The Wyandotte chicken is an actual American chicken breed. This breed originated in the late 1800s to survive the brutal winters in the north. You don’t need to fuss over the Wyandotte chicken. She’s happy with the basics of life, like having food, water, and a place to live. Has the bright color of this big, beautiful chicken caught your eye? Learn everything you need to know about the most beautiful chickens in America by reading on.
Wyandotte Chicken Breed History
In the 1880s, Wyandotte hens were not at all like they are now. In the 1800s, there weren’t many good chickens that could do more than one thing. Most farms were small, family-run businesses, and people did not see chickens as a way to make money or even an excellent way to help feed people.
That all changed when some enterprising chicken breeders chose to make a chicken that could live in the cold northern climates and be valid for more than one thing. Like most chickens today, the Wyandotte Chicken is a mix of several breeds. We have yet to determine the exact recipe, but we know that Brahmas and hamburgers made the breed what it is today.
The chicken could have either a single or rose comb at the start of the race. But the rose comb was more practical, so 1883 became the breed’s standard. For a long time, before industrial farming came along, the Wyandotte was the best American bird for northern climes. Even though the Wyandotte laid eggs well, they weren’t active enough to keep up with the newer hybrids. After that, the numbers slowly went down, but hardworking parents kept the lines going.
This beautiful bird became so famous because of the recent interest in all things chicken that it was taken from the endangered species list.
Wyandotte Chicken Overview
The chicken is a beautiful American chicken. It would help if you had a few of these hens in your group because of how their feathers are patterned. The Silver Laced Wyandotte was one of the first American types of chickens, and it’s still one of the most beautiful chickens you can find. She’s a breed that can do two things and lays three to four light brown eggs a week.
As heritage birds, they grow more slowly than mixed birds, and they also lay eggs a little later. They won’t start until they are 20 weeks old, but the eggs are well worth the wait. Hens usually don’t get broody, but once in a while, one will surprise you. They are great moms and guardians.
Wyandotte Chickens are calm and do not bother other chickens, so they may seem shy. Other breeds make them a little wary because they like being with their kind. Keeping her inside or letting her roam freely will work fine, but most chickens like to roam freely.
| Beginner Friendly: | Yes. |
| Color: | Silver Laced, Golden Laced, Blue Laced, Red, and more |
| Lifespan: | 5-12 years. |
| Egg Production: | 3-4 per week. |
| Weight: | Hen (6lb) and Rooster (9lb). |
| Egg Color: | Light brown or Cream. |
| Known For Broodiness: | No. |
| Good With Children: | Yes. |
| Cost of Chicken: | $3-$20 per chick. |
Why We Love This Breed
- These chickens can handle the cold well because they have a rose head.
- They get pregnant easily and are great moms.
- Wyandotte’s are a breed that can do a lot of different things.
- They are standard, so finding them in a nursery is easy.
- This breed is calm and friendly.
- You can also get them in a cute bantam size.
Appearance of Wyandotte Chicken
These Wyandotte hens are big and pretty. These Wyandotte chickens have big bodies, many feathers, and an intense look. They were raised in Michigan and New York, which are in the north. Winters can be very harsh in those places, so these chickens need to be very cold. Most of the time, chickens with more enormous beards and wattles would get frostbite.
This is why Wyandotte chickens were breed to have a rose comb. Rose combs can handle the cold much better and rarely get frostbite. Their heads are broad and short, and their beaks are thick. Their eyes are a warm color. The ears, wattles, and combs are all red. This chicken breed has yellow legs and four toes on each foot. They should have no feathers on their legs, and their skin should be yellow.
Size and Weight
The chicken is a big, fluffy chicken.
Hens weigh about 6-7 lbs. and roosters weigh about 8-9 lbs.
There are also some types of bantams, which generally weigh around 3lb.
Wyandotte Chicken Colors
The exact number of colors you can see will depend on the place you live. For example, the UK recognizes 13 types of Wyandotte’s, while Europe recognizes 30 kinds. Only nine standard types and ten bantams are recognized by the American Poultry Association in the US.
The Silver Laced was the first Wyandotte to be bred. It was born in 1883. The following colors have been added since then:
- Gold Laced, White (1888)
- Buff, Partridge, Black (1893)
- Silver Penciled (1902)
- Columbian (1905)
- Blue (1977)
Interestingly, the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte has become very famous even though it’s not an actual breed. Most people like the golden-laced Wyandotte and the silver-laced Wyandotte the most out of all these colors.
