Blue Laced Red Wyandotte
Feathers Plus
The Wyandotte breed was developed in the North-Eastern states of America in the 1870s. Because of their American heritage, they were named after the Wyandot or Huron Nation, the native Americans of the North.
The Silver Laced variety was the first color to be produced by four men namely, Fred Houdlette, H.M. Doubleday, John Ray, and L. Whittaker.
The origins of the Wyandotte breed included the crossing of Dark Brahmas and Silver Spangled Hamburgs and became an officially recognized breed in America in 1883.
By the late 1880s, Silver Wyandottes captured the attention of British poultry hobbyists who were impressed by the black and silver coloring and fine lacing in these chickens.
The stock imported to the UK led to the experimentation of the breed and the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte was produced.
Recognition
Sadly, Blue Laced Red Wyandottes are not accepted by the American Poultry Association (APA) because they are described as a new color variety that was only developed in the mid to late 19th century.
Weight
The roosters must weigh 8.5 lbs and the hens should weigh 6.5 lbs.
Wyandottes are fluffy-looking chickens but underneath all that fluff they have a significant amount of muscle and fat creating a heavy set appearance.
How Many Eggs Do Wyandottes Lay?
The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte was bred for effective egg laying and while she can lay 3 to 4 eggs a week, they may suffer from fertility issues. Wyandotte hens typically lay between 180-200 eggs per year but those with low fertility rates may only produce half these numbers.
To determine whether this is the egg-laying chicken for your backyard coop, we look at overall egg production, broodiness, and whether they make a good dual-purpose chicken…
What Age Do Blue Laced Red Wyandottes Start Laying?
The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte will start laying eggs by 16-20 weeks and will continue to lay through the cold season.
Because of their tolerance to colder climates. Healthy and productive hens are considered the ultimate winter layers in the chicken world as they continue to produce eggs when other chickens stop laying.
Infertility Issues
The low fertility rates of the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte are associated with their rose comb gene.
This particular gene is responsible for their dense feathering but is also linked to compromised fertility in Wyandotte chickens.
Is The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Broody?
These chickens are not particularly broody but you will find some hens willing to hatch eggs.
They can be good mothers, a broody Wyandotte chicken does well at hatching eggs that are placed underneath her making it easier for you to raise your own birds.
Cold Hardy?
Does this breed do well in colder climates? A Blue Laced Red Wyandotte’s thick plumage ensures that it does well in cold climates but such dense feathers make it tough for them to cope in warm weather.
Most heavy feathered birds suffer from mite and lice problems at some stage in their lives. The sheer volume of down makes the perfect hiding spot for parasites, especially around the vent.
To help your Wyandotte chickens combat pest problems, always provide an area for them to sand bath in. Sand bathing smothers any pests hiding on their body and is a natural prevention.
Chickens affected by these parasites will have red and irritated skin, poor feather conditions, and constant scratching to remove the pests. If your birds are infested, apply a poultry-approved powder or treatment to get rid of parasites.
Longevity
Wyandottes can reach 5-8 years of age.
Flock Mates
Wyandottes get along with most breeds that have calm temperaments and won’t challenge their bossy personalities! Pair them with Brahmas, Cochins, Rhode Islands, and even Silkies that won’t challenge their top position in their pecking order.