Description of the breed of chickens Wyandot silver golden

One of the most beautiful breeds with striking plumage is the Wyandotte chickens. The breed is named after one of the North American Indian tribes. Although what has the Indian tribes to do with it is not clear. The breed was bred not by the Indians by the method of folk selection, but by American breeders by complex crossing 6 breeds of chickens at once. From the decorative breed, the Sybrayt Wyandot took his "shirt", which was distinguished by a special color of feathers: each feather is bordered by a contrasting stripe, which makes the feathers seem to be drawn by the artist.

From the meat breeds Brama and Cochinchin, the Wyandots received a large body size, the Leghorn improved egg production, and the meat and egg Orlington and Dorging helped stabilize the breed.

The first Wyandots had only a silvery color. This breed of chickens was named "Silver Wyandotte" and was registered in 1883 with the American Poultry Association. The work of breeders did not stop there, and new color options appeared in the breed. To date, 9 variations of the "shirt" for large wyandot are officially recognized in America. For the dwarf form of this breed, a 10th color option has been added. 30 different colors are allowed by the European standard for Wyandot. The British Association recognizes 14 types of colors.

After the import of chickens to Russia in 1911, it turned out that the breed perfectly tolerates Russian winters, and farmers became interested in it.

Interesting! Wyandots are one of the breeds that very often changed their name.

They were known as excelsion, Colombian chickens, sibrites. Other names were also assigned to these chickens.

Appearance

• The main "highlight" of the Cludge is the color of their plumage. Individuals with a bordered color are considered to be especially beautiful. Each feather is painted in a contrasting color around the edges, and together they create an amazing composition.
• Roosters weigh slightly more than chickens. Their weight reaches 3.8-4 kg, and in feathered beauties does not exceed 3 kg. There is also a dwarf version. Dwarf males weigh about 1, 2 kg, and grouse within 1 kg. The difference with dwarfs is only in size and weight - everything else is the same.
• The body of beautiful quails is the most common - with a medium-sized neck, back, belly and breast. Simply put - nothing special. The feet are also medium in size, as are the wings.
• Metatarsus and beak vary depending on the color - from light yellow to gray-blue.

Representatives of this breed have a massive body and a small head with a pink crest. Earrings and lobes are bright red. The eyes, like most chickens, are red-orange.

The neck is strong and short enough. There are no clear colors of the beak and hocks, as they change depending on the color of Wyandotte and can be either light yellow or dark gray.

In the rooster, the body is more vertical and at a slight angle to the surface, while the hens look more spherical.

The back and loin of the chickens and the cockerels are straight and wide. The rib cage is well developed. The tail is rather short, but at the same time lush and beautiful.

The weight of an adult cock reaches 4 kg, while laying hens are an order of magnitude lighter and weigh no more than 3 kg.

Features of the content

Luxurious plumage, decent weight and small comb make the Wyandotte breed resistant to adverse weather conditions and therefore a good choice for owners living in cold regions.

It will not be difficult for strong birds to fly over the low fence, but nevertheless they are somewhat lazy and most likely will remain sitting on the fence, looking over the courtyard from above with their master's sharp eye.

This bird does not tolerate being kept indoors very well and it is advisable to provide them with free range, since they are excellent foragers.

Chickens are good brood hens, but chickens need a separate corner for quiet incubation of chickens, otherwise it can become nervous and even aggressive.

Roosters are active, but when treated calmly, they usually do not behave hostilely, treating other birds and people with condescension.

Character

The average weight of a rooster is about 3-3.4 kg, of a chicken - 2.5 kg. The average annual egg production of young chickens is about 170-180, and that of overcooked hens is about 150 eggs. The mass of one egg is about 50-60 g, the color of the shell is yellow-brown.

These chickens are characterized by medium body size, compactness and rather large weight. The main advantage of individuals is their high adaptability to severe frosts, so they perfectly take root in the northern regions of our country.

Hen of this breed

Roosters have a medium-sized head, a small, slightly convex, yellow beak. A distinctive feature of the breed is the scallop. It is medium in size, rosy in shape, elegant, close to the head. On the crest, a rounded spine in the occiput region stands out. The color of the eyes is orange, with a red tint, the shape of the eyes is oval, of medium size.

The shape of the body in males is slightly irregular - more in length than in height. Therefore, the torso appears to be wider and more squat than it actually is. The shoulders and back are wide and large enough. In the lumbar region, the back rises up. Volumetric plumage gives the body of birds massive. The tail is small in size, fluffy, well open, in relation to the back, the floor is set at an angle slightly less than 45 °.

The general physique of hens of the Wyandotte breed practically does not differ from that of males, except for the difference in sex. Only the body of the hens is slightly smaller, and the tail feathers in relation to the body are located at a smaller angle and more open.

