Hen Identification Help

[Shelz]

Hey everybody....new to chicken keeping here...Im getting my birds soon, but I was wondering if anybody knows what kind of hen this is? She belongs to a friend of mine but I would like to get one like her. Shes about 5 months old I think,

 

[donrae]

The color is silver laced and the most common breed they come in is a wyandotte. Wyandottes as a breed should have a rose comb and this hen has a straight comb, something not unheard of in hatchery birds. The comb makes no difference to most back yard chicken keepers, does not affect egg laying or temperment, etc. They're a great breed, usually docile and good with people, good layers.

 

[questions543]

The color is silver laced and the most common breed they come in is a wyandotte. Wyandottes as a breed should have a rose comb and this hen has a straight comb, something not unheard of in hatchery birds. The comb makes no difference to most back yard chicken keepers, does not affect egg laying or temperment, etc. They're a great breed, usually docile and good with people, good layers.

yup x2 if your not wanting to show/breed them then they are great... Might be a problem in cold weather though 'cause of the large single comb

 

[Shelz]

So because she has a different type of comb....is she a mixed breed? Genetic flaw?

 

[debid]

So because she has a different type of comb....is she a mixed breed? Genetic flaw?

That's right. Either she's mixed or has the wrong comb because hatcheries are interested in good production and less careful about maintaining the standards than breeders. But if you want one like her, order a silver laced Wyandotte. The only thing likely to be different is the comb.

 

[donrae]

We really can't see enought of the bird to tell if she's mixed or not. But going by the nice lacing--it's not perfect but it is crisp, not muddy--I'll bet she's a pure hatchery bird. There's this thing with rose combs (which wyandottes are supposed to have) being linked to lower fertility rates, so hatcheries cross in a straight combed bird every so often to keep fertility up, it's not unheard of to get a straight combed bird from a hatchery. It only really matters if you're wanting to show or seriously breed wyandottes, in which case you wouldn't be starting with hatchery stock anyway.

 

[Shelz]

Excellant info all of you,,,,Thanks so much...There is much for me to learn about chickens