Characteristics of Wyandotte chickens
At the present time, the variety and number of chicken breeds is off the charts. Among them there are exquisitely beautiful individuals worthy to take part in international exhibitions and competitions. There are purebred and hybrid species, meat, egg and mixed types of chickens. Even the most capricious chick-keeper will find a suitable bird for himself. Bird lovers very often breed flocks of mini chickens and huge broilers. Recently, Wyandotte is becoming more and more popular, and its breeding is very important now. This is a mixed species that can give both meat products and eggs, which is beneficial for large poultry farms and for fans of Wyandot chickens, its description can be found in any sources.
Chickens Wyandotte
A bit of history
At the beginning of the 19th century, birds called Wyandotte appeared in America. This name was given in honor of an Indian tribe because of the plumage, similar in color to the feathers that the Indians wore in their headdresses. For several decades, chickens were bred, and in 1883 a new species of this breed appeared - Wyandot silver and Wyandot silver bordered. To obtain a silver chicken, it was necessary to cross 6 other species in order for gene splitting to occur. Thanks to its ancestors, the wyandotte is bordered with silvery productive in terms of eggs, meat and rapid maturation.
The name of the silvery Wyandotte chickens has changed several times. At first they were called Sibright, then they changed their name to Colombian, then Ekzelsior, etc. At the beginning of the 20th century, Wyandotte chickens were imported into Russia under their current name. Here the breed was improved to add new varied and unexpected colors, increase the quality of meat and eggs productivity for several more decades, and finally the result of the experiments became positive. At the moment, the type of chicken of the Wyandot breed has more than 15 varieties: White Wyandot, Golden Wyandot, Partridge, etc.
Short description
These small pestles are compact and inactive. They adapt well to the cold, which makes birds even more popular. The Wyandotte rooster has a medium-sized head, neat and standard for individuals of this genus. An expressive beak with a pale yellow color. The scallop is light pink, small in size. The scallop is different from other types of comb. In the male Wyandotte, it is neat, small, symmetrical, tightly attached to the head along its entire length; it has a large cone-shaped spike located closer to the back of the head and a standard pattern.
A feature of the figure is the body length that Wyandotte chickens have more than the height of the bird. Because of this, it seems that the feathered stocky and strong. The rooster has broad shoulders and the same back. The tail is bushy and short. Most have a golden black-bordered tail, but sometimes a partridge golden. Legs are typical yellow.The color of feathers can be very diverse and depending on the manufacturer: from charcoal to blue tones, always bordered by darker shades. Wyandot breed of chickens, its description can also be found in Internet resources.
Females are extremely similar to roosters, apart from sex and size, which is slightly smaller. In the photo, you can see small differences more closely. Silver Wyandotte is the most popular breed. It got its name due to its color, which seems to be dazzling with glittering sparkles. Silver turns white, bordered in black. The upper body, head and wings are white. Each feather of the body has a bordered black outline, as if traced by the brush of a talented artist. Chickens of the silver Wyandotte breed differ from males in that the back of the body, starting from the abdomen, is black. Description of possible rejection:
- a strong discrepancy in appearance to the above;
- small chicken with an angular shape;
- the bird is too round spherical and has short legs;
- the body is narrow, with a narrow super short tail;
- the absence of a thorn on the ridge or the shape is too sharp, awl-shaped;
- eyes are light;
- the lobes are white;
- coloration differs from that of these Birds.
What are the advantages and disadvantages
As mentioned, chicken has a high level of adaptability to almost any climate, which is beneficial for colder places and hotter countries. The purely silvery-bordered Wyandot hen lays eggs well, and it also has the ability to lay eggs both in winter and in summer during molting.
Youngsters are productively hatching, without any particular difficulties, almost every egg gives a strong nimble chick. Chickens Wyandotte have a high survival rate and resistance to various kinds of infections and diseases. birds do not have to be kept separately from others, since they are not conflicting and easily get along with other species, even the Wyandot cock. Meat and eggs of excellent taste, suitable for consumption in any form and for baking, like birds dwarf mini wyandotte.
If we talk about the negative aspects of these birds, then the Wyandotte chickens are lazy, they are characterized by a sedentary lifestyle, slight apathy. The high cost due to the rarity of this species is also one of the unpleasant moments. Obesity is a common problem in chickens in which it practically disappears egg production.
Productivity
Mixed productivity consisting of egg production and meat production is an advantageous feature of the breed. The rapid and simultaneous ripening of the chicks is beneficial for keeping the chicks. After 6 months of their life, chickens begin to lay almost every day. The maximum weight of an adult rooster is 3.5 kg, while a female can weigh 2.5 kg. During the first year of keeping, a brood hen can produce up to 200 eggs, but in subsequent years, egg productivity decreases slightly, by about 10%. Large eggs weigh more than 50 g, the color of which is yellow, sometimes brown.
In addition, there is a dwarf Wyandotte, bred by breeders from Germany and England. The weight of an adult chicken dwarf mini wyandot is only 1 kg, the egg weighs 35 g, the egg production is not large. The annual number of eggs of the dwarf Wyandotte varies between 100-120 pieces. To ensure the continuation of the genus, it is necessary to keep a small flock then the eggs for incubation will be as fresh as possible. The dwarf species is considered unique and very rare, sometimes it can be seen only in elite reserves and in private farms, and therefore the price for it is much higher than that typical for other relatives.
Care and maintenance of chickens, proper nutrition
Due to their adaptation to cold places, chickens do not require special care, but for better productivity, especially egg, several rules must be followed. Chicken coop it cannot be dark and cramped, birds must move freely on it, daylight must enter in a large volume. If there is no way to admit the natural lighting, you can make an artificial mixed, that is, incandescent lamps plus fluorescent lamps. The number of hens per rooster cannot exceed 10 pieces, the best option is 8 or 9 layers.
Due to the large weight of eggs nests and perches for wyandot chickens, the breed should be low, in order to avoid damage in case of a possible fall, their floor location would be ideal. wyandot are susceptible to easy infection, so it is necessary to keep them separate from other species or carefully monitor the health of all birds. Information about the problems that concern the Wyandotte chickens in the video can be found quite quickly.
Chick nutrition must be monitored to support rapid maturation. The diet should be full of carbohydrates and proteins. Boiled egg (protein) with semolina - food for chicks of several days old. A week later, it is allowed to introduce herbs, meat, etc. After another 3 weeks, the young hen can be transferred to adult nutrition. It includes cereals such as wheat, barley, corn. An adult bird should eat plenty of food, but remember that chicken runs the risk of becoming obese, so don't overdo it on carbohydrates. If the chicken starts to gain weight too quickly, it is necessary to limit the carbohydrates in the diet.
Poultry breeding
It is quite difficult to acquire a purebred Wyandot breed in our country, since such representatives are rare, especially from private owners. Usually, if the price is not high, it is a hybrid. If you are lucky enough to become the owner of this valuable species, then you should not regret the acquisition of Wyandotte financial resources. They will pay off very soon. The productivity of chicks is high, the survival rate of young animals reaches almost 100%. Laying hens, having turned into quails, take good care of the young, protecting them from possible dangers.
Reviews of these birds are more than positive, the best of this species is the partridge type wyandot, whose roosters have a juicy color (golden turns into deep brown, and at the end - into a blue-bordered tail), golden (excellent meat productivity), silver and dwarf. There are many video clips about this bird on the Internet, where you can study in detail and choose a suitable Wyandot breed for breeding, find a description of the breed as a Silver Wyandot in the photo. If you have the opportunity to acquire young animals, then very soon you will be convinced that the beauty of the birds competes with their productivity.