Are we Silver Laced Wyandottes & are we a roo and a hen? gender & breed idenity confusion

[PeakyBeaky]

Well, good to know @ roo & hen but not on the poor quality. If I get a couple more hens, can I get some babies with better quality?

 

[StacyTN]

The thought did cross my mind that the one may be a little younger because it is slightly smaller (not much thought) and it's comb doesn't stick up much at all and as I said I pretty sure the girl I bought them from said they were 22 wks. At that age isn't is pretty evident by looking what they should be? As for breed, it does sound like everyone agress they are SL wyandottes but maybe just not the best quality, as far as coloring goes.

Sooooo........

Okay, so even if two roosters when should they start crowing or whatever you call it? Also, if by chance a hen & a rooster, again, if i get a couple more more "laced" hens would I maybe start getting more laced babies?

I have to say just by watching their behavior the one does strut around more like a roo & the other doesn't do the strutting.

So, I do hope they are one of each and even "poor quality" that will be okay, except really although all my chickens (39 total now - 6 standard laying hens (buff orps & RIR) & rest are bantams (Silkies & Cochins) are pets I really wanted a pr. that I kept seperate and let them raise babies., etc. and this is the pr. I planned to do that with but honetly I wanted "prettier/better quality" in case I ever got to sell any chicks. Being I don't really know, I may decide to sell them and get another pr. that I know exactly what they are and look like they are really supposed to.

thanks for all your opinions/thoughts etc. much appreciated

 

[DMRippy]

What part of TN are you in? There is a Middle Tennessee Thread and a West and East TN thread too.... you might want to check them out and find you some new chicken friends. If you are in Mid TN in the spring I might can help you out on the quality thing.

 

[StacyTN]

What part of TN are you in? There is a Middle Tennessee Thread and a West and East TN thread too.... you might want to check them out and find you some new chicken friends. If you are in Mid TN in the spring I might can help you out on the quality thing.

I am in Ooltewah, just north of Chattanooga. Appreciate the help ; ) and thanks but not in the Nashville area much really but not a long drive really if I try and go that route.
This breed really wasn't my 1st choice of breed to try to get some babies, kind of a spur of the moment purchases when I got the laying hens. I honestly don't think the people I bought them from were dishonest with me about anything by any means because they were like me just wanted chickens for pets & eggs & had nice areas for them to live, not small breeding cages etc.

 

[DMRippy]

I can not be 100% from those pictures. In a way I think you have a roo and pullet in another way it looks like 2 roos.... can you get a picture of their backs close up? A pullet should be laced on her back and all over her wings.

 

[StacyTN]

I can not be 100% from those pictures. In a way I think you have a roo and pullet in another way it looks like 2 roos.... can you get a picture of their backs close up? A pullet should be laced on her back and all over her wings.

Neither of these are very laced at all - the one that looks more def. like a roo only has some of the lacing on his chest, the rest of both of them looks like what you see, really no lacing, more "penciled" maybe. ?????
but yes, I will try tomorrow t get a couple more pics - thx

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Cool, I too really think so, but again, why his he not doing his thing yet, cock-a-doodle or trying to mate? I've read a little about hatchery, but what does that really mean? Will they not then get really laced up later? and/or if I get a couple more hens more laced will they then make babies that will be more laced?
Nope, what is a saddle feather?
and I can try to get a couple closer up but they are not the most social of chickens, rather skiddish. : (

They look like typical hatchery quality SLW, but I will not guess on gender because I find them very hard to sex, even at this age.

As far a "hatchery" birds, there's nothing wrong with them really, but it depends on what your goals are. Most of my girls are hatchery birds and I got them for eggs and enjoyment only. My SLW is barely laced (more of a silver blotched Wyandotte

), and while I am a bit disappointed in her appearance, it's ok because I don't plan on breeding or showing.

The big hatcheries tend to breed with quantity in mind, rather than breeding for temperament, quality, or to the Standard of Perfection (which defines the breed's characteristics). So if you are planning on showing or breeding SLW that are closer to the SOP, you should probably look for a local breeder who will sell you some higher quality birds. If you just want to breed nice backyard birds that are pretty or unusual, hatchery birds can work well, although people looking for the good quality lacing might be disappointed in your chicks (as you seem to be).

I have to note that hatchery stock can be highly variable. My neighbor has a Gold Laced Wyandotte purchased from the same feed store as mine (and thus same hatchery) and it has absolutely beautiful lacing. If you attempt breeding with hatchery birds though, I do not think you can count on excellent lacing suddenly appearing.

Best wishes!

 

[StacyTN]

They look like typical hatchery quality SLW, but I will not guess on gender because I find them very hard to sex, even at this age.

As far a "hatchery" birds, there's nothing wrong with them really, but it depends on what your goals are. Most of my girls are hatchery birds and I got them for eggs and enjoyment only. My SLW is barely laced (more of a silver blotched Wyandotte

), and while I am a bit disappointed in her appearance, it's ok because I don't plan on breeding or showing.

The big hatcheries tend to breed with quantity in mind, rather than breeding for temperament, quality, or to the Standard of Perfection (which defines the breed's characteristics). So if you are planning on showing or breeding SLW that are closer to the SOP, you should probably look for a local breeder who will sell you some higher quality birds. If you just want to breed nice backyard birds that are pretty or unusual, hatchery birds can work well, although people looking for the good quality lacing might be disappointed in your chicks (as you seem to be).

I have to note that hatchery stock can be highly variable. My neighbor has a Gold Laced Wyandotte purchased from the same feed store as mine (and thus same hatchery) and it has absolutely beautiful lacing. If you attempt breeding with hatchery birds though, I do not think you can count on excellent lacing suddenly appearing.

Best wishes!

Thank you so much for your input. I am learning lots about the whole "hatchery" thing, not a bad or good thing, just some good general info. like you've provided.
Right, in a way, I am slightly dissappointed but mainly in myself for making this spur of the moment purchase and being ignorant to the whole chicken thing. I knew from research when I saw them they did not look like what I thought they really should but...anyway's I will either resale them or give away or just keep them as "pets" and let them live a happy life being whatever they are : )
I built a very nice enclosed home (10ftx16ft run with a very nice coop) for the purpose of seperating them from my others (2 other very large homes, one for hens, other for bantams) to try to breed/raise some chicks. We'll see, and to be honest the other thing with them and I guess because they are older, not been handled much and possibly "hatchery" (thought I read something about) etc.. they are rather skiddish. I've raised all my others from either a day or two old up to 3 weeks old & I guess they are just used to me because I spend at least 2-3hrs. a day hanging out with them.
Again - thanks

 

[ChickenExtreme]

A close up would really help

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

Yes silver laced wyandottes. And yes hatchery quality.. this is very poor quality. Yea roo and hen.
But they are pretty backyard chickens though.

Going to have to agree. My SLW is pretty good quality (right feathering/comb, very laced and large) and I picked her up from a feed store.