The Wyandotte Thread

[Ontario chick]

They should have been on "Grower" after about 6-8 weeks of chick starter.

At this age they can go either on "Grower" or on "Layer ration".
They will do fine on grower until and even after they start laying, like "oldhen" pointed out just add oyster shell.
Don't worry too much about it, chickens laid eggs way before there were feed mills.

 

[Sylvester017]

I have 4 SLW (3 hens, and a rooster). They are about 4-5 months old now, and I just ran out of the chick start that they have been eating sense I brought them home at 5 weeks. I was told that I wouldn't want to eat the eggs they lay, if they were still eating the chick food. So my question is, is it ok to go ahead to switch them to regular feed now? If so what kind? My flock is not laying yet, but with only 4, the feed last me a while, sense they also get to free range as they wish; so whichever bag of feed I buy next (chickstart, or regular) will more then likely last until they do start to lay. Thanks for any and all advice! Also, my rooster still hasn't started to crow. Not that I'm complaining, but when should I expect this to start (he was supposed to be a pullet, and by the time I realized he wasn't, I didn't have the heart to get rid of him).

Everyone does something different feeding their chickens. It's ok to feed left-over grower feed to hens and I made sure they had free-will oyster shell which is missing in grower feed. Medicated feed is when you don't want to eat their eggs. I only have 4 free-range hens too and don't really need a 20# or 40# bag of organic layer feed so I buy smaller 5# quantities that my feed store is willing to bag for me and I keep most of it refrigerated to keep vermin from hatching in the feed. Free-range chickens eat less feed because of all the grass and bugs they find. Anytime past 6 or 7 months is ok to start layer feed. The chickens will ignore the oyster shell in it if they are not ready to lay yet. I always have a small container of free-will oyster shell attached to the run since some hens eat a lot of oyster shell while some don't. They will eat whatever nutrition their body needs. 5# of organic layer Scratch and Peck feed lasts anywhere from 1 to 2 months depending on the chickens' appetites and I keep 2 lbs in a glass jar with the rest refrigerated until it's time to refill the jar. I also have a 3-grain mix of oat groats, wheat kernels, and rye grain, that I offer in a small free-will container. Chickens don't eat a lot of any one food and mine like to eat lightly but enjoy a variety of little containers of different foods. Then I have a chicken treadle feeder that has wild bird seed mix that only the chickens can access but not the little hungry wild birds. We all do whatever works for our situation. I hope your roo stays sweet. Sometimes in Spring during mating season they can get a bit offensive.

I'm not particularly fond of SLW temperaments as they tend to dominate in a mixed breed flock but the fact that your flock are all SLW's makes it nice as they are on equal terms with each other and they are beautiful birds! Marans are another heavy breed that didn't work in our gentle breeds flock but do well in their own breed flock of peers.

 

[towen91]

These are my first chickens ever. I felt that the Wyandotte's would be best for me because I live in Kentucky where we have harsh winters, and summers. Apparently the Wyandotte's and hardy to both, and they are supposed to be good layers and mothers if I ever decided to hatch any of my own. As of now, I don't handle them really at all. I pet one of them because she seems to like it, but mostly I just enjoy watching them do their little chicken thing. They run to me when I call them, and they all get along with my dogs who run around in the back yard with them just fine. The rooster just seems to have a look in his eye haha. He hasn't tried anything yet, and to be honest; my hen that likes to be patted, is pretty much the boss. I would hate to have to get rid of him, just because of raised him and all that. But I'm also starting to see that they require quite a bit more care then hens ( trimming their Spurs, making sure the ratio is ok if I hatch anymore, all that). What have your alls experiences been like with Wyandotte roosters. SLW in particular.

 

[Sylvester017]

These are my first chickens ever. I felt that the Wyandotte's would be best for me because I live in Kentucky where we have harsh winters, and summers. Apparently the Wyandotte's and hardy to both, and they are supposed to be good layers and mothers if I ever decided to hatch any of my own. As of now, I don't handle them really at all. I pet one of them because she seems to like it, but mostly I just enjoy watching them do their little chicken thing. They run to me when I call them, and they all get along with my dogs who run around in the back yard with them just fine. The rooster just seems to have a look in his eye haha. He hasn't tried anything yet, and to be honest; my hen that likes to be patted, is pretty much the boss. I would hate to have to get rid of him, just because of raised him and all that. But I'm also starting to see that they require quite a bit more care then hens ( trimming their Spurs, making sure the ratio is ok if I hatch anymore, all that). What have your alls experiences been like with Wyandotte roosters. SLW in particular.

It's just my personal preference but I think you did right by getting all the same breed. One of the most gorgeous laced breeds around IMO. I just couldn't add one to my gentles flock because Wyans can get bossy with timid breeds but you did it so right getting all one breed. I think roos can be sweeter than hens - I had 2 unexpected cockerels that I loved but had to re-home because we aren't zoned for roos. One owner who rescued a cockerel from us sends us an update photo of him every month! Some roos in some breeds can be nasty year-round and then there are roos that are only assertive during Spring mating frenzy. You just never know so give your boy a chance before you decide to re-home him - your juvies are still young. Many breeders won't tolerate aggressive roos and send them to the stew pot and will only keep the better tempered roos for breeding stock. You know your birds and will know best as to who will stay or who needs to go. Good luck with your SLWs in KY!! - Smiles

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

You have some very stunning birds.

I have some questions on color/lacing and since the BLRW thread isn't the busiest, I thought I'd ask here. Forgive the fermented feed feathers, they can get kind of messy. These birds are about 4 months.

Is this lacing too thin?


Lacing too thick?


Is this mossy?




What about these birds? In general, how are they from what you can see in the pic?


Any info or criticism is much appreciated. Thanks, guys.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

What about these birds? In general, how are they from what you can see in the pic? Any info or criticism is much appreciated. Thanks, guys.

I'm not an expert in BLRWs by any means however when it comes to uploading photos so people can critique your birds please try for a close up or a side on view. Otherwise it is very hard for people to offer constructive criticism because you can't discern much from the photo. If the photo isn't side on it's impossible to tell what the type of the bird is like, since it's not a close up, it's hard to look at the quality of the lacing, etc. What I can tell from your photo is that the tail appear to be very nicely spread in the left hen!

 

[Danielledrab]

I got my Wyndottes yesterday and am in love any info on this breed? I'm new to Wyndottes but they are doing great and seemed to be settled with my Pekins

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

I'm not an expert in BLRWs by any means however when it comes to uploading photos so people can critique your birds please try for a close up or a side on view. Otherwise it is very hard for people to offer constructive criticism because you can't discern much from the photo. If the photo isn't side on it's impossible to tell what the type of the bird is like, since it's not a close up, it's hard to look at the quality of the lacing, etc.

What I can tell from your photo is that the tail appear to be very nicely spread in the left hen!

Thanks. I was hoping to get info on those tails.

That left hen is a beauty.

What about the other pics, mainly the mossy question, is that mossy, or does mossy mean something else?

 

[sideWing]

You have some very stunning birds.

I have some questions on color/lacing and since the BLRW thread isn't the busiest, I thought I'd ask here. Forgive the fermented feed feathers, they can get kind of messy. These birds are about 4 months.

Is this lacing too thin?


Lacing too thick?

You will want to breed away from the barring that is going on down the middle of the feathers if you can.

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

You will want to breed away from the barring that is going on down the middle of the feathers if you can.

sideWing!

Thought I might.

Thanks.