The Wyandotte chicken is one of our absolute favorite breeds, and for so many reasons! They’re exceptionally cold hardy, dual purpose, and make great mothers.
While they’re astoundingly gorgeous and have the cutest fluffy butts, they’re also the divas of the chicken world.
We’ve put together a quick and simple breed spotlight so you can get the facts without the fuss. Find out if the Wyandotte is the right chicken for you…
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Wyandotte Chicken Breed Profile
Wyandotte Pronunciation:
Why-an-doe-t
Wyandotte Chicken Personality:
We have found Wyandottes to be big divas. They’re beautiful and they know it. They strut around the yard showing off their gorgeous coloring and look down on any bird that crosses their path with that classic chicken snark.
Wyandottes are calm birds, but will gladly challenge anyone who threatens their status. They tend to be at the top of the pecking order.
Wyandottes can also be very calm and gentle, and most are good mothers. They’re more likely to go broody than most breeds. If you’re looking to hatch out your own eggs, a Wyandotte might just be right for you!
While some breeds are more akin to certain personality types, the way that they’re raised has a lot to do with temperament. If you spend more time handling your birds from a young age you’ll get a nicer more personable chicken!
Size:
Wyandottes are large! They’re good dual-purpose birds because they are prolific layers and grow to a decent size for meat. Hens grow to be around six pounds, roosters grow to be around eight pounds.
Wyandottes come in standard and bantam size.
Appearance:
Wyandotte chickens are exceptionally beautiful, with rich coloring and sometimes have lacing of a second color on each feather. They’re quite rotund and fluffy. Wyandottes have thick yellow legs free of feathers. They have a rose comb and if they have wattles they’re small and close to the face.
Wyandotte Variations:
Color:
- Silver Laced
- Gold Laced
- Blue laced
- Blue
- White
- Columbian
- Pencilled
- Black
- Buff
- Partridge
Laying Skills:
Wyandotte’s lay around 200 per eggs per year.
Wyandotte Chicken Eggs:
Wyandottes lay large light to medium brown eggs.
Free Ranging Skills:
Wyandottes are excellent free-rangers.
Climate:
Wyandottes are excellent cold climate chickens. Their fluffy feathers, large bodies, and small comb and wattle protect them against cold weather.
History:
“The Wyandotte is a beautiful and useful breed that was named after a Native American tribe prevalent in parts of upstate New York and Ontario, Canada. They were first named American Sebrights but this was changed to Wyandotte when they were admitted into the APA Standard of Perfection in 1883. The Silver Laced Wyandotte was the original color recognized. Their origins are uncertain but the Wyandottes are thought to have been developed from the Dark Brahma and Spangled Hamburgs, as well as other breeds. Since the development of the Silver Lace, many other varieties of Wyandottes have also been bred.”
Source: The Livestock Conservancy
Fun Wyandotte Fact:
One of the most famous chickens in history was a Wyandotte. Miracle Mike survived for 18 whole months after his head was cut off!
We hope you enjoyed this breed spotlight!
Jess
Friday 7th of July 2023
Love them but it's pronounced Why-en-dot. There's the town in Michigan of the same name and both the chicken and the town are named after the Native American tribe, the Wyandot people.
Alissa
Monday 23rd of January 2023
If you want an egg layer but sometimes chicks m, do you have to keep the rooster separated? I'm a newbie chicken mom-to-be
Meredith
Monday 3rd of April 2023
No you don't have to separate the rooster, just make sure you collect eggs everyday so the hens don't get a chance to brood on fertilized eggs.
Mel Lancastle
Wednesday 28th of August 2019
Are Wyandotte's happy to sit on and raise other varieties of chickens? What about duck eggs?
Meredith
Thursday 29th of August 2019
Yes, all broody hens will raise any type of chick as long as they're good mommas. Some broodies aren't good moms and will reject any chicks, so you have to watch them carefully. Most hens will raise ducklings without trouble, but again, depends on the mom!
Janine
Thursday 31st of January 2019
That picture is not of a Wyandotte. The comb is wrong. They have a rose comb. It is a very significant part ofnthat breed.
zzday
Friday 1st of September 2017
The breed is very popular amongst both exhibitors and as beautiful productive back garden layers.