The Wyandotte Thread

[BlackPanther]

Thank you all for the information! Based off what I have heard, I think I will hold off on these -- I may want to get into them some time in the future. I appreciate it.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: The single comb on a Wyandotte is a fault. In the breeding for Wyandotte, there is some single comb history. Some breeders have had a rare single comb pop up but the bird is culled. Rosecomb is dominant over single comb so for a single comb to be present, both parents would have had a recessive gene for single comb. This is why breeding parents to offspring or siblings must be closely monitored .

I think that would be a DQ in any breed.. the wrong comb is a DQ

 

[DMRippy]

Question to the experienced breeders out there even the one READING the thread in silence

Is there any correlation to age and fertility? I ask because the conversation came up on another thread about a heritage breed. The roos didn't have good fertility till they were about a year old.... is that the same with Wyandottes?

BTW, the new roo.... his eggs are not fertile either..... so made me think..... are they really OLD enough? They are maybe 10 months old.

 

[CottonGinWaste]

Question to the experienced breeders out there even the one READING the thread in silence

Is there any correlation to age and fertility? I ask because the conversation came up on another thread about a heritage breed. The roos didn't have good fertility till they were about a year old.... is that the same with Wyandottes?

BTW, the new roo.... his eggs are not fertile either..... so made me think..... are they really OLD enough? They are maybe 10 months old.

I wonder also. My BCM cockerel had an excellent fertility rate with our 1st hatch from him, out of 3 pullets and 8 eggs we hatched 7. He was 7 months old then. Since then, its been 1 or 2 out of 12 eggs the last 2 clutches. He's now 10 1/2 months old. Does the #hours light per day affect fertility as it does laying? We're in the deep South so its not that bad but we're not using artificial lights and our pullets are still laying.

 

[Texasmja]

Question to the experienced breeders out there even the one READING the thread in silence

Is there any correlation to age and fertility? I ask because the conversation came up on another thread about a heritage breed. The roos didn't have good fertility till they were about a year old.... is that the same with Wyandottes?

BTW, the new roo.... his eggs are not fertile either..... so made me think..... are they really OLD enough? They are maybe 10 months old.

I have bred 4 Wyandotte cockerels starting at 6 months of age, three had 100% fertility with all the eggs I set, one had a fertility of about 50%. The SLW that had the 50% until he was 1 yr and his fertility never got any better, I sold him.

 

[Texasmja]

I think that would be a DQ in any breed.. the wrong comb is a DQ

When I went to show in January here, there was a hen DQ for an inverted comb.

 

[Texasmja]

I wonder also. My BCM cockerel had an excellent fertility rate with our 1st hatch from him, out of 3 pullets and 8 eggs we hatched 7. He was 7 months old then. Since then, its been 1 or 2 out of 12 eggs the last 2 clutches. He's now 10 1/2 months old. Does the #hours light per day affect fertility as it does laying? We're in the deep South so its not that bad but we're not using artificial lights and our pullets are still laying.

I have read that the fertility is lower during the winter months in cocks. Maybe your cockerel has a favorite that he only likes to breed...or maybe there are to many hens for him to cover. It could be many things, just a process of elimination.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
WOW is that right? should that have been points off? I know side sprigs are DQ's too.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I never had that problem with my Marans. I had one that was a splash and I don't think I ever got 1 fertile egg from him, but my others have had GREAT fertility at a young age.

 

[WyandotteTX]

Yes you will have diminished fertility in the winter months because of the cold and mainly because of the lack of natural sunlight. Older male birds will have a diminished capability while younger males should be okay to use in the winter months. I have had older males 2-5 years of age not become fertile til March because of the cold. It is not always the case but it does happen, especially with LF.
John