Colombian Wyandot

The most popular among farmers is the silver subspecies of this breed. The variety received this name for an interesting gray with a white tint, the color of the plumage, which is the main one. In roosters, white with a silvery shade prevails in color, and the main pattern is black. Covering feathers of the body are silvery-white, the feathers on the body are edged in black.

There are a number of defects in the presence of which the offspring must be culled and separated from the main herd:

• serious deviations in physique from the requirements of the standard;
• the size of the body is too small with angular shapes;
• outwardly, the chicken looks like a small ball with small legs;
• the scallop lacks a thorn on the back of the head, or its shape is not round, but sharp;
• the eyes are not reddish orange;
• lobes and earrings are covered with a whitish coating;
• the color of the plumage does not correspond to what is stated in the description.

Laying hen - silver wyandot
The Wyandotte breed of chickens is famous for its compact cute birds. One of their additional advantages is that these chickens tolerate difficult climatic conditions well. For example, they are not at all afraid of long frosty winters.

Appearance description

The most popular color of Wyandot chickens is silver, inherited from the Cochinhin breed. The color of this subspecies combines white and gray shades.The feathers on the head, loins, wings, collar and chest of Wyandotte roosters are silvery, but each feather is bordered by a black stripe, resulting in a vivid and interesting pattern.

On the wings, these stripes run in three rows. The flight and tail feathers of roosters are rich black, a greenish tint is also possible. Down is also very dark in color. Beak and metatarsus are yellow or horny. Chickens are colored in almost the same way, but their black plumage is concentrated on the belly and back, and the rest of the feathers is silvery.

Representatives of the Wyandotte breed look compact, they are not very large. Roosters have a medium-sized head, a short and convex beak. A particularly beautiful detail of the appearance is a graceful pink comb, which must adhere to the head with its entire lower part. It also has a round spike that follows the line of the back of the head.

Roosters have large, round, red-orange eyes. Red shiny earrings and lobes do not have wrinkles and folds, they are medium in size, with a rounded bottom. The neck is quite powerful, of medium length. It is bent back, which makes the appearance of the rooster especially proud and majestic. There is a fluffy collar on the neck that practically covers the shoulders and falls on the back.

Roosters do not look too proportional due to the fact that their growth is less than the length of the body. As a result, the body looks wide and squat. The back and shoulders also differ in width and strength. The bushy short tail is set at a 40 degree angle and is well spread. The belly and chest are well developed.

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Chickens differ from roosters mainly in sexual characteristics. The dimensions of males and females are about the same, the average weight of both varies from 2 to 3.5 kg. Chickens are usually only slightly smaller than the male breed. They also have a lower tail and wider tail opening.

There is also a separate species of the Wyandotte breed - dwarf. It was bred as a result of joint selection works of English and German specialists. The weight of such chickens fluctuates around 1 kg.

When breeding Wyandotte chickens, those who do not meet breed standards should be discarded in time. There are some very unacceptable flaws that should not be passed on to the next generation:

• too small dimensions of the bird in combination with an angular body;
• the absence of a thorn on the comb or its sharpness;
• light-colored eyes;
• round figure combined with very short legs;
• too narrow tail and body;
• the presence of a whitish coating on the lobes and earrings;
• the color does not correspond to any of the officially accepted options;
• other gross non-compliance with breed standards.

If any of these deficiencies are present, the bird is removed from breeding.

Productivity

The Wyandotte breed was bred to successfully supply both meat and eggs. Chickens grow rapidly and become heavier, at the age of four months they already reach the size of an adult bird. Chickens reach sexual maturity and begin to lay eggs as early as six months. In the first year of her productivity, each female can lay from 170 to 200 eggs.

After this period, the productivity becomes slightly lower - 150-170 pieces annually. Each egg is enclosed in a yellow-brown shell and weighs about 50-60 grams. According to some testimonies, the highest egg production is in monochromatic hens, and layers with bordered feathers are somewhat inferior in this indicator.

Dwarf representatives of the Wyandotte breed are less productive. Their egg production is no higher than 120 pieces per year. But they begin to rush earlier, at the age of 4-5 months. Egg weight varies from 35 to 52 grams.

Wyandotte has an easygoing, peaceful and friendly character.Chickens of this breed live well together with other poultry, both large and small.

Chickens are not shy, willingly make contact with their owner. They are characterized by a quick addiction to humans.

The Wyandotte chicken breed was bred in 1883, and appeared in Russia only in 1911. The historical description of the breed indicates that initially the bird was known only in silver color. Today, things are much more interesting, there are more than 10 species with different colors of feathers. The chickens are medium in size, but the body is compact and rather heavy in weight. Wyandotte perfectly adapts to frost, so they can be grown even in the northern regions of Russia.

Roosters have medium-sized heads with a small, slightly prominent yellow beak. A distinctive feature is the scallop. In shape, it resembles a medium-sized rose. The comb is close to the head and looks attractive. In the region of the occiput, a spine on the comb is clearly distinguished.

