Wyandotte Chickens: Breed Guide

History: the American Sebright

The Livestock Conservancy records that the Wyandotte was first known as the American Sebright, and was renamed after the Wyandot people of upstate New York and Ontario when the American Poultry Association admitted it in 1883. Its exact origins are uncertain, but it is thought to have been developed from Dark Brahmas, Spangled Hamburgs and other breeds.

Silver Laced was the original recognized variety, and many others followed. Breeders wanted a hardy farm bird for both eggs and meat that matured fairly quickly, and the extension service lists the Wyandotte among the American dual-purpose breeds. The Conservancy removed it from its priority list in 2016 after numbers recovered.

Appearance and varieties

Wyandottes are round, full-bodied birds with a broad back and a curvy outline. Their most distinctive feature is the comb: a low, fairly flat rose comb with small rounded points, smaller on hens, which sits close to the head and rarely suffers frostbite. They have bright red faces, wattles and earlobes and yellow legs. The Conservancy lists weights of about 6.5 pounds for hens and 8.5 pounds for roosters.

The laced varieties are the showstoppers: Silver Laced (white feathers edged in black), Golden Laced (gold edged in black) and Blue Laced Red. Solid colors include White, Black, Buff, Columbian and Partridge. Bantam Wyandottes are popular for smaller yards and shows.

Eggs

Wyandotte hens lay large brown eggs, ranging from light to darker brown, according to The Livestock Conservancy. Backyard hens commonly lay three to four eggs a week, and their dense feathering and compact comb help them keep laying through cold weather better than many breeds, though they slow in midwinter and during the molt.

Like other brown-egg layers, they have red earlobes, which the extension service notes is the usual clue to a brown egg. Feed a complete layer ration with oyster shell on the side, and collect eggs at least daily. The Conservancy notes Wyandotte hens are good mothers, and many go broody in spring and summer.

Temperament

The breed is described as friendly and calm. Wyandottes tolerate handling, adapt well to confinement and are not strong fliers, so they stay inside ordinary fencing. Some hens can be a little bossy in a mixed flock, so watch introductions with very gentle breeds such as Silkies.

Roosters are usually manageable, though any rooster can become protective. Wyandottes are steady foragers that enjoy free-range time but do not wander far, which suits a typical suburban yard. Their calm nature also makes them a good breed for children learning to care for chickens.

Is a Wyandotte right for you?

Choose Wyandottes if you want beautiful, cold-hardy hens with a frost-resistant comb, a steady supply of brown eggs, a calm temperament for a family flock, or a broody hen to raise chicks. They suit northern yards especially well and are easy to contain.

Look elsewhere if you want the highest possible egg count or a bird for a very hot climate without shade. Many keepers mix Silver Laced and Golden Laced Wyandottes with other breeds for a colorful flock that keeps laying through cold weather.

Housing and climate

Wyandottes are cold-hardy: dense feathering, a compact body and the rose comb make them a favorite in the northern states. A dry, well-ventilated, draft-free coop matters more than heat. In hot summers, give them shade, airflow and plenty of fresh water, since heavy feathering traps heat. Our chicken coops, such as this wooden chicken coop, and nesting boxes, such as the chicken nest box, cover the housing side, and the chicken coop buying guide explains what to look for.

Plan at least 4 square feet per bird in the coop and 10 in the run, nest boxes for every four or five hens, and roosts higher than the nests. Check the dense fluff around the vent for lice and mites. Call a vet who treats poultry if a hen stops eating, sits hunched, limps, or has discharge from the eyes or nostrils.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace advice from a veterinarian who treats poultry.