The Wyandotte Thread

[Farmer Viola]

I have a question about combs. Is the standard looking for a smooth comb like the first set of pics or a "bumpy" comb like in the second set of pics. Again just learning, Thanks in advance for the assistance!


Smooth comb


Bumpy comb

it should be bumpy, but it should not have extra leaders/spikes growing off in different directions from the comb, or on the back. I like this guy's comb!

there are a few bumps on the first comb as well, but it has more of a thumbprint shape or rounded hollow center, which is not desirable. also no real leader yet, but it could still grow in (he is young?)

this is from the wyandotte breed book:

Rose Comb.—A low. solid comb, the upper surface free from hollow center and covered with small rounded points. This comb terminates in a well-developed spike which turns downward on Wyandottes. (See figure 3.)

source: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL23362546M/The_Wyandotte_standard_and_breed_book

Edited to add:
although the smooth comb hollow center is not desirable, it is not a DQ it is just points off. so it can still be worked with if other areas are strong.
---- Roughness, irregularity, hollow center, over-size and ill-shape in comb, each defect...... 1.5 to 2 points deduction
---- Coarse texture of comb...... 0.5 to 1 point deduction
---- More than one spike in rear of comb, each...... 1 point deduction

 

[Farmer Viola]

I finally got some pics of her. It looks like some of the feathers may have fallen out on their own. Please tell me what you think. Dose she have enough quality to test breed her? I'm still learning and it's hard to visualize what a correct bird looks like, especially when comparing pics to live birds.

everyone has to start somewhere. so depending on what genetic stock you get, they are going to have some issue somewhere you need to breed for or against.. in your case it may be leg feathers. even people who have spent years developing their lines, only get that 'perfect' bird every 1 in 500 or maybe 1,000, and they do pop hundreds of chicks a year. so if you have decent stock, but with a few flaws, you can breed those traits out over time with dedication.

I think she has potential but is still too young.. I can't see enough roundness in the butt and chest but she should grow into it, where is she from? and how old?

 

[Fancychooklady]

I have a question about combs. Is the standard looking for a smooth comb like the first set of pics or a "bumpy" comb like in the second set of pics. Again just learning, Thanks in advance for the assistance! Smooth comb Bumpy comb

This link should help. http://www.wyandottebreedersofamerica.net/wyandottestandard.htm

 

[CashandTracy]

it should be bumpy, but it should not have extra leaders/spikes growing off in different directions from the comb, or on the back. I like this guy's comb!

there are a few bumps on the first comb as well, but it has more of a thumbprint shape or rounded hollow center, which is not desirable. also no real leader yet, but it could still grow in (he is young?)

this is from the wyandotte breed book:

Rose Comb.—A low. solid comb, the upper surface free from hollow center and covered with small rounded points. This comb terminates in a well-developed spike which turns downward on Wyandottes. (See figure 3.)

source: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL23362546M/The_Wyandotte_standard_and_breed_book

Edited to add:
although the smooth comb hollow center is not desirable, it is not a DQ it is just points off. so it can still be worked with if other areas are strong.
---- Roughness, irregularity, hollow center, over-size and ill-shape in comb, each defect...... 1.5 to 2 points deduction
---- Coarse texture of comb...... 0.5 to 1 point deduction
---- More than one spike in rear of comb, each...... 1 point deduction

They are both 9 month old pullets. Thank you so much!

everyone has to start somewhere. so depending on what genetic stock you get, they are going to have some issue somewhere you need to breed for or against.. in your case it may be leg feathers. even people who have spent years developing their lines, only get that 'perfect' bird every 1 in 500 or maybe 1,000, and they do pop hundreds of chicks a year. so if you have decent stock, but with a few flaws, you can breed those traits out over time with dedication.

I think she has potential but is still too young.. I can't see enough roundness in the butt and chest but she should grow into it, where is she from? and how old?

She is from Max Strawn his line goes back to Foley birds. She is still very young only 14 weeks old. I only got 4 boys out of the 20 chicks I got from him so I need to pick the best girls for them. I plan on getting more chicks in the spring to give me more to chose from. I know it will take me a while to get my breeder flock together but I'm trying to start with the best I can afford.

Thank you for the link fancychooklady!

 

[Farmer Viola]

They are both 9 month old pullets. Thank you so much!

She is from Max Strawn his line goes back to Foley birds. She is still very young only 14 weeks old. I only got 4 boys out of the 20 chicks I got from him so I need to pick the best girls for them. I plan on getting more chicks in the spring to give me more to chose from. I know it will take me a while to get my breeder flock together but I'm trying to start with the best I can afford.

Thank you for the link fancychooklady!

oh sorry, I don't know why I assumed they were males. I have a lot of cockerels right now, males on the brain I guess.

I thought she looked similar to one of mine, who is also from foley originally, bred by chickenhill. it is actually one I can't keep because of a beak problem. but her color and body looks identical to your pullet. the blue female I am going to breed has wider and lighter blue lacing than the twin to yours. if you have THAT many females, you might well have better to choose from... I am going to start the top tier of my breeding program with 1 female, 1 male.. any more than that will give me a headache.

 

[CashandTracy]

oh sorry, I don't know why I assumed they were males. I have a lot of cockerels right now, males on the brain I guess.

I thought she looked similar to one of mine, who is also from foley originally, bred by chickenhill. it is actually one I can't keep because of a beak problem. but her color and body looks identical to your pullet. the blue female I am going to breed has wider and lighter blue lacing than the twin to yours. if you have THAT many females, you might well have better to choose from... I am going to start the top tier of my breeding program with 1 female, 1 male.. any more than that will give me a headache.

That's ok, with only head pics it's hard to tell if it is a young male or an older female.

She is not my favorite girl, she is one of the nicer ones, but not the best. My son is taking my favorite to fair, hopefully she'll do well. The 4-H poultry leader is in love with my blues and wants some for layers and I was thinking of selling her that one but I didn't want to give up a potential breeder. I'll get pics of my favorite and a couple others to compare.

 

[Farmer Viola]

That's ok, with only head pics it's hard to tell if it is a young male or an older female.

She is not my favorite girl, she is one of the nicer ones, but not the best. My son is taking my favorite to fair, hopefully she'll do well. The 4-H poultry leader is in love with my blues and wants some for layers and I was thinking of selling her that one but I didn't want to give up a potential breeder. I'll get pics of my favorite and a couple others to compare.

awesome, its really nice to have options like that. I guess you will just have to compare them against each other (what is worse than leg feather DQ? within your flock, etc) that's how I would decide. she's still too young to judge body type fairly though.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: Let her grow up and see. She does not have the wyandotte look yet. I know with mine they can get that shape later. She is nice and dark, and good lacing. Type may or may not come later.

 

[Junibutt]

I am pretty sure it has been posted before, but would like to hear it first hand again from the experts here:

There is a farm I just visited and the farm owner had a gorgeous Silver Laced Wyandotte rooster and an equally gorgeous Blue Laced Red Wyandotte hen purchased directly from Foley. The hen was hatching chicks while I was there and 11 of the 12 eggs had hatched already.

So what would be the results of this cross? I tried to use the chicken calculator but the color options for Silver Laced were confusing, for example:

Black patterned silver laced
Silver Laced Black Tail
Silver Laced Sebright

Obviously I am interested in getting these chicks and also maybe experiment with them a bit, but want to make an informed decision.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I just have to ask , why would you cross a BLRW with anything? After all the time it takes to get a good quality bird, why would you want to undo that? My guess is that you would get smuttiness in the lacing and lose the mahogany . Just a guess.