Blue Laced Red Wyandotte THREAD!

[Scott H]

Hi everyone!
I have 10 BLRW splash chicks and would like to keep a few and sell the rest. They are only two weeks old. Is it possible to tell which ones I should keep at this young age by their feather markings? If so, what should I be looking for?

I think you need to wait until about 7 weeks to be certain. Then post some pictures here and I'm sure everyone will chime in!

 

[Retrieverluvr]

Heres my Lacey! 16 weeks old.

 

[jmarie]

Can I get some opinions on this guy??? he is 7 weeks, he seems to have a good round shape (he just finished pigging out and has a super full crop)


just noticed the border collie photo bomb!

 

[parkerchic-chic]

I understand how you and dan feel.  I have been there.  BUT, these threads are here to help us better the quality of chicken breeds.  If nobody cared or knew about what makes a certain breed of chicken what it is, then we would all end up with barnyard mixes!  I appreciate those "divas" as you put it because they know the standards for BLRW and I value their opinions.  I would love to have a BLRW as beautiful as their birds.  And I have seen many people post photos of birds that are suppose to be BLRW and they look nothing like what they should.  Dan, I think your hen is lovely.  The roo does have orangy coloring (at least that photo and the computer makes it look like it), but he is yours and I know you are proud of him.  People here are not trying to be rude, they are responding truthfully to your asked opinion!  Many people on this thread are very qualified to give you a correct opinion of your birds.  If you took your birds to a poultry show to be judged, and they said the same thing that the "divas" said, would you be mad or think those judges were rude?  No, you would probably look for a better chicken.  This is all these people are trying to do....show you what is good and what is bad about the chickens we have.  Maybe you could send another photo of your roo in better light so we can see him better. 

All that being said, that is why I love Easter Eggers!  They can look like whatever they grow up to look like because there are NO Standards to live up to! 

I agree. When I've given responses it's purely due to the fact I've learned through trial that not all blrw are created equal. My hatchery blrw are no where close to your chicken quality. I'm drooling after yours! I completely agree that you have so much more to work with then I do! Don't take to heart any comments. Take it as constructive critism! rejoin our thread and show the progress you make with your hatches!!! (Maybe you love in kansas and I can buy some?!

 

[7acres]

I understand how you and dan feel. I have been there. BUT, these threads are here to help us better the quality of chicken breeds. If nobody cared or knew about what makes a certain breed of chicken what it is, then we would all end up with barnyard mixes! I appreciate those "divas" as you put it because they know the standards for BLRW and I value their opinions. I would love to have a BLRW as beautiful as their birds. And I have seen many people post photos of birds that are suppose to be BLRW and they look nothing like what they should. Dan, I think your hen is lovely. The roo does have orangy coloring (at least that photo and the computer makes it look like it), but he is yours and I know you are proud of him. People here are not trying to be rude, they are responding truthfully to your asked opinion! Many people on this thread are very qualified to give you a correct opinion of your birds. If you took your birds to a poultry show to be judged, and they said the same thing that the "divas" said, would you be mad or think those judges were rude? No, you would probably look for a better chicken. This is all these people are trying to do....show you what is good and what is bad about the chickens we have. Maybe you could send another photo of your roo in better light so we can see him better.

All that being said, that is why I love Easter Eggers! They can look like whatever they grow up to look like because there are NO Standards to live up to!

It is evident that Flowerbh understands people as well as she understands chickens. A very well written and thoughtful response. I got into chickens as a hobby after I had to retire. At first I just wanted some pretty ones and some eggs. The Wyandottes, not the BLRW, were recommended to me by friends who had a rooster that came up on their porch and had coffee out of a saucer with them every morning. Being a novice, I looked at the types and settled on the BLRW chickens. I bought eggs from someone who said they came from a well recognized line. I looked on the internet at their pictures and liked them. Well, mine do not look like the ones one the site. They are pretty to me and I enjoy them, but decided to learn more about them and put mine on here to get comments. Didn't go well. But it was what I wanted to learn. I appreciate the comments and am turning from wanting backyard chickens to better backyard chickens. While some of the responders may be blunt sounding, I believe it is because of their expertise and desire to improve the line. I even pestered one poor lady with private messages and she finally stopped replying. But I am thankful for her imput and directions. As a result of the critique I have found a place with birds that are a work in progress, but much better birds quality wise than I have. Sometimes when our enthusiasm gets dampened by others we tend to withdraw. Hopefully those that are offended will not and maybe one day I can get some good birds from you. And blunt or not, when I put my pictures on from my better birds months down the road, I hope to get the same honest and straightforward critique. Not all artist come from the gallery with a smile after the show. Oh, and thanks Flowerbh, you inspired and uplifted me as well!

 

[mstrawn3]

Nicely put 7acres and Flowerbh!

It seems that most don't quite understand how hard it is to produce good quality BLRW's. We are all striving to produce better offspring than what their parents are. It requires hatching hundreds of chicks and only keeping a few as breeders. Everyone does have to start somewhere. My point is that lesser quality birds can produce some very nice birds if the genetics are there (genotype and phenotype). I haven't seen a perfect bird yet! Please don't be discouraged by honest opinions...

