Wyandottes are substantial chickens with a rose comb and many plumage varieties. They can suit a dual-purpose backyard flock, but neither body size nor comb type eliminates weather, predator, or behavior risks.
Wyandotte Chicken Overview
Here are some of this breed’s notable traits to help you decide if you want to consider raising them.
| Lifespan | 6 to 12 years |
| Weight | Up to 9 pounds |
| Appearance | Large, sturdy body with many color varieties |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Egg Production | About 200 per year |
| Good for Beginners? | Yes |
| Minimum Coop Size | 4 to 5 square feet per bird |
History of the Wyandotte Chicken
Either way, there are several varieties of Wyandotte that are formally recognized, including the Silver Laced, the Partridge, and the Buff. Silver Laced is believed to be the first type of Wyandotte chicken bred.
Creating Dual-Purpose Chickens
A dual-purpose breed, the Wyandotte has a heavy weight and can also be considered one of the most productive egg laying chicken breeds. These chickens are believed to have originated sometime in the late 1800s.
Developed by four people, John Ray, H.M. Doubleday, Fred Houdlette, and L. Whittaker, the WYandotte was one of the first dual-purpose birds.
It was originally referred to as the American Sebright chicken, but the name was changed by the American Poultry Association.
The first Wyandotte variety to appear was a Silver-Laced variety. This was developed somewhere in upstate New York in the 1860s.
A short time later, the Gold-Laced WYandotte – one of today’s most popular breeds – appeared.
The Gold-Laced Wyandotte Was created with genetics from a Silver-Laced Wyandotte hen and a gold-spangled Hamburg and Partridge Cochin cock.
This unique variety wasn’t originally called a Wyandotte at all but instead a Winnebago.
The Wyandotte made its first international voyage in the 1880s, making the trip across the Atlantic to be showcased to British poultry purveyors.
It became so popular that by 1904, the cost of buying a Wyandotte chicken was equivalent to the cost of buying a small house!
Appearance of the Wyandotte Chicken
A sturdy chicken, the Wyandotte weighs in at up to nine pounds. It can be found in a variety of colors that are recognized by the American Poultry Association, as well as other colors that have yet to be formally acknowledged. Wyandotte roosters tip the scales at up to nine pounds, while hens are slightly smaller, at six or seven.
You can also find bantam-variety Wyandotte chickens. These usually weigh between 36 and 42 ounces.
A deep, full-breasted chicken, the Wyandotte has a large frame along with a large head and a deep rose comb. A rose comb is simply one that sits closer to the head of the chicken instead of standing erect and upright, which is what you might see on other breeds of chickens. This comb is not only beautiful to look at, but helps to protect the chicken from harsh winter weather conditions like frostbite.
The Wyandotte is a well-rounded bird that makes it perfect for the dinner table.
According to the American Poultry Association standard, the Wyandotte chicken should have yellow skin and yellow legs. The legs are clean and without any feathers, possessing four toes on each foot. The legs are sturdy, able to hold the heavyweight of the chicken.
The face, earlobes, comb, and wattles of the Wyandotte chicken are all red, with a beak that is a dark golden-yellow in color. The eyes are uniquely orange.
Color Varieties
The rest of the appearance of the chicken breed will vary depending on what color variety it is. The gold-laced variety has, as you might expect, golden feathers that are laced with deep black. They also have some subtle veining.
Other variants recognized by the American Poultry Association include:
- Silver Laced: created as a cross between a silver-spangled Hamburg and a dark-colored Brahma
- Gold Laced: created in Wisconsin as the result of breeding a Partridge Cochin, Gold Spangled Hamburg, and Silver Laced Wyandotte
- Black
- Partridge: a cross between a Buff Wyandotte and a Partridge Cochin
- Buff: a cross between a Silver Laced Wyandotte and a Buff Cochin
- Silver Penciled
- Blue
- Colombian: created as a cross between a Barred Plymouth Rock and a white Wyandotte
These same variants are also recognized in Great Britain, with the addition of barred, buff laced, red, and white Wyandottes, too. Bantam Wyandottes were admitted to the standard in 1933.
Today, they are somewhat difficult to find, but can still be located in select areas.
For chicken keepers who are seeking a smaller breed of bird, the bantam variety is often the perfect fit.
Behavior of the Wyandotte Chicken
As docile, friendly birds, Wyandotte chickens are known as being some of the best backyard chickens you can raise. They enjoy being able to forage and free range but can also tolerate confinement quite while.
Combining a mixture of the two is recommended for mots backyard chicken keepers, this will allow you to provide your chickens with all the protection (and access to tasty bugs and pasture!) that they need.
Do They Get Along with Other Birds?
