Hatchery SLW? (Silver Laced Wyandottes)

[marktoo]

This is Mollie! Pullets are 18 weeks when pictures were taken & are 22 weeks now. None are laying yet. Purchased through a feed store, they're came from Belt Hatchery.

Mollie in front, Millie is right behind, Gertrude to the left

Goldie to the left, Mollie center, Millie in front of Mollie & Gertrude to right. We got these as Day old chicks, handled them often until they made it clear they didn't want to be handled at which point we continued to hand feed them treats. They're not afraid of us, if I'm working in the run they're right there, but they don't like to be touched. Last night however, Gertrude, squatted & let me pet her momentarily, then it was business as usual. I should have grabbed a fist full of feathers, pinned her to the ground & slapped her around a bit. Maybe they would like us better!

Left to right Mollie, Millie, Gertrude & Goldie. I'm overdue to take more pics I'll get them up in a few days.

Very hot this day as evidenced by the droopy wings. They've done well in the California heat, seen temps up to 111F

 

[BoiseChik]

Marktoo, I'm no expert, but those are lovely Hatchery Wynadottes! I hope mine turns out that pretty. Do you have any earlier pictures, from like 9 or 10 weeks?

 

[marktoo]

Marktoo, I'm no expert, but those are lovely Hatchery Wynadottes! I hope mine turns out that pretty. Do you have any earlier pictures, from like 9 or 10 weeks?

Thanks! Being a layman also, I think they're rather striking. I'm sure an expert could peck em apart but conformation doesn't matter much since they won't be shown. I wish their personalities were closer to the standard though, they're not quite as friendly as I hoped. I have pictures many days through 35, week 6 & week 18 if those will help.

 

[BoiseChik]

Marktoo, Sure, if you can post a few earlier pics that would be great. I have a SLW that is almost 9 weeks and I'm hoping its a pullet, but it does have a pretty red comb and waddle. Just waiting to see and wondering what other people's pullets looked like at that age. Thx

 

[marktoo]

This is week six. Unfortunately the clearer shots are of the GLWs

 

[marnold]

I have a couple of four week old feed store SLW's and they're not looking so great. How do you find out where you can get a well bred SLW? I live in New Orleans, LA. The feed store's are the only source that I have heard of for chicks, other than online.

 

[BoiseChik]

Marktoo, Oh my gosh! I cannot believe how much your SLWs looked like mine when they were 6 weeks! I was hoping that was the case, because your birds turned out so well! Their transformation really is amazing! My SLW has very similar feathering to your birds (that mostly black feather with a thin white stripe down the center). I also notice that the close up pic of your SLW shows a pretty red comb/wattle. Your birds definitely turned out to be hens right? I will try to get some new pics on here tomorrow. My SLW, Lacey, is 9 weeks old today and is just starting to get the beautiful laced looking feathers on her chest. She also has a comb/wattle that sometimes looks reddish, and other times doesn't.

 

[BoiseChik]

Marnold, You may be surprised how well your SLWs turn out if you give them some time. I bought mine at about 4 weeks old, and I couldn't believe how homely it was when i got it home. Now, slowly but surely it is getting some pretty feathering at 9 weeks old. Check out the pics shared by Marktoo. An amazing transformation.

 

[marktoo]

Marnold...These are 28 day pics. Your ugly ducklings may turn out better than you think....besides beauty is only skin deep. Look for the beauty within! Are they healthy & do they lay well when they come of age...that's what matters. BoiseChic,,,No eggs or crowing yet but they all look like hens to me.

 

[BoiseChik]

Okay here are some pics of my SLW at 9 weeks old. Getting some nice feathering now with some 'lacing' on the chest, but still has a long way to go. When I first got it at 4 weeks old, it had no lacing at all. I'm interested to see how pretty this chick will look when full grown, but most importantly, is it a pullet. It has had 'a lot of comb & wattle" since I got it, but I have also read that this can be typical for SLW pullets and difficult to determine their gender at this age based on comb & wattle size and color. ;-} We'll see.


I would also like to know if it is normal for the comb/wattles to sometimes be red and sometimes not. It almost seems like this chick's color drains out sometimes.













Just for fun; here is a pic of the same chick at 4 weeks old. Yikes!