Father




Son

 

[delisha]

Can I get some opinions on this guy??? he is 7 weeks, he seems to have a good round shape (he just finished pigging out and has a super full crop)


just noticed the border collie photo bomb!

For such a young chick I would definatly like to have a bird like this. It is way too early to judge, however it is a good time to start judging your chicks. The potential is there and its pretty exciting to see so many good qualities so soon. Wide head, a nice arch starting on the neck, nice front, full crop and all, good color to the legs, they look wide and strong. I see a nice round body on side and top view, good wing placement and held at a good height, the tail looks like a center placement, and not wry at all. I see dark brown red. it will get darker, so that is why it is so good to see. Each feather looks like it is laced in a thin line of dark blue. Also really nice to see. You can ship him here....

 

[jmarie]

For such a young chick I would definatly like to have a bird like this. It is way too early to judge, however it is a good time to start judging your chicks. The potential is there and its pretty exciting to see so many good qualities so soon. Wide head, a nice arch starting on the neck, nice front, full crop and all, good color to the legs, they look wide and strong. I see a nice round body on side and top view, good wing placement and held at a good height, the tail looks like a center placement, and not wry at all. I see dark brown red. it will get darker, so that is why it is so good to see. Each feather looks like it is laced in a thin line of dark blue. Also really nice to see. You can ship him here....

I cant keep him because I am in town, hopefully he will take awhile to crow so I can keep him for a bit. Mainly I needed to see if he needs to go to freezer camp or if I should bring him to a swap. I bought him as a day old chick to keep my SFH day old chick company, unfortunately he got very manly very fast!!

 

[jockeyeba]

I understand how you and dan feel.  I have been there.  BUT, these threads are here to help us better the quality of chicken breeds.  If nobody cared or knew about what makes a certain breed of chicken what it is, then we would all end up with barnyard mixes!  I appreciate those "divas" as you put it because they know the standards for BLRW and I value their opinions.  I would love to have a BLRW as beautiful as their birds.  And I have seen many people post photos of birds that are suppose to be BLRW and they look nothing like what they should.  Dan, I think your hen is lovely.  The roo does have orangy coloring (at least that photo and the computer makes it look like it), but he is yours and I know you are proud of him.  People here are not trying to be rude, they are responding truthfully to your asked opinion!  Many people on this thread are very qualified to give you a correct opinion of your birds.  If you took your birds to a poultry show to be judged, and they said the same thing that the "divas" said, would you be mad or think those judges were rude?  No, you would probably look for a better chicken.  This is all these people are trying to do....show you what is good and what is bad about the chickens we have.  Maybe you could send another photo of your roo in better light so we can see him better. 

All that being said, that is why I love Easter Eggers!  They can look like whatever they grow up to look like because there are NO Standards to live up to! 

It is evident that Flowerbh understands people as well as she understands chickens.  A very well written and thoughtful response.  I got into chickens as a hobby after I had to retire.  At first I just wanted some pretty ones and some eggs.  The Wyandottes, not the BLRW, were recommended to me by friends who had a rooster that came up on their porch and had coffee out of a saucer with them every morning.  Being a novice, I looked at the types and settled on the BLRW chickens.  I bought eggs from someone who said they came from a well recognized line.  I looked on the internet at their pictures and liked them.  Well, mine do not look  like the ones one the site.  They are pretty to me and I enjoy them, but decided to learn more about them and put mine on here to get comments.  Didn't go well.  But it was what I wanted to learn.  I appreciate the comments and am turning from wanting backyard chickens to better backyard chickens.  While some of the responders may be blunt sounding, I believe it is because of their expertise and desire to improve the line.  I even pestered one poor lady with private messages and she finally stopped replying.  But I am thankful for her imput and directions.  As a result of the critique I have found a place with birds that are a work in progress, but much better birds quality wise than I have.  Sometimes when our enthusiasm gets dampened by others we tend to withdraw.  Hopefully those that are offended will not and maybe one day I can get some good birds from you. And blunt or not, when I put my pictures on from my better birds months down the road, I hope to get the same honest and straightforward critique.  Not all artist come from the gallery with a smile after the show.  Oh, and thanks Flowerbh, you inspired and uplifted me as well!

X2

 

[WillowChick]

Thank you guys so much for the advice about my mites. I really appreciate it! I bought some powder (It's not called sevin, but I think it's the same thing, I'm in Canada... it's for cattle etc and chickens) and says to use in litter and if necessary, on chickens at 4.5oz per chicken. I dusted their coop (but I'm going to completely gut and clean it today) and dusted all the chickens. I could still see mites the next day on the one who originally had them, so I dusted him again and all the mites were dead yesterday! I will replace the litter with new stuff with the dust in it and then I think I'll introduce them to my flock. I sure hope this is the last of it. I'll be sure to check bums often!

Willow