The eyes of Wyandotte chickens are orange with a slight reddish tinge, the shape is oval, and the size is medium. Earrings are smooth, medium, long, oval in shape. Rounded small red lobes. The plumage of the powerful neck is magnificent, falling to the shoulders.

Long legs are not covered with plumage, toes are spread out. The color of young individuals in this part of the body is bright yellow, but changes with age, becomes lighter. The physique of females of the Wyandot breed differs only in a smaller torso and a more open tail.

The silver wyandotte is the most popular among poultry farmers. The coloring of individuals is dominated by a light gray color. Roosters have many black edging. Flight and tail feathers are usually black, may have a slight green overflow. The color of the metatarsus and beak is yellow, pink. The down of this type of breed is always black, like the feathers of females on the back and belly.

• strong deviations in the physique;
• the body is small, angular;
• visually, the chicken resembles a ball on legs;
• the spine on the comb is absent or has a sharp shape instead of round;
• the eyes are not orange-red, but of some other color;
• white bloom is visible on the lobes and earrings;
• the plumage is not the same color as stated in the description of the standard.

The feathered beauties' temper is also admirable. They are incredibly easygoing, peaceful, and calm. In any team they can find a common language, and are equally friendly both to the representatives of their breed and to completely different types of poultry.

History of the origin of the breed

The exact origin of the breed is difficult to establish. It is known that the first mentions of it appear in 1860. Then admiring admirers gave the new breed the name American Seabright, later calling Excelsior, in honor of the famous diamond.

Most likely, Wyandotte originates from the Cochinhin and Sibright rocks. Experts agree that Brahmas and Hamburg speckled chickens were also involved in the selection.

The Wyandotte breed of chickens received its sonorous name in honor of the ship of the owner of the first thoroughbred individuals.

Color options

As noted earlier, Wyandots have a wide variety of colors, ranging from blue to golden.

The most popular is the classic gray. Representatives of this species have a white feather with a silvery sheen, and at its ends there is a clear black edging. This particular variety is the most popular among breeders.

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In addition, there are other varieties:

1. Golden-bordered.
2. Partridge
3. White.
4. The black.
5. Dark yellow.
6. Colombian.
7. Lavender.
8. Silvery outlined.
9. Lavender-red edged.
10. Cuckoo.

In addition to these colors, there is generally another variety - the dwarf Wyandotte. It is not difficult to guess that representatives of this species have smaller body dimensions than those of the classic Wyandotte.

Dwarf Wyandotte chickens weigh no more than 1 kg, while the body weight of males reaches 1.5 kg. There are more color options for representatives of the dwarf breed than for the classic ones and reaches the mark of 28 colors.

Wyandot owners reviews

Igor Anashkin, v. Vorontsovka

Once I saw these chickens in a photograph and caught fire. I have been looking for access to breeding breeding centers for a long time. Finally, we managed to get the eggs of the classic version of "wyandot silver-bordered". The bird is really amazing. Its disadvantage is unwillingness to move a lot, like other chickens. Because of this, you have to strictly monitor the diet of Wyandotoks so that they do not become obese. On the other hand, due to their sedentary lifestyle, less feed is consumed than other chickens. You also need to monitor the feed and add more animal proteins and calcium there. Otherwise, there is no hassle with this breed.

Sergei Gumenyuk, p. Oktyabrsky

The bird is just wonderful. We have cold winters, but the Wyandotts don't care. Of course, they cannot be kept completely in the snow, but in a cold chicken coop they winter perfectly. Of course, egg production in this case decreases. If you want eggs, raise the temperature to at least 10 degrees. Another bad thing for me is that the Wyandots turned out to be of different colors. I will not succeed in pure breeding, the livestock is too small, and if mixed from parents of different colors, anything can come out.

Sexual maturity and egg production

Standard representatives cannot boast of early maturity - they begin laying in the period from 6 to 9 months. If you carefully monitor their nutrition and activity level, then it is possible to get the first testicle a little earlier.

But, dwarf ones differ significantly from them - they ripen very quickly and begin to rush as early as 4-5 months.

The performance indicators can be said to be satisfactory. Of course, the chicken is not a record holder, but it is quite capable of laying up to 200 eggs per year. What can not be said about her dwarf sister - her egg production ranges from 120-130 pieces per year.

Moreover, dwarf testicles are very small - about 35 grams each, while a standard laying hen produces rather large testicles - about 60 grams. Standard shells, like dwarf ones, have medium-density shells, the color of which ranges from yellow to brown.

Reviews of the breed

Testimonial from: Nadezhda Viktorovna Polskikh, Vinnytsia region, Ukraine.

Pros: very beautiful, rush well

Minuses: not.

We decided to start a purebred bird three years ago - we ordered four silver wyandots from Poland - three chickens and roosters, and four red Rhode Island - two pairs. And although the whole bird was an adult, there were no problems with maintenance either then or now. An accident killed one Rhode Island cock. The Wyandots were running well now those chickens slowed down a little, but after a year one hen sat on the eggs - and brought seven excellent large chickens.

