Need pic of a perfect rose comb

[rodriguezpoultry]

It honestly depends on the lines. Some lines of Wyandotte aren't finished filling out until 18 months. Some even longer. And production strains, hatchery stock, can be completely finished in 6 months.

Feathering in the hatchery stock is usually finished by the 6th month, at least they were when I had them. The birds bred for standard generally don't feather out fully until 9 months of age, and aren't filled out until about 12 months. But again, it's just a generalization.

(Conformation not confirmation. Confirmation is saying you confirm something to be correct. Conformation deals with the body type of an animal.)

 

[Jetlander]

Quote:
I see I did that twice, nice catch. It's a case of 'I know what I meant' The fingers move faster on the keyboard then the brain does. So much for being an English major in my college days! I will CONFORM

to your standards with a higher alertness to proper grammar (a set of actual or presumed prescriptive notions about correct use of a language) next time.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I CONFIRM your CONFORMATION to my standards!

hehehehehehhee...I really need more sleep..

 

[cybercat]

Jetlander I like you do not wish to show (too much work ect) but I also am working at breeding up to the SOP. A few suggestions one you will need the Standard of Perfection for Wyandottes. Reason the body type on them is a bit different than all other breeds being one of curves not angles. It will give you correct feather for each part of the body as well as tail set for both hens and roosters. It will show you in Detail photos of each area like combs, body width, feather ofr wing, tail, neck ect. It is better to have all that then just one piece when trying to breed up a breed from hatchery stock. Many breeders of show lines started with hatchery birds so it can be done.

You should go to the ALBC site and the Heritage Chicken page. There you will find articals about improve breeding for both production(egg laying) and body( for meat) also long term. They also have charts to help you do selection on your chickens. Since SLW is one of the Heritage Breed you might think of joining them to find others doing them same as you. The problem with show line stock it is breed not to lay much. Heritage lines keep the SOP plus keep the laying up. By joining either the ALBC or the SPPA you are in contact with those breeders doing heritage preservation instead of just show. There have there own breeder list that you can only get by being a member. 98.9 percent are not on BYC or any other web group even though they might have email.

SLW are a slow developing breed like all heritage chickens. So to cull right you will be doing it in stages. Remove the really bad fault birds first then wait for the others to grow more before culling again. You will NOT be able to cull for color till after first molt after one year of age. Also culling body shape should be done then also. You can do eye color and leg color plus comb as early as 4 months. Oh one other thing keep track of the weight also. You want to keep you better formed heavier chickens that are closer to SOP weight.

Good luck on your breeding adventure.

 

[Jetlander]

cybercat, thanks for all the information. I will definitely look into joining a Heritage club. It sounds like they are the 'go-to' people. I have already started culling those which have flaws, such as crooked toes, single combs etc. Again thank you, you have been a big help.