Effective, calm, full of dignity - chickensWyandot, which appeared in the United States in the XIX century, collected the best qualities of meat-egg breeds. The first birds entered the standard in the US in 1883 (they were silvery representatives of the breed), in Russia it happened in 1911.
Development of the breed
The first silvery-bordered variety, asalready noted, was recognized and accepted in the standard in the States in 1883. In 1933 appeared black, yellow, Colombian, grouse, silver-fringed, silvery with a black pattern and white. In 1960 and 1965, golden-fringed and yellow-Colombian were added. In 1977 they were blue.
Chicken and cock: appearance
They have a classical round shape, yellow orhorny beak, long yellow bare legs. The crest is small (in the male too, in comparison with leggorns, for example). Chickens are very calm in nature, almost never, even near food, do not fight. Samochki to the same - excellent hens.
As of January 1, 2012 the American AssociationPoultry (APA) has recognized 10 variants of coloring, while today more than 17 variants are known. Viandot - a breed of chickens, photos of which invariably attract attention thanks to the bright and beautiful colors of birds.
Among those for which there is a breed standard:black, blue, fawn, pale-Colombian, Colombian, golden-fringed, partridge-like, silver-fringed, white, silvery with black pattern.
Weight of the average rooster varies from 2.5 to 3.5 kg, chicken - from 2 to 3 kg. Chicken Wyandot grow very quickly and reach the size of adults at the 15th week of birth.
White Chickens
White-colored whitots were at one time very popular due to their productivity, delicious meat, liveliness and endurance, but during the Second World War the population declined significantly.
These chickens carried large light brown eggs and,as a rule, had a beautiful silky plumage. However, most British Wyandots had a soft fluffy feather cover, gave fewer eggs and needed much more protection from the elements.
In the middle of the 20th century, most White Wyandot(some chicken gave up to 240 eggs a year - an outstanding result) and were the ideal choice when a cold-resistant bird was needed, capable of giving a lot of eggs and tasty meat with a minimum of care, with a calm and friendly character .
Color options
Although the American Poultry Associationofficially recognizes only 10 colors (to achieve inclusion in the standard is not so simple, one of the requirements - there must be at least 5 breeders-members of the APA, breeding this species for at least 5 years), there are much more:
- White. Appeared in 1885 due to breeding B.M. Briggs of silvery Wyandot, light shades, white leggorns and orppington, as well as dorking. Feathers and down they have a pure white color. Inclusions of a different shade or yellow coating are considered a serious drawback.
- Silvery.They were the first recognized birds of this breed. The Wyandot silver chickens descended from a whole set of different ancestors, such as Kohinquin, Brama, Leggorn, Sebright, Bentamka, Hamburg, Orpington.
- Black.Strictly black fluff and feathers with a greenish tint and with yellow metatars, the same or dark horny beak. A male in the tail of a tail may have a little white color. The fluff at the base of the feathers can also be white. The standard does not allow bronze color in flight feathers or cock rods, dark hens or pale ones in a male, just like a black beak or a feather without a green gloss.
- Blue.This kind of exotic coloring appeared in some way as a result of crossing of silvery Wyandot with blue andalusks. Blue Wyandot chickens have a uniform color of feathers and down, without bordering. The loin, head and mane of the cock together with the covering feathers of the wings are darker, sometimes velvety black. In fluff, a little white is permissible. The paws and beak are yellow (or beak horny). Unacceptable shortcomings include unevenness, patchiness of color, black spots, white or black beak, greenish or brown feathers. Young cocks should not have white in the tail.
- Silver-edged.The history of the appearance of this coloring has several stages. In the first place, the breeds of Sirabrite and Cochin chickens crossed, in the second - the silvery Hamburg huts with a dark bra. Métis from the first pair was further crossed with chicks from the second. Further selection has formed what can be seen in breeders in our time.
- Golden-fringed.Roosters of this variety have a golden color of feathers (including heads and manes) with a black pattern on them according to the standard. The tail is black with a green sheen. The chicken has the same color of plumage as a golden brown, with a black and green glitter pattern. The tail feathers and down are black. Wyandot Golden was bred by Joseph McKin of Wisconsin as a result of crossing the silver-fringed hens of this breed with Winnebago cocks.
- Striped and striped.They look, more likely, pock-marked than striped. But in fact, if you believe the standards of the breed, their main color is brilliant black. However, clearly defined white stripes pass through each interval at regular intervals. Proper plumage as a whole should look bluish-gray. Down in the cross-striped Wyandot has the same pattern as the feathers, but a lighter shade. It is unacceptable if the stripes or the picture as a whole are indistinct, too large, and the plumage creates an impression of a dark or brownish color.
