Wyandotte Hen or Roo?

[kellybea73]

I have a 10 week old Blue Laced Red Wyandotte. I am thinking girl because I have 2 gold laced wyandotte that are only 8 weeks that already have pink/red comb and waddle's popping up and my blue does not.

Blue




8 week old Gold




I have 14 chicks and can only keep 2 Roo's so I want to find out for sure soon as I can so I can pass them on before I get anymore attached.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

If you are keeping the roosters for breeding, I would not suggest keeping the GLW (yes, they both appear to be male) as they have the incorrect comb type for their breed (wyandottes should have a rose comb, these birds have single combs) and that is not a trait you want to continue breeding.

What age are the other birds in the last shot? There are at least two that would seem to be cockerels (in addition to the GLW) depending on their age.

 

[junebuggena]

If you are keeping the roosters for breeding, I would not suggest keeping the GLW (yes, they both appear to be male) as they have the incorrect comb type for their breed (wyandottes should have a rose comb, these birds have single combs) and that is not a trait you want to continue breeding.

What age are the other birds in the last shot? There are at least two that would seem to be cockerels (in addition to the GLW) depending on their age.

x2
Your blue laced is a pullet, but she also has an incorrect comb type. None of your Wyandottes are good breeding candidates. If you just wanted some pretty chickens, they are fine.

 

[kellybea73]

The 3 Ancona's, 3 RIR, Blue Marans and Blue Wyandotte are 10 weeks and the others are 8 weeks old (3 EE, 2 GLW, Black Marans).

So what does it mean that they have the wrong comb? I got my chicks from a local place and all her chickens breeds are kept in separate coop's.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The 3 Ancona's, 3 RIR, Blue Marans and Blue Wyandotte are 10 weeks and the others are 8 weeks old (3 EE, 2 GLW, Black Marans).

So what does it mean that they have the wrong comb? I got my chicks from a local place and all her chickens breeds are kept in separate coop's.

The breed standard is for a Wyandotte to have a rose comb - single combs do pop up now and then, but breeders who are working to produce birds that meet the standard would not continue to breed birds producing such combed chicks or the chicks themselves.

The Ancona at the back is a cockerel, one of the reds (not true RIR) is also looking very cockerelish (the one at the front)

 

[kellybea73]

So I am probably better off buying from a hatchery online if I want a true breed? I started out wanting chickens just for the eggs, but I am really loving having them and learning about them. I just started keeping a notebook so I can learn more about each breed that I have. Thanks for the information.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

So I am probably better off buying from a hatchery online if I want a true breed? I started out wanting chickens just for the eggs, but I am really loving having them and learning about them. I just started keeping a notebook so I can learn more about each breed that I have. Thanks for the information.

Not really - you are just (if not more) likely to receive birds that don't meet the standard of a given breed by sourcing from hatchery stock over a good breeder. If you want well bred birds your best bet is to work with a breeder producing the type of birds you wish to have in your flock (by type I mean the quality of bird,not the breeds). The comb thing is something that happens - it's just a matter of dominant/recessive genetics which is why maintaining good breeding stock is important and why not breeding birds that do turn out with undesirable characteristics is key to producing the type of bird you want.
If your primary goal is egg production, then a bird that doesn't adhere to the breed standard is not a big deal - but it does sound like you are becoming interested in pursuing a deeper understanding and pursuit of this, so that is where the selection would be important.

 

[junebuggena]

Incorrect comb types pop up in hatchery birds all the time. If you want good examples of the breed, find a good breeder that breeds to the standard and actively shows their birds. A good breeder would not breed any bird that doesn't meet standard or breed birds that produce chicks with faults. If you are serious about having quality birds that meet standard, you need to educate yourself. Learn what the breed standard is, and what a disqualifying feature is for that breed.

 

[kellybea73]

Here are my Ancona's. I was pretty sure I had one cockerel and 2 pullet's based on the combs.

 

[junebuggena]

Here are my Ancona's. I was pretty sure I had one cockerel and 2 pullet's based on the combs.
The one up front is a cockerel. The Production Red is also a cockerel with those dark red patches.

And this one is a cockerel.