Originally, the Blue Laced Wyandotte chick was a widespread preference among the chicken enthusiasts due to its appearance and friendly attitude. From their background, appearance, and personality to how to care for them, you will learn all the crucial information in the next sections of this book about these lovely birds.
What is a Blue Laced Wyandotte Chick?
The Blue Laced Wyandotte chick is a Hybrid of the Wyandotte and is characterized by the coloring. Additionally, this breed has its feather characteristics cultured a lovely shade of blue and laced, and this alone makes the chicken popular in many homesteads and poultry farming competitions across the country.
Origin and History
The second half of the nineteenth century saw the development of an old American Breed , the Wyandotte chickens. Crossbreeding of different birds, mainly Silver Laced Wyandotte and other domestic fowls, bred it out. The Blue Laced Wyandotte is relatively a newer variety, which is highly attractive and at the same time docile.
Physical Characteristics
Blue Laced Wyandotte chicks have high value because of their beautiful blue laced feathers.
| Feature | Description |
| Color | Blue with a violet or a combination of black edges. |
| Size | Small and large sized birds ,cockerel average weight is about 5-6 pounds and hen 6-7 pounds |
| Comb Type | Single comb |
| Feather Type | Soft and fluffy feathers with lacing(require personal experience) |
Temperament
Blue Laced Wyandotte chicks are also docile chicks which makes them easily handled and friendly. They are good for homesteads and first-time chicken readers. They are gentle animals, thus easy to manage and domesticate and this makes it easier to incorporate them in a group.
Care Requirements for Blue Laced Wyandotte Chicks
These birds are delicate and requires special attention for their proper health especially when in the chicks stage.
Housing and Space
- Brooder Setup: Construct a hygienically clean and comfortably warm place to accommodate the chicks in a well spaced manner. On average you should expect to use one square foot of space in the brooder for each chick that it will be housing.
- Temperature: Set the temperature at 95°F during the first week then decrease it by 5 degrees each subsequent week until the chickens are totally feathery.
- Ventilation: Make sure that there is also adequate airflow inside the brooder to avoid respiratory diseases.
Nutrition
- Starter Feed: Feed the chicks with a premium good quality chick starter feed with high protein content of not more than 24% to ensure proper growth.
- Fresh Water: Availability of fresh and clean water should always be made available at all times. So, to reduce instances of contamination, the water should be changed daily.
Health and Hygiene
- Regular Checks: Observe the chicks for any sign of sickness that include; reduction in their level of activity, change in feeding habits or odd pellets.
- Sanitation: More to that, it is wise to ensure that the brooder area is clean in order to minimise disease infection among the chicks. Daily strip the bed and wash the sheets and other accessories and replace all bedding with clean ones.
Growth and Development
Key Milestones
| Age | Development |
|---|---|
| 0-1 Week | Feathers start to come in; maintain warm temperatures |
| 1-4 Weeks | Are going to spread out; when taming, start to decrease temperature gently |
| 4-8 Weeks | Develop to grower feed; introduce to outdoor environment |
| 8+ Weeks | Sheds; become part of the group |
Transition to Outdoor Living
As mentioned earlier when taking your blue Laced Wyandotte chicks outside to start enjoying the outdoor life, start doing it gradually. This initial exposure should however be small and they should be gradually exposed to large chunks of the exteriors.
Common Issues and Solutions
These are some typical problems that the Blue Laced Wyandotte chicks could run over, together with solutions:
- Pastel feathers: Your chicks might be malnourished if the color of their feathers seems to be dull. Make sure kids also consume healthily as well by including enough minerals and vitamins on their dishes.
- Pasting Up: This is a situation whereby sh*ts adhere on the chick vent and is often as a result of lack of water or diet. Clean the brooder and replenish the water supply after small intervals.
Health Checklist
- Check for Pasting Up
- Monitor Weight Gain
- Inspect for Signs of Disease
- Ensure Clean Environment
Conclusion
The Blue Laced Wyandotte chick is a beautiful bird that has become a darling among the various types of birds; it is famous for being docile too. So with an ideal brooder, proper diet and proper health check up, your chicks will be healthy and lively chicken.
For those who want to start with poultry keeper or even for the professional, Blue Laced Wyandotte is among the birds that combine beauty with friendship. These adorable little birds require proper attention and care and, thus, will grow up to become sweetest of your flock.
You may wish to contact your local poultry association or online poultry forums in order to get further assistance or advice on rearing blue laced Wyandotte chicks. Happy chick-raising!