Egg Production Of Wyandotte Chicken
The Wyandotte lays light brown or Cream eggs nicely. Even though they aren’t superstars, they lay 3-4 eggs weekly, which is pretty good.
They aren’t known for being moody, but when they sit down, they do it all the way through and make great mothers.
| Eggs Per Week: | 3-4 Eggs. |
| Color: | Cream and Brown. |
| Size: | Large. |
Noise Levels
They don’t talk much other than the egg song. The chatter while roaming, like all chickens do, but it’s a low noise that won’t bother nearby people. They are reticent, which makes them a good choice for cities.
Facts About This Breed
- Wyandotte’s come in many colors, such as blue, silver, and golden lace.
- This breed gives birth to beautiful, giant eggs.
- They are also titled as American Seabright’s.
- This breed comes from America.
- A rooster can weigh up to nine pounds, and a hen can weigh up to six pounds.
Feeding
As Wyandotte hen, you must feed them good, high-protein food to ensure they grow right. A chick starter (or growth) mix with at least 20% protein is best. Your Wyandotte Chickens will be ready to lay eggs when they are 16 to 20 weeks old. You can slowly switch them to a 16% layer feed.
Calcium should also be accessible for your chickens to get from oyster shells. They should get this in a separate bowl, not mixed with their standard food. It would help if you also gave them different insoluble grit. There is also soluble grit that is the right size for chicks. Every animal needs clean, fresh water, and chickens are no different. Change your birds to a higher protein (20%) food when they lose their feathers. You can do this until their feathers grow back in.
What Is It Like To Own A Wyandotte?
They are big Wyandotte chickens, but they like to move around. They usually look for bugs, seeds, and other tasty things. Wyandotte chicken people want to scratch in the dirt while they play. Giving them some freedom, even if it’s just for a short time, will help them stay healthy, busy, and interested.
For such a giant breed, they are surprisingly quiet. They like being around other chickens like them. She is not mean to other chickens; she gets angry if they are hurt.
But she can firmly tell the attacker to stop.
Personality
As we already said, this breed is very quiet and shy. Mixed breed chickens bother her, and she’d rather be with other chickens of her kind. Wyandotte’s stay with their kind and don’t bother different chicken types.
This is a big mistake because they are quiet and friendly, so other chickens may try to pick on them. Bullies will have to deal with them without much trouble. Aiken County Chickens don’t get too attached to people, but they also don’t try to avoid touch with people either. They’ll come for treats or to see what you’re doing and be interested in everything you do. Still, they don’t have to want to be best friends.
They don’t mind being picked up and held, but you can’t call them a pet chicken. She gets along fine with kids and is an excellent chicken for beginners. She doesn’t get upset very often; they are calm and reliable. So, this breed is often seen at shows and other events. Many people note how quiet they are and how beautiful their feathers are.
Coop Setup and Roaming
Wyandotte hens need a lot of room because they are big and round. Each chicken is suggested to have 4 square feet, but more is always better. Even though they are usually calm, they will need 6 square feet of coop room each if they are with more aggressive breeds. Each chicken will need 8 to 10 inches of room to roost inside the coop.
They will like it if you give them more space, though. They will spread out as the weather gets warmer, but as the weather gets cooler, they will all curl up together to stay warm. Just make sure the perches are strong enough to hold their weight. For a safe place to sleep, put a 2×4-inch piece of sanded wood on the ground with the broad side facing up. This will keep their feet warm.
These big ladies will need a 12×12-inch nesting box because they will fit very snuggly and won’t be able to double-bunk.
As for the outside space to roam. Nothing is better for a Wyandotte than getting tasty treats straight from the yard. They love being outside and roaming free.
They can stay in one area if you surround it with solid fencing. This will keep them from traveling too far and becoming Mr. Fox’s lunch. Wyandotte’s can’t fly very well, so a fence three feet high will keep them in.
Ensure that each chicken has 8 square feet of room if you keep them in a run.
If you don’t give them enough room, they will get bored and do bad things like feather picking.
Summary
The Wyandotte hens is without a doubt one of the most beautiful types of chicken.
She doesn’t mind it when it’s hot in the summer and can handle harsh winters.
They lay eggs well and are good moms to their chicks. The take care of them and fuss over them until they are old enough to be on their own.
They had a very uncertain future at one point, but in the last few years they have made a big comeback.
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