silver Laced Wyandotte is generally a calm, steady chicken that doesn’t get upset or excited about things. Because they keep their breed, they can seem cold at times. But they only like to hang out with people like them. In no way does this mean they are mean. Even the roosters are known for being calm and friendly.
They will, however, firmly put other birds in their place if they do anything stupid. The amount of assertiveness puts them in the middle to upper range of the hierarchy. They’re not soft or a baby chicken, but they like being with people and getting treats.
Egg Production Of Silver Laced Wyandotte Chicken
People say this type lays many cream or light brown eggs. You can expect about four eggs a week.
After about 18 weeks, Silver Wyandottes will start laying eggs.When it comes to being broody, they don’t do it often, but some types can (it’s just luck of the draw).
Your hen will be a good mother if she gets pregnant.
| Eggs Per Week: | 4 Eggs. |
| Color: | Cream or light brown. |
| Size: | Large. |
Noise Levels
Silver laced Wyandotte chicken are calm birds.Aside from the eggs and rooster calls everyone knows about, they don’t usually make much noise.
Because of this, they are great birds if you live in a city and have neighbors who might complain.
Feeding Of Silver Laced Wyandotte Chicken
A good 16% layer feed will help these chickens do well once they start laying eggs.
If you must keep them inside, you can also give them oyster shells and insoluble grit in a different dish.
You can raise the protein level in their food to 20% during the molting season. Silver laced Wyandotte’s chicken can handle being fed at set times or whenever they want. Pick one and do it.
Coop Setup
You should give each chicken 4 square feet of space in its coop. Because the silver laced Wyandotte chicken is a bit bigger, this is the smallest size that should be used inside the coop. Give them a little more space. This is helpful, especially for birds that are so big and fluffy.
Eight inches is a good amount of space for them to rest, but if you can give them a little more, that would be great. They will spread out in the summer to stay calm, but they will probably all squish together in the winter to keep warm. Nest boxes that are standard size (12×12 inches) will work great for these big, fluffy girls. This site will make it less likely for people to share their nests.
Summary
The silver laced Wyandotte is a good choice for family farms and backyards. They lay many eggs, don’t need much care, and can find food independently. Because they can live in cold places, Wyandotte’s have long been popular in the northern US. The rose comb and thick feathers on their heads keep them very warm during our long and sometimes harsh winters.