The Silver Laced Wyandotte Thread

[TarheelBirdy]

Could I please ask you knowledgeable SLW people for some sexing info? I have a buyer for the pullets in this group and could use some help since I am new to SLWs. Thanks, here they are, they are 4 WEEKS OLD:

#1


#2

#3


#4

 

[kian]

I'm not super knowledgable but I'd say #1 is a boy for sure. #4 may be too, but the comb doesn't look that red to me.

 

[dracoe19]

#2 Cockerel

#3 I think cockerel but would like a better picture for a positive answer.


#4 pullet

 

[BGMatt]

When working with the silver laced pattern, how soon can you give up on chicks that are "too dark"? I have some silver laced (Not wyandottes, but the other threads seem to not be as active) and they're still very dark at 6 weeks (approx the same amount of white showing as the third chick pictured above), is that old enough to know or should I wait til they go through a molt?

 

[heatherscooby77]

When working with the silver laced pattern, how soon can you give up on chicks that are "too dark"?  I have some silver laced (Not wyandottes, but the other threads seem to not be as active) and they're still very dark at 6 weeks (approx the same amount of white showing as the third chick pictured above), is that old enough to know or should I wait til they go through a molt?

Definately wait for at least 6 months! There pattern doesn't fully develop until 18-24 months. At 6 months you should have a good idea.

 

[heatherscooby77]

Could I please ask you knowledgeable SLW people for some sexing info? I have a buyer for the pullets in this group and could use some help since I am new to SLWs. Thanks, here they are, they are 4 WEEKS OLD: #1 This one is a cockerel. #2 This one looks like a cockerel at the comb, but the color pattern looks pullet. Its probably a slower growing boy. Comb is not good either. #3 This one also looks like a cockerel, with pullet coloring. It also has a single comb. Wattles are suspicious. I am going to go with pullet on this one. #4About the same as #3, just smaller wattles. Pullet

BTW these are guesses, just a bit of a disclaimer It could change in a week.

 

[dracoe19]

When working with the silver laced pattern, how soon can you give up on chicks that are "too dark"? I have some silver laced (Not wyandottes, but the other threads seem to not be as active) and they're still very dark at 6 weeks (approx the same amount of white showing as the third chick pictured above), is that old enough to know or should I wait til they go through a molt?

Hmmm... They might stay that dark. Do you have any pictures? I would honestly wait until they are 8-10 months old. That's when I start culling for color if they look like the guys below. If theyare pretty much black and show no hint of lacing they maybe a cull.

Here are some of mine at around 8-12 weeks old I think. Here is a dark cockerel. The lacing on his chest became spot on but his saddle was very dark.




3-4 months old I think

 

[BGMatt]

Thanks for the answers regarding color. I might take some pictures later. They are polish, but I didn't get a reply when I asked in polish thread a couple weeks ago, so figured I'd ask here since it's the same pattern.

 

[madscience]

Just picked up 4 chicks (3 day olds) from a local breeder. His rooster and hens were show quality. I am hoping for 4 hens.





Well, I ended up with 3 pullets and 1 cockerel from strait run, not bad odds. The first one pictured is the cockerel. I started suspecting he was a cockerel after only a week. I am kind of glad I ended up with 1 now though, as I love his personality.
A question for the experts, when do you start looking at type when deciding which ones will be your breeders? Mine are going on 6 weeks now. I have already noticed the largest pullet has a more open tail than the rest. Not sure if this is because she is a bit bigger already or not. If the tails have a pinched look to them at 5-6 weeks is there hope they can open up later? At what ages will I start to notice other good type traits like body shape, etc. I was able to see the breeders flock since he is local, and the hens had nice open tails and good round overall shape to them, gorgeous lacing, and the correct combs, etc.

 

[madscience]

Incidentally, the pullet with the nicest type so far is also the one with the best color/most white showing up. She is the one that starts out in the front in this video and almost immediately turns her butt to the camera. Just after she moves on, one of the smaller pullets turns her butt to the camera and you can see that her tail is more pinched looking. It's hard to tell from the video, but the nicer pullet is noticeably bigger in person .The cockerel has the most white of the bunch.