Now we keep a herd of twelve Wyandots - eleven chickens and one rooster, that's enough for us. I recommend and praise everyone - a beautiful, calm bird, I look and relax with my soul.

Reviewed by: Ivan Kostyukov, Saratov, Russia.

Pros: gorgeous bird, affectionate, good brood hens.

Minuses: It's a pity to cut!

We have a herd of fifteen Wyandots, beautiful different colors - the partridge ones are our favorite. They are frost-resistant, they hibernate in our barn without problems. The rooster is a handsome man, but at the same time caring and masterful, he did not immediately pounce on anyone.

Chickens that are more than two years old - every year they cluck and hatch chickens. We leave the chickens, the cockerels for meat. One thing is bad - it's a pity to cut a bird. Painfully good! The neighbor says - that your pheasants. There is no Wyandot better than a bird!

Dear readers, you have the opportunity to add a review about the breed to the article.To do this, write your detailed comment using the contact form and in the near future it will be transferred to the text of the article. If you are a breeder of purebred chickens and sell young animals or an egg, you can place this information as well, and do not forget to indicate the region of residence.

Chickens Wyandotte

The variety of colors is manifested to some extent even in day old chicks. They are born variegated, white, golden, gray. But, over time, they will shed and begin to overgrow with an adult feather - then you can see exactly what colors they have.

Breeding problems can arise if the parent family has different colors. In addition, the hatching egg must be carefully selected - to obtain offspring, eggs weighing at least 55 grams are used.

Until the babies are 2 months old, it is very difficult to determine the breed characteristics. They grow very quickly, fledge at an average pace. By one and a half months, they weigh about 1.2 kg. Males gain up to 3-3.5 kg in just six months. Further, weight gain does not occur so quickly.

Breeding history

Wyandot chickens are the result of a mixture of the breeds of Brama, Leghorn, Bentham Seabright, Cochinchin, Dorking and Orpington. This mix of genes made it possible to breed a hardy, calm character and a breed distinguished by decorativeness and a variety of colors.

The authors of the Wyandotte breed are American breeders who got this hybrid back in the middle of the 19th century. The breed is named after the Wyandot Indian tribe. Although throughout the existence of the breed, its name has changed several times. At different times, chickens were named Sibrayt, Excelsior, Colombian chickens, etc.

The first standard for the silver color of the breed was adopted in 1883. In 1884, silver-colored wyandots were brought to Europe. The Russians got acquainted with this breed only in 1911. At present, thanks to the results of the work of breeders, there are more than 15 types of coloring of the plumage of Wyandots. From 1933 to 1977, birds of black, yellow, chicken, white, blue, golden and other colors were gradually introduced into the standard.

Despite the existence of many different Wyandotte colors at present, the American Poultry Association has recognized only 10 of them.

disadvantages

• The Wyandotte breed of chickens is prone to gaining excess weight.
• Rarity and high cost.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the species in question is great for content, both in the household and for business. A universal set of qualities will make its content not problematic and cost-effective.

That's all the information. We wish you prosperity and success!

The chicken has a very attractive appearance, but few people use this bird only to decorate their private courtyard. Chickens must have the virtues to attract the attention of poultry farmers. Among the main advantages of Wyandot are:

1. Resistant to low temperatures.
2. Stable performance throughout all seasons. Chickens do not stop rushing even in winter.
3. High survival rate of young animals. Of the chickens born to the world, about 98% survive to adulthood.
4. Chickens have a friendly and calm nature, which allows them to be kept together with other poultry.
5. Wyandottes are a source of tasty, juicy and very healthy meat.

Are there any disadvantages? Unfortunately yes. And most of these shortcomings have made the chicken not a very good reputation, which is why it is not used for breeding on an industrial scale:

1. This is a rather "lazy" hen, which leads a sedentary lifestyle. Because of this, the breed is prone to gaining fat mass.
2. Almost no one is engaged in raising these chickens, so the breed is quite rare and expensive. Against the background of the emergence of modern sneakers, their popularity has declined even more.
3. It is very difficult to find purebred representatives of this breed, and in some places it is impossible.
4. Chickens give their first clutch very late, at about 6-9 months. In addition, the egg productivity of Wyandots is not high enough.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Wyandotte breed

Breed benefits	Disadvantages of the breed
excellent egg production; good meat qualities; early maturity; friendliness; cold resistance; easy care; maternal qualities; unique beauty.	noisy behavior of chickens; it is difficult to acquire young breeding stock.

Young growth care

Young animals are fed differently from adult chickens. In the first days after the appearance of the chickens, they are fed with boiled egg white and semolina. They feed at least 6 times a day. On the third day, greens and cottage cheese can be introduced into the diet. Gradually, the number of feedings is brought to 4 receptions.

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At the age of one month, young animals can already be transferred to the diet of an adult bird.