- The Colombian ones. Received in 1893 by the same B.M.Briggs. The result (if you believe the stories), in many cases, the crossing of white Wyandot with striped plymutrok was not planned. The result of the alliance was further crossed with a red rod-aylend and a light brass. The resultant bird is mostly white, with black strokes along the feather stem and silvery fringing of the mane.
- Golden-white. The main color of the cocks is golden. Drawing - white, tail, belly and fluff - white (as in chicken). Head - golden with a white dashed pattern.
- Wyandot is golden. The mane is the same in both varieties - golden in color with a dashed white pattern.
- Golden-throated. Bright beautiful birds.In the cock, the chest, shins, belly and tail are black with a greenish gleam, the feathers have a brownish fan, while they themselves are saturated black. The head of the female and male is red-brown. The mane of the chicken and the head with the mane of the cock have a golden yellow color with a black pattern. In this case, the main shade of plumage is gray-brown in females, without any figure whatsoever.
- Silvery-pointed.The main color of the chicken is gray with the interspersion of small black dots. The rooster has a black, greenish tinge of the chest, lower leg and abdomen. The head is white, as are the wings from the shoulders to the transverse bands.
- Paley.Coloring is very common among mongrel hens - a simple, uniform, rich yellow color. It is considered unacceptable if the birds of this species are spotty or mottled, too dark or light, or with a reddish tint. There are also fawn-colored white-striped and fawn-colored black and Colombian. The main color of the female and male is yellow. The plumage pattern is the same as that of the "Colombians". In this case fluff is gray.
- Printed cotton.A very interesting variety of chickens - the main color of them is light chestnut-brown, but at each crossing there is a black spot on the tip with a greenish tint, in the middle of which there is a white dot. Males differ from females in that they have a slightly darker and more expressive pattern.
- Red Wyandoty. They have the same color of feathers as the rod-island, sometimes a little lighter.
- Kurapatchatye.In 1895-1896 in the state of Iowa in the United States brought partridge wyandot. In the formation of the breed took part the golden Hamburg, Indian fighters, partridged Cochins, English fighting and Italian partridge hens.
- The dark ones. Have a beautiful clear black pattern on a light background, dark slate fluff.
- Golden-blue.Chickens from pairs of this coloring turn out blue and white plumage. Adult males, mostly golden, only fluff blue and abdomen dark gray. Female - golden brown, with a blue pattern.
- Dwarf vandot. The breed of chickens, which appeared in the XX century in England and Germany.
Character of birds
Chickens as a whole are very calm and friendly, however they keep some distance with the person - they do not spin around the owner unless they are specially tamed.
In addition, they like to "talk" - which includes the singing of cocks, and the clucking of hens. Excellent incubate and grow chickens, as their own, and from other chickens.
How many eggs can be obtained from Wyandot?
At the age of about 25 weeks the birds begin to sweep. In the first year they give 180 to 200 eggs, in the second - from 130 to 150. Some especially good layers can produce up to 240 pieces per year.
For comparison:representatives of egg breeds give up to 220-250 pieces in the first year (some hybrid chicken - up to 300). In 1979, a LEGhorn laying hen laid 371 eggs, becoming the record holder for this indicator among all registered cases.
Advantages of Wyandot
If we summarize all of the above, then toThe advantages of the breed include resistance to cold, unpretentious eating, friendly and calm nature, delicious meat with a fairly large number of eggs laid.
At the same time, birds have the instinct of hatching and grow chickens well, they start to sweep early. You can keep them in open cages, because they can not fly.
It is worth mentioning some disadvantages thathave chicken Wyandot. Reviews about them are usually enthusiastic, especially from beginners. However, this poultry is prone to obesity (which is not critical) and is sensitive to infections. Therefore, their habitat must be kept as clean as possible, and also limited to communication with other people's chickens.
Conditions of detention
These birds are unpretentious, but they are better fedSeveral times a day, or to ensure that food and water are always available. The diet should be further enriched with calcium and vitamins. Some farmers use chopped dry dog food for this purpose.
Birds need free-range, especiallyin summer. Since they can not fly, you can either release them into the garden, or build a special aviary. The coop should have roosts and be cleaned regularly (using caustic soda or other safe disinfectants).
Who do they fit in?
An excellent choice of Viandot chickens will be for beginners and for people who want to keep independent, calm, friendly birds. They are also good in the role of "2 in 1" - and as a source of meat, and as layers.
Perfectly suitable for farms that have land that can be given to chickens for walking. Samochki are "living incubators".
Dwarf Wyandot
In addition to the usual variety of breeds of different colors,there is one more. Dwarf vandots. This breed is characterized by a smaller size and weight, which fluctuates around 0.9-1 kg, and, accordingly, they need less food. Chickens more round in shape. Eggs are also smaller.
Despite the size that these chickens have,vandot dwarf in the rest is very similar to the usual - the same colors, similar conditions of detention, feeding, the instinct of incubation and calm nature.
