Black Laced Silver Wyandotte

Black Laced Silver Wyandotte—*100Black Laced Silver Wyandotte Chicken 

Admitted to the American Standard of Perfection in 1883, the Black Laced Silver Wyandotte chickens have their origins in New York State and are the foundation for all other Wyandotte colors.

These birds are known for their gentle nature and distinctive appearance, featuring clean legs and predominantly black-laced silvery white feathers with a black tail. They sport a red rose comb, earlobes, and wattles. Occasionally, they may go broody and are highly regarded for their mothering abilities.

Versatile in both confinement and free-range environments, they make excellent backyard chickens. These hens lay medium to large eggs and are bred for production rather than show.

Health and Care:

• Hardy and Resilient: The Black Laced Silver Wyandotte is a hardy breed, capable of withstanding a variety of climates. Thanks to its dense plumage, it performs well in both cold and warm climates. However, during hot summer months, they should have access to plenty of shade and fresh water to avoid heat stress.
  
  
• Disease Resistance: Wyandottes, including the Black Laced Silver variety, are generally disease-resistant and robust. However, they can still be susceptible to common poultry ailments like mites, lice, and respiratory infections if their environment is not kept clean. Regular coop cleaning, access to fresh water, and good ventilation are essential for keeping them healthy.
  
  
• Low Maintenance: Black Laced Silver Wyandottes are relatively low-maintenance in terms of care. They require a clean, dry living environment, a balanced diet, and access to fresh water. They are also good foragers, which makes them a great choice for free-range setups, but they also do well in smaller backyard spaces.

Egg Laying:

• Moderate Egg Production: Black Laced Silver Wyandottes are good layers, producing around 200-280 eggs per year. Their eggs are typically medium to large in size and brown in color.
  
  
• Seasonal Laying: These hens are consistent layers during the warmer months, but like most chickens, they may lay fewer eggs in the winter when daylight hours are shorter. However, they tend to lay steadily during spring and summer.
  
  
• Brown Eggs: The eggs they produce are brown, with a good size and consistent quality. While they aren’t the highest producers in terms of numbers, their eggs are excellent for both home kitchens and small-scale egg production.
  
  
  

Temperament:

• Friendly and Docile: Black Laced Silver Wyandottes are known for their gentle and friendly temperament. They are generally calm and enjoy human interaction, making them an excellent choice for families, beginners, and people with children. Their pleasant demeanor makes them easy to handle and manage.
  
  
• Sociable and Tolerant: These chickens are typically sociable with other birds. They are not overly dominant, so they coexist well in mixed-flock environments. They can handle competition at feeding time and are usually peaceful within the flock.
  
  
• Active and Curious: While they are calm and gentle, Wyandottes are still active birds. They are curious and enjoy exploring their surroundings, which makes them great foragers. They tend to enjoy free-ranging and will often scratch around looking for bugs, seeds, and other food.
  
  

Appearance:

• Striking Black and Silver Plumage: One of the most distinctive features of the Black Laced Silver Wyandotte is its beautiful plumage. Their feathers are laced in black and silver, with a striking contrast that gives them an intricate, eye-catching look. Their feathers have a slight sheen, and the lacing is a defining feature of the breed.
  
  
• Medium Size: Wyandottes, including the Black Laced Silver variety, are considered medium-sized chickens. Hens typically weigh around 6-7 pounds, while roosters can weigh about 8 pounds. Their sturdy build supports their egg production while still allowing them to be manageable in terms of size.
  
  
• Single Comb and Wattles: They have a single comb that is medium-sized and red. Their red wattles and earlobes add contrast to their striking plumage, enhancing their overall beauty.
  
  
• Round Body Shape: Wyandottes, in general, have a round and full body shape, with a broad chest and deep body. Their appearance gives them a well-proportioned and attractive look, making them a desirable breed for ornamental purposes as well as utility.

What color eggs do black laced silver Wyandottes lay?
Wyandotte hens are good layers of large cream to brown-colored eggs. They usually start laying eggs around 4-5 months of age. You can expect them to lay about 150-200 large eggs yearly or 3-4 per week. They tend to lay well in the winter compared to other chicken breeds.

Temperament. Wyandotte chickens have a calm and friendly demeanor. This makes them suitable for a family with children and to enter show competitions. However, don't think that 'calm' means they are boring or docile!

Silver Laced Wyandotte hens lay a nicely shaped, good-sized egg varying from light-to-rich brown, and will set some. Day-old baby chicks vary from almost black to light, silvery gray, and many have contrasting light and dark stripes on the back.

• Poultry Show Class: American Class
• Weights: Hen —-6 1/2 lbs
  
• Rooster—-8 1/2 lb
  
• Pullet—-5 1/2  lbs
  
• Cockerel—7 1/2 lbs
• Purpose and Type: Primary production, Egg Laying & Pet/Secondary meat source
• Egg Shell Color: Brown
• Egg Production: 180-260 eggs per year (estimates only)
• Egg Size: Medium
• Temperament: Docile
• Gender Accuracy: 85-90%
• Fertility Percentage: 60-75%
• Broody: Setter
• Mating Ratio: 9 Females to 1 Males
• Roost Height: 2 to 4 feet
• Country of Origin: United States
• APA: Yes, Recognized by the Standard of Perfection in 1883
• TLC: Graduated from priority list in 2016
• Breeder Farm Source: Poultry Breeding Farm has been developing our bloodline or strain of pure (production type) Silver Laced Wyandotte’s since 1989.