In this case, caring for the cubs does not differ from usual. Thanks to the good health that they have at the genetic level, babies are tenacious and hardy. Most vulnerable only in the first 10 days.

During this period, it is worth maintaining a temperature of 30 degrees, avoiding contamination of the litter and high humidity in the box where they live. When the babies are 10-14 days old, you can lower the temperature by 4 degrees, release the cubs into the sun on the green grass.

Chicks are fed according to the standard scheme for the meat and egg type of young animals. Naturally, in the first 14-20 days, you need to give boiled eggs (with herbs) at least 3 times a day, and then you can completely exclude them from the diet, switching to combined feeds with a high protein content.

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Features of the

The main positive features of chickens of this breed are:

• Good egg production, which practically does not depend on the season and does not decrease in winter.
• Chicks are very tenacious, they are well bred both naturally and in an incubator, they grow quickly and fledge.
• Birds are friendly and easily get along with other breeds, they do not need to be kept separately.
• Chickens have good fattening ability and their meat is of high quality and very tender.

They tolerate frost well, so there are no special requirements for keeping birds in winter. The Wyandotte breed perfectly tolerates almost any climatic conditions and adapts well to the harsh northern cold weather.

Wyandots do not fly, so they can be kept both in cages and in open-air cages. Chickens start laying eggs early. (starting from 6-7 months). They have a well-developed brooding instinct and are caring mothers. Birds of this breed are inactive, calm and sluggish, this explains their tendency to obesity.

Adult chicken diet

The lack of fastidiousness of the nest in matters of nutrition makes it easier for farmers to care for them. They eat almost everything, but care should be taken to get the maximum amount of nutrients from their food.

Simply put - the diet should be balanced. Practice shows that best of all chickens eat wet mash, which are not only well digested, but also contain at the same time everything necessary for their health and productivity.

Mineral supplements and vitamin preparations can be added to the mash without any problems - it is worth giving them to the nuggets at least once a day. The main rule is that the mash should always be fresh.

Dry grains are also good for chickens because they take a little longer to digest and keep them full for a long time.Therefore, it is advisable to feed the hens with grain before bedtime so that they do not feel hunger during the night and can rest peacefully.

And most importantly, layers should always have fresh and clean water, especially in hot weather - watch out for this.

Maintenance and feeding

The breed is undemanding, easily adapts to any conditions. At the same time, in order to achieve maximum productivity from the bird and eliminate the danger of diseases, it is necessary to comply with a number of requirements:

• to provide a nutritious diet rich in proteins (especially in the process of growth) - whole grains, fish and bone meal, compound feed, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements, vegetables and herbs. In winter - boiled vegetables and pine flour;
• do not overfeed if the food is high in calories - increase physical activity to avoid obesity;
• clean the house regularly, keep out dirt, avoid drafts and dampness.

Wyandotam is best suited for semi-walking - an active lifestyle with the ability to eat pasture

Testimonials

Most owners of Wyandotte chickens are happy with their choice. Private poultry farmers warn that it can take a long time to find quality chickens. The most common ones are silver, so it's best to look for them right away. You can breed wyandots even without an incubator, chickens hatch eggs perfectly.

The breed is not troublesome, but you should always monitor your diet. Low mobility can lead to obesity, but it also causes chickens to eat less feed than other breeds. Healthy additives need to be regularly added to food so that the birds develop well.

Poultry farmers assure that wyandots lay eggs well in winter, especially if the chicken coop is heated to 10 °. The eggs are quite large and tasty. It is profitable to breed birds both for sale and just for the family. Meat deserves special attention. The cooks assure that the chicken of this particular breed is the most delicious, tender and juicy.

For the Wyandotte breed, see below.

Victor Ivanovich, Donetsk, 43 years old.

I have been holding Wyandotov for more than one year. In many ways I agree with the descriptions that can be found on the Internet. Chickens are really not afraid of frost and rush in winter no worse than in summer or autumn. My first clutch is done at 6 months, which is a bit late, of course. But with the fact that many descriptions speak of Wyandotas as broilers, I disagree.

Alexander Vladimirovich, Moscow, 52 years old.

Hello dear friends. I got 30 Wyandotte eggs that year. Only half hatched - 16 chickens. But I was pleased with that too. I already thought everything, I will have beauties (the breeder showed the photos of what the hens should be), but in the end I just ran into a number of problems. The chickens did not want to fledge.

As a result, 7 more chickens died. By the age of 7 months, they seem to have fledged more or less, but the tails did not appear. But I hope that the tails will grow over time. But if we compare this breed with other chickens that I have, then these are some kind of ostriches. The body is elongated, the legs are long. They are kind of vertical, not horizontal.

Lyudmila Igorevna, Kharkov, 41 years old.

