The Wyandotte is a chicken breed that originated in the United States in the 1870s. It was given the Wyandot name, a native American group in North America. The Wyandotte is a breed that is raised for both its brown eggs and its meat, which has yellow skin. It is a well-liked exhibition bird and comes in a variety of colors. Initially, it was referred to as the American Sebright.
Appearance
The medium-sized Wyandotte chicken has a rose comb and relatively long, smooth legs. They have golden legs. This type of chicken has broad, loosely-fitting feathers. The vent’s surrounding environment is highly fluffy. Their feathering is always dazzling and frequently laced.
There are a total of 17 recognized hues, including the most popular buff, black, partridge, silver penciled, lavender, blue laced, pure white, silver laced, and golden laced. Their comb and wattles are a stunning shade of deep crimson.
As Pet
The Wyandotte chicken breed is a favorite among backyard chicken owners. They are suitable for beginners because they require little maintenance. Wyandottes are a highly hardy breed in the winter. You needn’t worry about them if it gets too cold because their thick plumage keeps them cozy and warm. However, they struggle with the heat and are therefore unsuited to hot regions. You can keep your Wyandottes cool on a hot day by making sure they have plenty of shade and water to drink, hosing down their coop, and offering freezing ice cubes for them to sit near. In comparison to other breeds, Wyandotte chickens are fairly raucous.
Housing
Wyandottes require a lot of area because they are fairly huge and spherical. Although more space is always preferable, the conventional recommendation is 4 square feet per bird. Although they are typically a calm breed, they will need a coop size of 6 square feet apiece if they are living alongside more assertive breeds. Each chicken just needs 8 to 10 inches of roosting area within the coop. They will, however, enjoy it if you can offer them a bit more space.
They will disperse throughout the warmer months, and in order to stay warm, they will be huddled up together during the winter. They are a heavy bird, so make sure the perches are very sturdy. They will have a secure roost and be able to keep their toes warm if a 24 inch piece of sanded wood is placed wide side up for them to sit on. A chicken should have 8 square feet of area if it is being kept in a run.
Lack of space will cause them to get bored and develop bad habits like feather picking.
Feeding
Wyandotte enjoys feasting on table scraps and will consume the majority of leftover vegetables or fruits. However, it is preferable to restrict treats and make sure they consume enough chicken pellets, cereals, chicken mash, or grain mix starting at 8 weeks old. Feeding your hen a diet rich in 16% protein layer feed, along with high-protein treats and plenty of calcium, is the best way to keep her healthy.
Temperament
Wyandotte hens are calm, sociable chickens that are excellent for backyard coops. They can endure confinement but like to roam free, so a balance of run enclosure time and backyard roaming time will keep them happy and prospering in their surroundings.
Grooming
They don’t need much of this, aside from the preferred dust baths that all hens take as part of their grooming process. Although maintaining the lovely plumage can be achieved by adding some particular herbs, such as lavender, to the dust bath. Checking them for mites, lice, and other parasites on a regular basis is a good idea. Checking for these pests at least once a week shouldn’t be too difficult because these birds don’t dislike the attention. Always have your birds de-wormed on a regular basis, particularly if they interact with kids or other animals.
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