The Wyandotte Thread

[speckledhen]

First of all, they don't have the lacing as chicks. They look very streaky, not laced, for quite a while. Four weeks old is too young for much lacing, generally. It should improve, but I doubt will be as nice as Katy's SLWs! Those are awesome. I've had about six SLWs and 1 GLW myself, but mine were all hatchery stock.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Thanks....... I can't take credit for them. I got the eggs from a couple of different breeders. Now the ones I just hatched out from these I'll take some credit for.

The difference is hatchery vs. reputable breeder. I don't show and have no plans to so I'd never claim mine are show quality, but some of their ancestors have been shown. Hatcheries breed for quantity not quality.

I'm just a "regular farmer" too, but I like my chickens to look the way the breed is supposed to.

I thought I had some pictures of them a bit younger so I'll try and see if I can find them. I could tell from the get-go that these were finally going to be the SLWs that I had been looking for because of their lacing and body type from such a young age. I had seen pictures of the parent stock so I was pretty sure I would be happy with them.

 

[megcpat]

Quote:
Thanks....... I can't take credit for them. I got the eggs from a couple of different breeders. Now the ones I just hatched out from these I'll take some credit for.

The difference is hatchery vs. reputable breeder. I don't show and have no plans to so I'd never claim mine are show quality, but some of their ancestors have been shown. Hatcheries breed for quantity not quality.

I'm just a "regular farmer" too, but I like my chickens to look the way the breed is supposed to.

I thought I had some pictures of them a bit younger so I'll try and see if I can find them. I could tell from the get-go that these were finally going to be the SLWs that I had been looking for because of their lacing and body type from such a young age. I had seen pictures of the parent stock so I was pretty sure I would be happy with them.

Finding quality SLW is proving to be very difficult. That reputable breeding part is so important. I just answered a Craigs list add from a woman selling week old SLW chicks for 10 dollars each. I saw the price and thought, at last, a local breeder - no one would dare ask that kind of money for chicks unless they were something special...... after talking for a short while, I was getting some pretty strange vibes (don't ask so many question, just buy my birds). Decided to do some checking around and discovered that she ordered a huge batch of chicks from Murray McMurray and is trying to sell them at a profit. So......the hunt is back on for quality SLW

 

[Shelly_WNC]

Illia - I would love to see your Wyandotte chicks. I love all these chicks even if not 'show quality', they are all so unique and it's just fun seeing the differences. I included a byc webpage to take weekly pics of my babies so I can look back and see how they developed. This is so much fun.

I really love all of mine no matter what and when I bought them it was just for eggs and fun pets. Now - with the more learning I do on this breed I know that I will eventually want to be like Katy, where I just help to improve the breed to it's true beauty and markings. Not so much to show but to know I am contributing to the quality of the SLW.

So, I hope some quality breeders can contribute to this post too and provide mentoring on how I can improve my flock of SLW. This is the first breed of chickens I have ever raised and I feel committed to them. Katy I look forward to learning a lot from you and all the other Wyandotte breeders and lovers on BYC.

 

[DuckDuckMoo]

I let my guys out of the pen for the first time today. All they wanted to do was get back inside. HAHA!

Some BLR I am raising

 

[Shelly_WNC]

DuckDuckMoo - where they cold? what was the temp? I am so looking forward to letting mine outside for even 30 minutes or so , but I have to wait until atleast 60 degrees (hoping tomorrow). Mine are still use to 80 degrees in the brooder (trying to go down another 5 degrees this week).

 

[DuckDuckMoo]

I am in FL and I think it got up to 70 today. My GL are outside all the time(they are 4 months old) but I never let them out of the coop and pen. So I tried it today and let them in the yard. They didn't seam to enjoy it too much, they just kept trying to get back in. LOL. Good luck with the weather tomorrow. Send some pictures too.

 

[KelliV]

I just got a batch of BLRW, and Blue wyandotte's from Jesse (Paul's Poultry). He even gave me a little buff! I had purchased SLW from him in the past, but lost them to predators. They were beautiful birds. I have seen his kids show birds, and they are absolutely lovely. I can't wait to see my little "rugrats" grow.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Does anyone have pics of "teenagers"? I am trying to figure who are boys and girls and not sure how to do it with these birds? I have some that the tail seems to curve down alot (thinking those are girls) and the tails up are boys. But they don't have any saddle feathers or hackles to show sex yet.

Thank you!!

 

[Shelly_WNC]

Hi KelliV - congrats on your new chicks. I was looking at Paul's Poultry website just this morning ... I really want to meet him and order show high quality SLW (for breed improvement efforts).

Hope you post pics of your Wyandotte's development.