At one time he was engaged in breeding this breed. He kept both dwarf chickens and ordinary ones. The egg production of both those and those is the same, for me that the usual ones gave about 140 eggs a year, that the dwarfs, only the dwarfs have 35 grams of eggs somewhere (but they also eat 40% less feed). At some point in time, I was faced with the fact that there is nowhere to renew blood, since it is very problematic to find Wyandots in Ukraine. Now I'm not doing this chicken.

Description of the breed

Breed name	Wyandotte
Other name	Not
Direction of productivity	Meat and egg breed
Average weight	3.2 kg
Average egg production, eggs per year	200-210
Maturation of pullets, months	5
Egg size, g	60-65
Eggshell color	Brown
Feathered legs	Not
Inclination to incubation	Moderate
Exactingness	Unpretentious, tolerate cold well
Bantam shape?	there is
Should a newbie start?	Yes

The medium-sized, dense bird has a remarkable egg production for a multi-purpose breed, which is easy to conclude just by looking at these well-proportioned layers.

On average, a Wyandotte laying hen lays about 200 large brown eggs per year, starting to lay quite early - at the age of 5 months, and sometimes a little earlier.

Wyandotte forms a round, heavy carcass by the age of 5-6 months. The table qualities are excellent - the meat is white, tender, fine-fiber, juicy.

The average weight of an adult rooster is up to 3.8 kg, chickens are about 2.7 kg.

The dwarf form of the Wyandotte breed was created by the efforts of German breeders. Chickens weigh about 900 g, males - up to 1 kg. Egg production is low - about 100-120 eggs per year.

Breed standard

All representatives of the cross must clearly fit the established breed standard. Individuals that do not correspond to the norm are discarded. It is possible to grow such birds to obtain eggs and meat, but it will not be possible to breed real thoroughbred chickens during the next incubation.

This Wyandot has the following standards:

• a body that can be conventionally inscribed in a square;
• the maximum weight of males - up to 4 kg, females - up to 3 kg;
• wings of medium length, tightly pressed against the body;
• strong paws of medium size;
• rounded eye shape with a bright orange iris;
• a small pink ridge close to the bird's head;
• with a small, open tail, set at an angle of 40 degrees.

A distinctive feature of the Wyandots is a lush neck collar that falls to the back and covers the shoulders.

Plumage color

The silver wyandotte, bred back in the 19th century, still attracts attention. The color of the bird's feathers is white with a silvery tint and the obligatory black edging along the edges.

Roosters, which have a black-and-white shade, have a bushy tail with dark feathers and a green tint in the tail. There are also wyandots with bluish and golden coloration, white and black feathers. Golden blue wyandots have golden feathers with a brown component. A bluish color surrounds the feathers.

Chickens of the chicken species are distinguished by a golden brown shade of plumage, their tail is dark in color. In males, the back of the body is dominated by reddish-brown colors, and the tail shimmers with emerald green. In different parts of the body, birds have different colors. So, on the neck and abdomen, one shade prevails, and the back and chest are usually two-colored.

Dwarf wyandot

This species differs from the usual Wyandot only in weight. A dwarf wyandotte chicken rarely weighs more than 1 kg, the mass of males is a maximum of 1.5 kg. They are distinguished by good productivity. Laying hens lay eggs throughout the year, even if it's freezing outside. The productivity of the dwarf wyandot is about 120 eggs weighing 35-50 g. A variety of the breed was bred in Great Britain, the goal of the breeders was to obtain a decorative poultry.

Diet for feeding adult chickens

Wyandots eat everything, but the owner must make sure that the food is balanced and nutritious. Given the possibility of obesity in this breed, the amount of grains in the diet, especially corn, is reduced. Once a day, chickens are given moist mash, consisting of boiled potatoes, fresh grass and milk. Wet feed half-eaten at a time should be disposed of immediately.

Before going to bed, chickens are given dry grain. It takes a long time to digest and provides a feeling of fullness. The bird loves to feast on bread. Its introduction into the diet is permissible in wet mash or dry once every 2 weeks. In the warm season, the diet is supplemented with melons, fresh grass.

Did you know? If you press the chicken's head to the ground and draw a line in front of its beak, it will fall into a trance lasting from 10 seconds. up to 30 min. This is due to the genetic nature of the bird to pretend to be dead when a danger is detected.

Content rules

The bird can be kept in large groups or in small families. Better to give preference to aviary content. It is worth considering the high growth rates of poultry when equipping cages and chicken coops. In the warm season, the bird feels good and quickly gains mass in the free range. In winter, it is worth taking care of the insulation of the poultry house and organizing a balanced diet.

Conditions and arrangement of the poultry house

The maintenance of Wyandots involves, first of all, the arrangement of a full-fledged poultry house. Equip the cages taking into account the permissible density of 10 animals per square meter. m. If you do not want the bird to work up fat, it is better to equip an aviary attached to the chicken coop, and keep the bird on the floor. The poultry house consists of 2 rooms:

• barn;
• aviary.

