The Silver Laced Wyandotte Thread

[forgetful]

They are large. The breeder I originally got the line from suggested high protein feed as soon as they left the incubator, and I've followed her advice. They are very healthy and active. Your birds are beautiful! I love the form on the first girl. Im not sure how to solve the leg color issue either. I've heard diet can affect it, but my birds get the best I can find and their color is still average

 

[Clucksworth]

They are large. The breeder I originally got the line from suggested high protein feed as soon as they left the incubator, and I've followed her advice. They are very healthy and active. Your birds are beautiful! I love the form on the first girl. Im not sure how to solve the leg color issue either. I've heard diet can affect it, but my birds get the best I can find and their color is still average

Thanks! I've had to work really hard on type the last few years because the British birds over here tend to have rubbish type and good lacing. I grow mind up on quail/game pellets which are high in protein, so that they can feather more quickly.... otherwise they take forever! I usually take them off once fully feathered, so maybe I'll keep the batch I have now on game pellets and see if they come on any quicker. I feed my girls new grass and that doesn't seem to improve the leg colour either. And the yellow never seems to return to the same quality yellow they have as pullets which is a shame. Would be great if someone knew a secret to keeping them brighter

 

[forgetful]

I think you've done a great job. I also used a game bird feed for mine, and they are still on it. I think it really helped them with building frame. I've noticed them starting to round out a bit the past week, especially the pullets. I agree on learning some secrets!

 

[Fancychooklady]

I think you've done a great job. I also used a game bird feed for mine, and they are still on it. I think it really helped them with building frame. I've noticed them starting to round out a bit the past week, especially the pullets. I agree on learning some secrets!

Be careful not to overdue the protein. Game bird feeds are designed to grow birds out fast and hard for the table. If you are striving for long lived, healthy birds then Ideally your birds should be on a level of about 16%. High protein and excessive calcium will lead to overweight hens that won't lay very often, fatty liver , visceral gout and other health issues. It is difficult to get the ratio right, especially when you have Roos in the mix. Layer pellets are too high in calcium for Roos, they really need a feed not exceeding 2% .
Products like ' flock raiser ' are specifically designed for mixed flocks. Once your birds are laying, calcium carbonate ( oyster shell ) on free take in the coop, will take care of the hens extra requirements , without impacting the roo.

 

[forgetful]

Thank you for all the info. The package said it was also formulated for heritage breeds. Would you say that is misleading, or that they were more referring to heritage meat breeds? I want to say it is somewhere around 19%.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Thank you for all the info. The package said it was also formulated for heritage breeds. Would you say that is misleading, or that they were more referring to heritage meat breeds? I want to say it is somewhere around 19%.

Could be , our game bird finisher is 22% protein and my birds prefer it because it is a micro pellet. Mixed 50/50 with a 14% free range layer mix keeps the protein down and the birds happy.
I know of breeders that pump the birds full of high protein at a young age in their desire to get top dollar for them, without too much consideration as to the longevity of the bird. I've also read about many wonderfully healthy looking birds dropping dead. These heritage breeds should be long lived and I have GLW that are 8-9 years old and still laying.
Getting the ratios right can be tricky but well worth it , in the long run.

 

[forgetful]

I like that 50/50 idea. I think I'll invest in a bad of grower to mix with the game bird until they start laying, then switch the grower with layer. I want my birds to live long and well.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I like that 50/50 idea. I think I'll invest in a bad of grower to mix with the game bird until they start laying, then switch the grower with layer. I want my birds to live long and well.

Just be sure to check the calcium and protein levels. I would think that grower would be too high .
This link may help to clarify.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...ltry/nutritional_requirements_of_poultry.html

 

[sideWing]

Hi All

I'm raising my first batch of SLWs and I'm not real happy with what I have to start with. I wanted to get you folks opinions on what I should do moving forward.

I started with SLW from a breeder. I didn't take pictures of his SLWs but they were very round, very large and seemed to have good lacing. Am I judging my stock too early? They are about 5 months old. I know stork legs can grow out, but there are a few things I'm concerned about.

Is this cockerels back too long? Tail too high? Will his tail get higher as he matures? Does he have too little white at this age?




This is the darkest of my pullets, but the lacing is too thick. Can this change with the next set of feathers? Is her back too long? The lacing is pointed instead of rounded, is that set in stone or can the next set of feathers be more round? She is a bit mottled too, can that grow out?



I appreciate any feedback even if it's critical.

I have had great success with shipped eggs. Do you know where I can get eggs from SQ stock?

Thanks!

 

[Clucksworth]

Hi All

I'm raising my first batch of SLWs and I'm not real happy with what I have to start with. I wanted to get you folks opinions on what I should do moving forward.

I started with SLW from a breeder. I didn't take pictures of his SLWs but they were very round, very large and seemed to have good lacing. Am I judging my stock too early? They are about 5 months old. I know stork legs can grow out, but there are a few things I'm concerned about.

Is this cockerels back too long? Tail too high? Will his tail get higher as he matures? Does he have too little white at this age?




This is the darkest of my pullets, but the lacing is too thick. Can this change with the next set of feathers? Is her back too long? The lacing is pointed instead of rounded, is that set in stone or can the next set of feathers be more round? She is a bit mottled too, can that grow out?



I appreciate any feedback even if it's critical.

I have had great success with shipped eggs. Do you know where I can get eggs from SQ stock?

Thanks!

Your birds appear to have the correct heads and leg colour, but unfortunately they lack wyandotte type ( see the diagram below for what the correct wyandotte type should be). The long back, high tail isn't correct and depth of the chest is lacking in both the cockerel and hen and there tails are a too pinched ( both very common faults in SLW). In addition, the lacing on the cockerel appears to be incomplete ( from what I can see, a front shot would make it easier to see), although the pullet looks to have complete lacing. The pullet's lacing is a little thick, but it's easier to correct thick lacing than thin lacing.

Also, I don't think the cockerel is too white, instead what it seems is he lacks the complete lacing making him appear whiter than he should. I have included a picture of one of my cockerel's that is a little younger than him that has more white colouration.

Personally I think you'd be better off looking to purchase some stock from a good breeder like Jerry Foley ( if you're in the US). His birds are stunning and the type and lacing is fantastic, I don't know of many breeders with birds superior to his. However with some hard work you could probably get the birds looking better a few generations down the line as they're not bad to start with

Hope this has helped, feel free to ask more questions