The Silver Laced Wyandotte Thread

[Wyandotte96]

Thanks,having a little bit of a fertility problem though.

 

[AraucanaAnne]

Any Silver Laced LF breeders in Washington State? I need a SQ cockerel or rooster for my Foley line hens, preferably within driving distance (I'm up north in Bellingham). Please PM me if you've got one. Thanks!

 

[dracoe19]

Thanks,having a little bit of a fertility problem though.

Sadly fertility problems are pretty common especially in the silvers. Is it still cold where you are? How much light is your boy getting? Age? You can try plucking some of their butt feathers to get better contact. Fertility is always better in the spring and summer. If fertility problem continues even through the summer I would consider finding a new cock bird. I know a lot of people try AI (artificial insemination) but if you have to help out that much I don't think it is something that one would want to pass on to future generations. I wish you the best! Keep us updated on his fertility.

 

[Wyandotte96]

He has a window right in his pen and I open the coop door for more light.I think he his 5 or 6 years old he was my first show bird.

 

[dracoe19]

Have you bred him before? If he hasn't had fertility problems before he may just be taking a little more time to "gear up" for breeding season. I think older cocks take a bit more time to become fertile when breeding season comes around.

 

[crazyhen]

May I butt in a moment,? Can you tell the male and female Sl WYN. apart at birth? My Br, Came to me yest. with 4 he said are hens at three days old. one is a very light color the others are darker. They are hatchery. Can anyone help me out here. This Will soon be a new breed for me . I will get some breeder stock later this spring and am curious as to whether I will be able to sex them early or not. Thanks for your time.

 

[dracoe19]

Sure! . At birth no. Wyandottes are not a sex linked breed so you need to wait for signs between a cockerel and a pullet. I can tell the difference at as early as 2 weeks. All the cockerels I have raised started getting bright red wattles and combs at two weeks. Pullets have the dark or non existent comb for quite a while. Do you have any pictures?

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

I don't know too much about hatchery SLW's, but a three week old good line of SLW's will tell the story. Check out my photo alblum and you will see a 3 week old SLW cockerel with a bright red rose comb and wattles showing. The pullets will have a smaller light pink comb and hardly no wattles. That is little "Sarge"

 

[crazyhen]

Thanks everyone.

 

[choptank330]

Heyy Everyone!! I know its still a little early but I wanted to get peoples opinion on these two chicks I got. They were born on 2-11. There is a lot of pictures.. Sorry