From the barn to the aviary, make an exit in the form of a 40x40 cm hole, with a manhole. It is enough to fence the walking area with a netting netting 1.8 m high.In the front door of the shed, organize a similar passage. The size of the barn is determined from the density of settlement of 5 heads per square meter. m.

Equip the room with an elementary ventilation system, exclude drafts. The optimum temperature in the house is + 12… + 18 ° C. In winter, chickens suffer from a lack of light. Additional lighting must be connected at the end of the molt.
Important! Egg production and the body's resistance to infections in chickens depends on lighting. Artificial
increase in daylight hours up to 12 hours.
A clay floor can be left without bedding. If the house is too cold, the bedding should be at least 40 cm thick. Attach wooden perches for laying hens 1 m above the floor. Place soft hay, straw, shavings inside the boxes. Equip perches at a height of 60, 80, 100 cm. Arrange them in steps so that the individuals sitting on the upper perches are not smeared with droppings from those located below. The length of the perch depends on the number of individuals in the hen house. One chicken accounts for 20 cm.

Care

Clean the house once a week:

• carry out the treatment of drinkers and feeders with non-aggressive detergents;
• change the litter in the nests;
• feces are cleaned from the aviary.

Be sure to install several boxes of sand, gravel and shell rock in the house. The bird cleans its feathers using ash and sand, which improves immunity and prevents the spread of pests. The main enemy of chickens is dampness. In winter, the top layer of bedding should be changed as needed. Complete replacement is carried out 2 times a year.

Disinfection of the chicken coop is carried out 2 times a year, in the presence of infected chickens - 3-4. To eliminate all microbes, the walls are worked through with a blowtorch, washed with a weak solution of chlorine or 1% solution of copper sulfate.

Important! Complete replacement of the litter during winter will reduce the indoor temperature. Sawdust, straw lying on the floor, interacting with the waste products of chickens, preserve and generate heat, providing natural heating. The litter harvested in the spring is used as fertilizer in the backyard.

Seasonal moult and break in egg production

The seasonal molt at Wyandot takes place in October-November and March-April. During this period, hens become lethargic, practically do not rush. It is a natural physiological process that allows the bird to:

• restore your productivity;
• gather strength;
• change plumage before the start of the season.

At the end of molting, the chickens give full-fledged egg products throughout the winter, subject to additional supplementary lighting. In some farms, artificial molting is practiced in order to improve the quality of egg products and adapt the timing of incubation of chickens to their needs. The techniques are quite aggressive and reduce the production period of chickens.

Walking yard

An open-air cage is placed on the leeward side to protect the bird from drafts.You should take care of a high-quality foundation. This will reduce the risk of predatory animals entering the hen house by digging. The walking yard is equipped with feeders and drinkers. Be sure to make a canopy that protects from natural disasters. If one wall is made of wood, boxes for laying hens are placed on it.

Feeders and drinkers

It is better to equip hanging feeders and drinkers with a drip type of distribution. This will eliminate the problem of spreading feed and contamination by faeces. Consider bird growth when installing drinkers and feeders. They need to be placed no higher than the level of the chicken's back.

Read more about how to make a drinker and a bunker feeder for chickens with your own hands.

Bunker feeders have proven themselves well. They are designed for dry food. These feeders save a lot of time, since the feed itself is poured into the feed compartments as needed. Equip feeders and drinkers on the opposite side of the perches.

Raising chickens

In the first days after hatching, the chicks are kept in a brooder, making sure that the litter is dry and clean. Chicks need additional heating, it is important that the temperature does not drop below 30 degrees. For the first few weeks, the chicks live with the lights on all the time.

After 10 days, the temperature is gradually reduced, and at the age of two weeks, the chicks are taken out for a walk for 10-15 minutes. Chicks can leave the brooder only after they are fully fledged. There must be a heated area in the room.

Breeding young animals

Breeding Wyandot has its own nuances. Inbreeding negatively affects the quality indicators of production and the survival rate of young animals. In this regard, it is necessary to keep the maternal and paternal line separately. Due to hybridization, it is genetically difficult to calculate the transfer of color. It is better to hatch chickens naturally, since it is difficult to get high-quality material for incubation.

Putting the chicken on the eggs

The hen is selected based on behavioral responses that indicate its readiness to hatch:

• kluche long crochet;
• spends most of the time in the nest;
• pluck out down and feathers from itself, laying them in a nest.

Having chosen a brood hen, start organizing the nest. Place it in a secluded place. The optimal nest size is 55x35 cm. Put soft hay in it, and the chicken will finish the rest by itself.
Important! If there are 2 or more broods in the same area, they need to be planted away from each other, otherwise they will begin to conflict, which will lead to poor-quality incubation and reduce hatchability.

Medium-sized eggs are taken for incubation. Before laying, the biomaterial must not be stored for more than 3 days. Wyandotam is placed in the nest of 13-15 pieces. eggs. Check all biomaterial for damage. Examine under an ovoscope. Cull eggs containing an air chamber in the blunt side of the egg. Material that contains a bloody clot or blotches of unknown origin is not suitable.

