This complete blue laced red wyandotte chicken guide is for everyone curious about this chicken breed. From history to care guide, we will cover all essential aspects of blue-laced red wyandotte chickens.
What is a Blue Laced Red Wyandotte?
Blue-laced red wyandotte chickens were bred to meet the demands of a particular market segment for a dual purpose; hen that lays eggs successfully and is also suitable for consumption as meat. This type of chicken is trendy in the United States because of its uniqueness.
Where Did They Come From?
You might know a thing or two about the Wyandotte breed, but it is highly possible that you don’t know anything about blue-laced red wyandotte chickens. The reason is probably that the United States does not officially accept blue-laced wyandottes due to a conflict with their origin.
Wyandottes have existed since the 1800s, and many breeders have bred different variants, such as black, silver-laced, gold-laced, partridge, and more.
However, it is still not clear when the blue-laced variants really existed. Therefore, there are still arguments about accepting blue-laced as an official variant of wyandottes in the United States.
But, it is evident that blue-laced red wyandottes came from America, not from the UK, as some claim.
Are They Great for Egg Production?
The blue-laced red wyandotte hen was specifically bred to produce large, healthy eggs. Low reproductive rates have been an issue for certain Wyandottes hens. Because of this, the population of these cute birds hasn’t exploded.
The rose comb gene in all Wyandottes plays a role in this trait. The gene is responsible for the chickens’ beautiful, fluffy feathers but is also related to the birds’ low fertility.
Blue-Laced Red Wyandotte Profile
To help you learn more about the distinct qualities of blue-laced red wyandotte chickens, here is a complete profile from their color and appearance to size and weight.
Color
Wyandottes have feathers that are mostly reddish-brown, and there is a faint line of blue that borders each feather. This will give the chicken a magnificent patterned and speckled appearance across the majority of its breast and shoulders, giving it the illusion of being covered in spots and patterns.
However, there will be some feathers that are simply red. The feathers ought to have a satisfactory amount of fluff and be lustrous and tidily arranged.
Appearance
Blue-laced red wyandotte chickens change appearance once, from early stages to their mature form.
- Chick: Blue-laced red wyandotte chicks are typically yellow in color and have a fluffy appearance, similar to other types of chicks.
- When they’re young, it’s hard to identify male from female chickens. Changes may only become seen after the eight-week mark.
- Adult: Wyandottes mature into huge, spherical chickens with a little red comb and wattles. The birds’ legs and beaks are both a pale yellow, while their bodies are a deeper brown. Though they appear to be quite small, their legs are more than capable of bearing the bird.
Size and Weight
The Wyandotte breed consistently produces huge chickens across all of its variants. Hens should weigh around 3 kilograms, while roosters should be closer to 4 kilograms. They look even bigger thanks to all of their fluffy feathers.
Breed Standard
Since this variation of Wyandotte is not recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA), there is currently no defined breed standard. However, for breeders, blue-laced red wyandottes should remain the same dimensions and shape as normal Wyandottes but will have a unique color pattern.
Blue-Laced Red Wyandotte Temperament
When raised around people, blue-laced red wyandottes become exceptionally pleasant companion chickens. They are generally calm and relaxed birds that are great for farms with youngsters running around. Some of them grow to be so amiable that if a treat is presented, they will leap up onto their masters’ laps.
Broodiness
Despite their lack of broodiness, these hens produce wonderful parents. They will treat any egg you put under them as their own and stay with it until it hatches. If you don’t desire to use an incubator, you can hatch the eggs on your own.
Owners who intend to breed their hens may benefit from this behavior; nevertheless, blue-laced red wyandottes are susceptible to reproductive troubles because of their fluffy feathers. Thus, they can be challenging to breed.
Personality
The Wyandotte is a breed known for its quiet dependability. Blue-laced red wyandottes are known for their unflappable demeanor and inability to easily become agitated. You’ll notice that they stick to their own kind and avoid mingling with others.
While blue-laced red wyandottes aren’t normally hostile, they will defend themselves to death if they feel threatened. Others quickly learn not to bother them since they will not stand to be bullied or pushed around. Wyandottes tend to be calm and friendly to their owners.
Wyandottes are extremely unlikely to develop into pet chickens, though. While they will put up with being scooped up and caressed, they would rather not be in close proximity to you.
They will take pleasure in your presence while they explore the yard in search of treats or assist you with gardening, a chore they adore. Wyandottes do make excellent moms and are quite devoted to their offspring, despite rarely being broody, as mentioned.
Egg Production
The blue-laced red wyandotte hens were developed by breeders to be efficient egg layers. Several Wyandotte hens, unfortunately, have experienced low fertility rates.
However, this still doesn’t entail that such a great breed does not deserve recognition. Everyone still needs to learn the egg production of this chicken variation.
Laying Period
Blue-laced red wyandotte chickens start laying eggs once they mature, around 4 to 5 months old. They produce four eggs every week, and it goes on for the whole year, which means they lay at least 200 eggs yearly if you sum it all up.
Color
Eggs produced by blue laced red wyandotte chickens are typically big and brown in color. But there are times when the eggs also have white or dark brown colors speckling them here and there.
Quantity
Wyandotte hens usually produce nearly the same amount of eggs. The normal quantity is about 200 eggs yearly, but some hens can produce 220 to 240 eggs.
Noise Levels
Wyandottes are loud, talkative, and have a strong voice. They are not chickens that keep to themselves. Take into consideration the location of any adjacent neighbors you may have. They have a noise level that is between moderate and loud. They are an excellent choice for those who reside in more rural areas.
Growth Rate
Particularly considering that they are a heritage breed, these chickens do grow rather swiftly. Even though they are not a Jersey Giant’s meat rival, by the time they are 18 weeks old, they can be of a decent size for table meat.
When the chickens start laying eggs, it is around week 20. In contrast to certain other breeds that have slower growth, they offer a significant return on investment.
Care Guide for Blue-Laced Red Wyandotte
Blue-laced red wyandottes are not so common in the US, so many are still unfamiliar with it, and you might be too. So, here are the important facts and care guide you should know if you plan on raising a flock of this beautiful chicken breed.
Diet
For them to live a positive and healthy life, your blue-laced red wyandotte hens will require a balanced diet, much like other chicken varieties. Feeding chicks high-protein chicken feed can help them develop strong bodies and beautiful feathers.
The diet of adult Wyandotte hens should include calcium. This will aid in the development of robust eggshells. On top of that, you’ll need to provide enough fresh water for your birds to drink.
Habitat Setup
Blue-laced red wyandottes are big chickens, and when we say big, it means you need to give each chicken at least 1 foot of personal space and 2 square meters of coop space.
Temperature
People who live in colder climates will value this chicken’s toughness. Although it doesn’t prefer it, the Blue-Laced Red Wyandotte fares well in hotter climates.
In light of this, people who live in warm climates need to make sure to give their Wyandottes excellent shaded locations to evade the sun and lots of water to allow them to cool off.
Health Concerns
Due to their fluffy feathers and under-fluff, Blue-Laced Red Wyandotte hens are at risk of lower infertility. This is the reason why people who are planning to own one tend to think hard about whether to continue raising this kind of chicken or go with other breeds.
In addition to a greater likelihood of being infertile, owners of blue-laced red wyandottes should be aware of a number of extra care responsibilities that come with the breed.
Due to the incredibly dense feathering of this breed of chicken, it is essential that they undergo routine inspections to check for lice and parasite infestations.
Conclusion
If you decide to proceed with your plan of raising these special chickens, make sure you follow all the things written in this blue laced red wyandotte chicken guide so you won’t have a hard time handling them, especially since they need extreme care.
