Chickens are bred for meat and eggs. Universal breeds are in special demand, which allow you to get the maximum benefit. Wyandotte is one of the oldest hybrids; birds have been known since the XNUMXth century. Chickens can be kept even in open cages, they are unpretentious, they are easy to care for. The great advantage of the breed is its livability with other birds.
Characterization
The breed of Wyandot chickens 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. To date, things are much more interesting, share more than 10 species with different colors of feathers. The size of the chickens is average, 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 bulbous yellow beak. A distinctive feature is the scallop. In shape, it resembles a medium-sized rose. The comb fits close to the head and looks attractive. In the region of the occiput, a spike on the comb is clearly distinguished.
The eyes of Wyandot chickens are orange with a slight reddish tint, the shape is oval, and the size is medium. Earrings are smooth, medium, long, oval. Rounded small lobes of red color. The plumage of a powerful neck is magnificent, falls on the shoulders.
The shape of the body of males looks wrong, its length is greater than its height – an illusion of a wide and squat body is created. The back and shoulders are broad and muscular. The tail is small but bushy. The chest is slightly protruding.
The long legs are not covered with plumage, the fingers are splayed. The color of young individuals in this part of the body is bright yellow, but changes with age, becomes lighter. The physique of the females of the Wyandot breed differs only in a smaller body size and a more open tail.
Silver Wyandot is the most popular among poultry farmers. In the coloring of individuals, light gray color predominates. Roosters have a lot of 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 stomach.
Wyandot chicken standards have been known for a long time. There are a number of certain defects in which the individual is subject to culling. The following individuals are separated from the main herd:
- severe deviations in physique;
- the body is small, with angularities;
- visually, the chicken resembles a ball on legs;
- the spike on the scallop is absent or has a sharp shape instead of a round one;
- the eyes are not orange-red, but some other color;
- visible white coating on the lobes and earrings;
- the plumage is not the color that is declared in the description of the standard.
Pros and cons of the breed
Wyandot chickens are quite attractive in appearance, but this is not the main thing. Before choosing them for breeding, it is worth weighing all the positive and negative qualities. Consider the main advantages of the breed.
- High resistance to low temperatures.
- Layers are quite active. Egg production does not decrease in winter, as in most chickens.
- The offspring are quite viable. It is believed that the breed hatchability of chickens is 98%.
- There is no need to build a separate chicken coop for the Wyandotte representatives. They have a calm and friendly character, thanks to which they easily get along with other breeds of chickens.
- Hens start laying eggs quite early, from about 8 months.
- The breed allows you to get high-quality and tasty meat and egg products.
Farmers know that perfect birds do not exist. The main disadvantages of the breed:
- birds are inactive, not prone to high activity, which often leads to obesity;
- the breed is rare, so the cost is quite high;
- it is rather difficult to acquire pure breed chickens; various crossbreeds are often found.
Birds really easily adapt to harsh climatic conditions. The main disadvantages of the Wyandotte breed are more likely to be related to the human factor. If the poultry breeder carefully chooses individuals, then he will not encounter problems.
Content Rules
The breed is distinguished by its adaptive skills. Representatives are not demanding on living conditions. High-quality plumage allows chickens to winter in a chicken coop without heating. They do not experience discomfort from this, they do not get sick. However, this is only possible if there are no drafts.
Lighting should be organized in the same way as other breeds of chickens. Otherwise, laying hens will produce fewer eggs with shorter daylight hours. Birds weigh a lot, so nests and perches must be strong, they should be installed at a low height from the floor. When making it yourself, you should use wooden smooth cuttings for shovels.
Birds do not have strong natural immunity, so it is worth keeping them away from other animals that can bring any kind of infection. The chicken coop should be as clean as possible, dirt greatly undermines the health of the representatives of the Wyandot breed. Regular cleaning should be done every 7 days. In the summer, you need to replace the bedding with every cleaning.
A complete replacement of the flooring in cages or a chicken coop is done once a year in the spring. You can use sawdust or peat. For a warm chicken coop, it is better to stock up on clean sand – the chickens will bathe in it. During general cleaning, it is necessary to cover the walls of the room with lime. Such a simple manipulation will protect chickens from parasites and infections.
Feeding is of great importance, only with the right approach to the issue, chickens will grow well. Feed should be balanced and plentiful. Chickens the first days after birth are fed with chopped boiled eggs with semolina. After 3 days, new components can be introduced into the diet. It is better to start with greens, and then – any components of adult nutrition.
Young animals are transferred to adult food 30 days after birth. Until this day, chickens need to be fed about 7 times a day. Feeds with protein compounds are especially important for adult laying hens. You need to monitor the dose so that the birds do not overeat. The genetic tendency to obesity requires special attention and feeding exclusively according to the norms.
If it happens that the chicken eats a lot for 2-3 days in a row, then the situation must be corrected immediately. Reduce food intake and increase exercise. You can install the feeder on the platform so that the bird has to strain.
The basis for the diet of an adult are the following products:
- whole grain;
- waste from fish and meat products;
- vegetables;
- greens, especially green onions;
- milk whey.
Feeding birds must be balanced, this is very important for a hybrid breed. It is necessary to add a lot of vitamin and mineral premixes to the feed mixtures. Water should be changed as often as possible. It should always be clean and fresh.
Breeding
Representatives of a pure breed in Russia are rare. Farmers have few such chickens, so the acquisition is difficult. In the conditions of factories, they are kept solely for the preservation of genetic material in order to breed new hybrids.
If you managed to find high-quality individuals of the Wyandot breed that meet all standards, then the costs will pay off in the near future. Raising chicks from hatching eggs is a simple task. The probability of survival in young animals of this breed is much higher than that of other relatives. Chickens are distinguished by care when caring for offspring, they are excellent hens.
Beauty, versatility and decorativeness make Wyandot chickens the best candidates for breeding., so many experienced poultry farmers believe. Remember that the first 10 days after birth, the chicken should be in a room with an air temperature of + 30 Β° C. The bedding must be clean and dry. Already in the third week of life, chickens can be released onto the grass, walking for 15-20 minutes will benefit.
Gradually increase your walks and wait for the chicks to feather. After that, you can transfer them to a common chicken coop with adults. In the room, be sure to equip a heated area so that the young animals can bask if necessary. An infrared lamp would be an excellent solution.
Diseases
Chickens of the Wyandot breed do not have special diseases that are inherent in them. It can be considered a big advantage that birds are not at all prone to frequent diseases. It is important to vaccinate on time to maintain natural immunity. Protection against skin parasites should also be carried out according to the schedule.
Wyandotte is considered one of the cleanest breeds of chickens., so their habitats need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Provide your birds with a draft-free chicken coop. Otherwise, the birds may catch a cold.
The most effective measure for the prevention of mass diseases will be the timely detection of sick chickens. Such an individual must be urgently isolated from the herd. To determine the state of health, you need to evaluate the shade of the metatarsus and plumage. If the bird is ruffled and the legs are pale, then there is a possibility that she is sick. Another reason for such anomalies is the lack of essential vitamins and minerals.
Reviews
Most Wyandot chicken owners are happy with their choice. Private poultry farmers warn that it can take a long time to find quality chickens. The most common are silver, so it’s best to look for them right away. You can breed wyandotes even without an incubator; chickens hatch eggs perfectly.
The breed is not troublesome, but you should always monitor nutrition. Low mobility can cause obesity, but it also causes chickens to eat less feed than other breeds. Healthy impurities must 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 warmed up to + 10 Β°. 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. Chefs assure that the chicken of this particular breed is the most delicious, tender and juicy.
About the Wyandot breed, see below.