Eggs are laid when the chicken is out of the nest, for example, has gone out to eat. In the process of incubation, the biomaterial is no longer reported, since after the chicks hatch, the brood hen will leave the nest. The brood hen is kept at a temperature of + 15… + 20 ° C and a relative humidity of 70–75%. Make sure the chicken is fully fed and leaves the nest for no more than 20 minutes.

In the diet of the chicken, compound feed, carbohydrate food, represented by root crops and grass, is introduced. If the brood hen has not returned to the nest after 20 minutes, bring it in yourself. While the chicken is eating, inspect the nest, clean it of dirt, remove crushed eggs. The brooding process takes 19-22 days. Chicks do not appear at the same time. As the chicks hatch, they are taken and allowed to see their mother only after vaccination.

Vaccination of young animals

Unvaccinated chicks can become carriers of infection. The vaccination schedule looks like this:

1. Immunization of parental individuals from mycoplasmosis 100–120 days before hatching.
2. The first 24 hours - infectious bronchitis, Marek's disease.
3. 7 days - Newcastle disease.

Important! In case of an unstable epidemiological situation in the growing region, additional vaccines are introduced and the disinfection schedule of the poultry house is increased.

The Wyandotte breed of chickens is one of the most productive. Refers to the meat and egg direction. Differs in high growth rates and good productivity. The breed is popular in Europe, in our country it is not used for industrial purposes; amateur farmers are engaged in its breeding.

Chick care and feeding

Chicks are vulnerable during the first 10 days of life. All this time they are kept in a box on a soft warm cloth mat, which is changed as needed. The optimum temperature from the 1st to the 5th day of life is 30 ° C, then it is gradually reduced to 20 ° C.

The first 2-3 weeks youngsters are fed with boiled eggs, cottage cheese. Millet is gradually introduced, and then compound feed. After a month, they are transferred to age-appropriate premixes.

Reviews of poultry farmers

Poultry farmers who raise Wyandotte chickens note their early maturity, as well as good productivity. They can be cut into meat as early as the eighth month of life, until the meat fibers have hardened. They are not demanding in care. Every six months, poultry farmers recommend prophylaxis of worms and lice.

Lovers of beautiful and friendly chickens will love the Wyandotte breed. They will not only decorate the courtyard with their attractive appearance, but will also delight you with delicious meat and good return of eggs throughout the entire calendar year.

Features of chickens

Chicks can be hatched in incubators and naturally. The choice of breeding method will in no way affect the survival of the offspring, the chickens are very hardy, fledge quickly and grow up.

In the first days of life, chicks are fed with chopped boiled egg, sprinkled with semolina. Then, you can gradually introduce mash into the diet with the addition of greens, fish and meat waste, dairy products and other components to the above ingredients. Chickens are transferred to adult feeding upon reaching the age of one month.

Chickens wyandot - description

American Wyandots are medium in size, but boast beautiful lush plumage.

Roosters have a not too large head with a short yellow beak and a medium-sized comb. The shape of the crest is unusual: it is not erect, and not bent to the side, like in other breeds, but tightly but gracefully adheres to the head. There is also a small round spine on the crest that follows the occiput line. The neck is not very long, but strong, slightly bent back, which is why the roosters have a very stately exterior. The feather collar on the neck is very fluffy and falls over the back, covering the entire shoulders.

Roosters of the Wyandotte breed have an unusual figure: due to the fact that the body length is noticeably greater than the height, the bird looks squat and wide. And given the lush plumage, the Wyandotte rooster may even resemble a ball on legs. The upper body line, running from the neck through the back to the tail, is a beautiful curvature, shaped like a lyre. The short, bushy tail is well open, the tail feathers are covered with braids. The back, chest and abdomen are quite wide and well developed. Legs are long, rich yellow.

Chickens generally have the same characteristics, with the exception of, of course, sexual characteristics. Significant differences also include a slightly smaller size and a more fluffy tail.

The Wyandot breed has at least fifteen color options (in the dwarf subspecies - about 30), among which silver is the most widespread. In this version of the plumage, a white-gray tint prevails, and black is an auxiliary one.

In roosters, silvery feathers are clearly dominant on the head, neck collar, loins, chest and outer wings.Moreover, each silver feather has a black border. The plumage of the tail and flight feathers are rich black, sometimes with a greenish tint. In this case, the down of the feather is always dark in color. In turn, the hens are completely covered with silver feathers, but their black edging is wider, which is why the proportion of black in the total mass is higher than in the case of roosters.

Other color options (with the exception of solid colors, such as white) also have a characteristic edging on the feathers, which is why the edged wyandot is always easily recognizable.

Farmers speak about the nature of these chickens mostly positively, noting their calm, peaceful disposition and getting along with other birds.