The Silver Laced Wyandotte is just as graceful and beautiful as their name sounds. Here's what you need to know about this unique chicken breed.
Just looking at the Silver Laced Wyandotte will simply take your breath away! Yes, the Silver Laced Wyandotte chicken is no doubt one of the most beautiful chicken breeds out there.
These beautiful chickens belong to the Wyandotte breed, one of the oldest and most recognizable (not to mention, loved!) breeds in the United States. It is also unique in the fact that the Silver Laced Wyandotte is really the first American breed developed to be dual purpose: These American beauties are used for their egg production and for, well, their meat. Without further to do, let's talk about this truly American breed of chicken.
Appearance and Temperament
"Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the prettiest of them all?"
That is of course the Silver Laced Wyandotte chicken. Like the Leghorn chicken, this dual-purpose breed is famous for its striking beauty and colors. It's easy to see why they are the prettiest out of the backyard flock - These backyard chickens have gorgeous silver and white feathers with black lacing along the edges, as well as bright red earlobes and wattles. Their rose comb makes them great for handling cold climates, making this dual-purpose bird a cold-hardy chicken perfect for where it was first originated from, New York (as well as locales with the same climates). We also love how round and fluffy they are! This fluffiness also helps keep the Silver Laced Wyandotte hens warm as they do their egg-laying, hatching super cute Silver Laced Wyandotte chicks.
They are easygoing and docile, making them a favorite for backyard flocks and family pets. Other than their good dispositions, these backyard-owner favorites are also good egg-layers, producing nice-sized brown eggs with a range of beautiful brown egg colors. These cute brown egg-layers can produce an average of 180 to 260 eggs per year, with medium to large egg sizes.
Overall Care
Like the Rhode Island Reds, the Australorps, the Buff Orpingtons, the Jersey Giants, and the Leghorns chicken breeds, Silver Laced Wyandottes are relatively low maintenance and are great for beginner chicken-owners/raisers. These beautiful birds are known for their calm and gentle demeanor and their innate ability to forage food for themselves, so it's best to give them at least a little bit of free-range time daily! Given their hardiness, they also make great mothers to their babies and can be broody. (i.e., Hen's maternal instincts have kicked in.) So, get ready for some baby chicks!
Fun fact: While there are over nine varieties of the Wyandotte chicken, the Silver Laced was the first variety to be developed, followed by the Golden Laced Wyandotte.
Do you have a Silver Laced Wyandotte in your flock? Please tell us in the comments!
