Wyandottes; practical and pretty
The simple satisfaction of scattering corn and collecting eggs never leaves you. My mother kept hens and as soon as I had a garden of my own I bought my first Wyandotte bantams. I have now been keeping Wyandottes bantam chickens for almost 30 years.
Wyandottes bantams are an ideal size. They are energetic but sensible . They don’t fly so don’t need elaborate fencing. The area I live in is notoriously muddy so hens with clean un-feathered legs is essential.
Lots of Colours and new colour projects
Wyandottes come in lots of colours. I have a lot of fun developing new colours including spangled, millefleur, porcelain, mottled blue, mauve, chocolate and lavender.
Good layers
Wyandotte bantams are such amazing layers for size and quantity I didn’t find there was any benefit in keeping the large version so have stick to the bantams. Wyandotte bantams are quite a bit bigger than true bantams and mine lay good sized eggs,
Partridge Wyandotte Bantams
My first love is Partridge and Silver Pencilled Wyandottes . Both males and females are gorgeous. The males have colouring similar to wild red jungle fowl and for me their beautifully pencilled wives are the loveliest of chickens. PARTRIDGE WYANDOTTES
My Aim
- Good Layers
- Correct colour and type
- Vigour and fertility
- Nice temperament
- Show-winning quality
Vigour
I quickly learnt that if a bird has a whether tendency to get health problems or good health it will pass it on to future generations. I look after my birds as well as possible, if they get something wrong I don;t mind giving them a bit of apple cider vinegar but apart from that no treatment and birds that have been ill aren’t used to breed from. Hens living to a good old age have long lived offspring.
Temperament
I select for sensible temperament and birds that don’t fight. Any young cockerels that show a tendency to fight don’t go in the breeding pen.
