The Wyandotte Thread

[cedar post]

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I know it's at least that cold here. I always put a lamp in with them but sometimes it seems like the move will slow or stop their growth for awhile. One or two will keep growing and the others have to catch up. Our weather can play a big role in how fast things move along here. But the last few weeks have been beautiful we even hit 60 and now 40's for highs. Mike

 

[Shelly_WNC]

Can anyone tell me why my SLW chicks look so different? I have 11 SLW's and 7 look mostly black with the silver neck feathers coming in and 4 have a lot of white. At 9 days the 7 had silver fuzzy neck/breast and the 4 had white fuzzy neck/breasts.

These pictures are at 31 days old:

The blacker ones just barely have a white line thru feathers.

The other 4 have a lot of white, but no definite lacing

 

[Katy]

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I am assuming that you got your SLW from a hatchery/feedstore. Hatcheries breed for quantity, not quality. A reputable breeder only breeds his/her best birds and is constantly working to maintain the standard of the breed such as correct lacing and body type. A hatchery doesn't cull to the standards and only cares about the number of birds they hatch out so they can fill their orders.

 

[kassy68]

beautiful birds everyone.. Heres my project.. Im starting the first leg of lavender laced wyandottes. Using my lav orp roo in with a couple hatchery birds..which is fine to start the coloring. I am in Michigan and am starting the hunt for almost show quality or show quality girls. I two am afraid of production drop.. I don't need an egg a day, but every other would be nice. If anyone has any eggs from nice birds, please send me a pm. Or if in michigan I'd be intrested in a couple laying now so I can have even a better start. I should probably be watching for roo .. Havent figured out exactly which way I'll breed them back.. I know Im needing a nice slw roo also to put back into the lav hens to improve lacing.

 

[Shelly_WNC]

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Actually got them from a local NC farmer, he has been raising these chickens since his father farmed. But I think he was more interested in eggs then show quality.

So ... then would you say these do NOT look like SLW's? or if they are SLW's they don't look normal for 4.5 weeks old? ... I was thinking that the blacks might be pullets and the whiter ones might be roos (but I know every one mentions you can't tell gender by sex).

 

[cedar post]

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Sounds like a fun project. It may take you awhile to see results. Good luck

 

[Katy]

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Actually got them from a local NC farmer, he has been raising these chickens since his father farmed. But I think he was more interested in eggs then show quality.

So ... then would you say these do NOT look like SLW's? or if they are SLW's they don't look normal for 4.5 weeks old? ... I was thinking that the blacks might be pullets and the whiter ones might be roos (but I know every one mentions you can't tell gender by sex).

I would bet his dad probably got his original birds from a hatchery. They look like hatchery quality birds.....they will probably lay you lots of good eggs, but I doubt they'll look much like they're supposed to. Some of their lacing will probably improve somewhat, but I don't think it will probably be what you were hoping for.

These are a couple of pictures of mine at about 6 weeks...not too much older than yours. Some where in my many picture folders I've got pictures of some of mine at a month old, but I can't find them....I probably didn't put them in the SLW folder

Here's a couple of pictures of mine at about 6 weeks...not too much older than yours

 

[chickenlady81]

Very Pretty Katy!!!

 

[Shelly_WNC]

I absolutely love your birds Katy!!! All of them!!! I love your SLW's and BLRW , where did you get your quality stock from?

I will keep any pullets from this flock for egg layers only, but I really want to order some better quality breeding pairs from Jesse, Jerry or other quality breeders of SLW's. There really are attractive when breed for quality. I have been reading up on chick genetics - now I can see how every one gets 'hooked' on raising chicks , what an exciting and fun hobby.

I need to give Jesse a call but I am not finished with my coop for the 'egg layers' and now I need to build another coop for the quality chicks , and I haven't even begun on the run ... ha ha ha. I am thinking I want an adult pair of quality SLW's to breed, opposed to one day olds. Mainly because I am very interested in 'hatching', after reading all the excitement in the posts on BYC from every one hatching. WOW I can see how the addiction creeps in

 

[Katy]

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Thanks. My SLWs came from Backwoods poultry and Mrs. Turbo & turbo(foley's waterfowl). Some of my original BLRWs are also from the foley's plus some other breeders.