Calm and easy to get along with, the Wyandotte tends to get along well with most other chickens.
It can be cranky from time to time, however, and won’t do well with chickens who like to be at the top of the pecking order – the Wyandotte means business, and it’s here to stay.
This chicken has a ferocious dominant streak and won’t take kindly to being bullied.
You will likely find that your Wyandotte chickens spend much of their time alone. They are aloof and tolerate confinement well, but also enjoy free-ranging.
They will have a ball going after the seed, bugs, and other critters wandering about your lawn.
That said, these chickens aren’t prone to hurrying. They will take their time and patrol at their own pace, not too worried about what the other birds in the flock are doing.
Interactions with Humans
While Wyandottes aren’t exactly known for being lap chickens, they aren’t aggressive, either. Although being cuddled definitely won’t be their favorite pastime, you shouldn’t have to worry about these chickens going after your small children or pets.
In fact, Wyandotte chickens are popular exhibition or 4H birds, since it generally takes quite a lot to upset them.
They are known for being top award-winners in the show ring, too, both for their personable demeanors and their stunning appearances.
Wyandotte Chicken Productivity
Here is a quick run down of the type of productivity that you should expect from Wyandotte chickens:
Egg Production
This is a common problem with other breeds of chickens, who tend to stop egg production altogether during the colder months of limited daylight.
Most Wyandotte chickens will lay about four medium to large eggs each week. The excellent laying abilities of the Wyandotte hen is something that is unique to this breed.
In fact, many dual-purpose chickens have notoriously poor egg production. After all, you have to make compromises somewhere!
However, this is far from the case with the Wyandotte. It will continue to produce lots of eggs all year for you, regardless of the season.
Meat Production
Wyandotte chickens are also commonly raised for meat. This old-fashioned breed is considered a heritage breed in that it takes longer to reach table weight.
However, most Wyandotte chickens will be ready for slaughter at around four months of age.
While the meat will be the most tender if you slaughter at this time, you don’t have to do it at this time.
You can wait for as long as eight months to butcher your chickens. After about eight months, the meat will start to get tough.
Wyandottes aren’t known for being overly fatty, especially when compared to other dual-purpose heritage chickens like Orpingtons.
However, the carcass is nice and full and will yield you plenty of meat, filling out well after 20-25 weeks.
When you are raising meat birds of any kind, but especially heritage chickens like Wyandottes, remember that what you feed your chickens will play a huge role in how the meat tastes.
Allowing your chickens to free-range and eat morenatural foods (instead of gorging themselves on grain) will lend to a carcass that is leaner and has a finer flavor.
Health Problems of Wyandotte Chicken
They are feathery and fluffy, though, so with all chickens, you will want to keep an eye out for problems like external parasites.
Lice and mites can be particular issues, so inspect them on a weekly basis to make sure everything looks to be in tip-top shape.
Providing regular access to dust bathing facilities can help your Wyandotte chickens prevent problems with parasites.
Another issue related to the thick, downy feathering of this bird has to do with its rear end.
Because it’s behind is so amply feathered, you may notice issues with droppings messing up the backside of our birds. If it becomes an issue, simply trim the features and you should be good to go.
As with all chickens, it’s important that you remember to provide adequate fresh water and plenty of nutritious feed. You will also want to supply a safe, secure chicken coop for your chickens to roost at night – and of course, to lay their eggs!
Raising Wyandotte Chicks
When you have Wyandotte chicks, you don’t need to do much else besides the basic level of care that you would give to chickens of any breed.
As adults, your Wyandotte chickens will need a basic laying feed. Be careful about feeding too much laying feed if you are also raising roosters in your flock – too much calcium can cause kidney and liver problems.
The more space you can give your Wyandotte chickens, the better!
Make sure the coop in which you are housing your Wyandottes is ventilated but also free of excessive drafts. This will help prevent chilling during the winter months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you considering caring for Wyandottes? If so, the following questions might be helpful.
What is the Most Common Type of Wyandotte?
Silver Laced Wyandottes are the most common for this breed. They were the first type of Wyandotte bred, and they’ve remained popular ever since.
Are Wyandotte Chickens Cold Hardy?
Yes, Wyandottes do well in cold weather. They’re adaptable to all types of temperatures, as long as you provide them with suitable shelter.
Keep the varieties in perspective
Blue Laced Red and Columbian describe varieties within the breed. If breeding or showing, check the standard and country rather than assuming every attractive color is recognized everywhere.
A low comb may reduce exposure compared with a large single comb, but it does not make a bird frostbite-proof. Use dry winter housing and summer heat management as conditions require. Large chickens also remain vulnerable to predators; do not leave a run unprotected because a breed description suggests hawks will avoid them.
