Wyandotte

The first mention of similar birds was in American poultry journals, in 1873, of Sebright Cochins, the result of crossing Cochins and Silver-spangled Hamburghs with 'other blood'. They were not well known until similar birds appeared named after American Indians called Wyandotte (why-an-dot) and standardised in 1883. The first was the silver laced and the Light Brahma had also been used in their creation.

The silver laced Wyandotte came to the UK at the same time as it was standardised and the first English bred birds were exhibited at the Staffordshire Show in 1884. The gold laced came again from America in the late 1880s, as did the buff & blue laced, though nearer the end of the century. Other varieties, the white, black, buff, partridge, silver pencilled, columbian, red & blue, made their appearance by 1910. There is also a barred form. There are 13 varieties in all, each made from a blend of various breeds which provides vigour. Chicks grow strongly and quickly.

They are docile, friendly, easy birds, graceful and active. There is nothing straight about them being well rounded with a saddle back. The body is short, deep & rounded; the back short & broad sweeping up to a medium sized, spread tail. The head is short and broad with a rose comb. Legs are yellow as are the beaks. Hens may lay up to 200 tinted eggs a year and are reliable broodies that make good mothers.

We have four varieties:

Blue Laced: The ground colour of the feathers is red brown with the edge marked out in blue.

Buff Laced: The ground colour of the feathers is rich buff with the edge marked out in white.

Gold Laced: The ground colour of the feathers is rich gold brown with the edge marked out in black.

Partridge: The cock bird has a dark orange head, hackles orange to yellow with a black glossy stripe down the middle of each feather. The back & shoulders a scarlet red, wing bars & pimaries black with bay coloured secondaries. the rest of the bird - breast, underneath & tail are black.

The hen has a golden-yellow head & hackles with the larger feathers finely pencilled. The breast, back, cushion, wings & tail are a soft partridge brown with each feather pencilled with 3 black lines that follows the outline of the feather.