Silver Wyandottes - are they hardy?

[endo12]

I tried Silver Wyandottes just one time. I've always ordered chicks from Mt Healthy Hatcheriesl. One was a roo we gave away. One was lame from day one. It looked like the hip was dislocated and the foot wagged in back like a tail. We tried to straighten and hold it in place until she was 6 mo old, but finally we gave up, and she got along with only one useable leg in a separate "apartment" in the coop. All the others grew well. However, at about one year, with no obvious evidence of disease, we found one after another dead in the run at about month intervals. Not egg bound, no violence, no insects. At about two years old the crippled one suddenly died. Other breeds bought at the same time and in the same flock did well (Orpingtons and Australorps). It's a mystery to us, since we've had a variety of different breeds and all have done well. Any thoughts?????? Where do most folks get their Wyandottes?

 

[DawnM]

I was wondering about Wyandottes too so I hope someon replies.

 

[speckledhen]

As a breed, yes, however it depends on where you get them, to a degree. They do well in heat and cold, sure. Healthwise, all of my hatchery Wyandottes died from internal laying/egg peritonitis starting when they turned two years old, except for the one gold laced, who was about a year and a half old. Three Silver Laced, one gold laced, all dead from the same type reproductive malfunction, all from the same hatchery.

 

[BookWorm243]

I am no expert but it sounds to me like the hatchery you got them from does not have good wyandotte breeding stock. I get mine from My Pet Chicken, and have had no problems.

Here is some info on them

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/Wyandotte-B6.aspx

http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Day-Old-Baby-Chicks/Silver-Laced-Wyandotte-p235.aspx

 

[CMV]

I have 4 GLWs that are almost 4 years old. I had a 5th who survived a terrible hawk attack, a brutal infection and ended up re-homed because her flock rejected her. She's still kicking, too. Mine have been very hardy. They are tough as an old boot. They have survived mite infestations, fowl pox, a round of cocci, avoided most predators and lived through temps ranging from 100 to -25 degrees. They still lay like troopers (except for the chronically broody one) at 4 years old. I've been very pleased with mine.

Maybe you got a weak batch? I got mine from the local feed store, so I'm not sure which hatchery they came from. I'm sure they came from one of the big name ones.

 

[speckledhen]

My Pet Chicken isn't a hatchery, that I'm aware of. I thought they drop shipped from hatcheries. It's not just the Wyandottes, but RIRs, Buff Orps and Barred Rocks, all died from same ailment, all from same hatchery. Hatchery stock in general isn't bred for longevity anyway. Mine were all good layers till they malfunctioned.

As a breed, Wyandottes are hardy. They do very well in winter and summer. I won't be getting anymore of them-bad memories of losing all my sweet girls-however, I would get mine from a good breeder if I decided to try them again.

 

[BookWorm243]

Quote:
No My Pet Chicken is not a hatchery, my pet chicken and meyers hatchery are the same. I must say tho from talking with people some prefer meyers over my pet chicken and vice versa even tho there is no difference, I personally prefer my pet chicken.

 

[BookWorm243]

Quote:
Do you know of any good wyandotte breeders?

 

[Harris5]

Foley's have excellent Wyandotte. I have been very happy with the birds I received from them. www.foleyswaterfowl.com

 

[Illia]

Good Wyandotte breeders include Paul's Poultry, Katy's birds (Katy on BYC here) and Foley's Waterfowl and Poultry.


Like Speckledhen said, Wyandottes from hatcheries (including Meyer, which is where you get your chicks from when ordering from MyPetChicken) are in general not the best, like almost any hatchery based breed. They don't last very long, as they're bred for short-duration production.

As for Wyandottes bred to type, they're naturally cold hardy and heat hardy, are slow growers, and have good longevity.

My own Wyandottes I got from a hatchery two years ago are the most disease resistant and cold hardy of my hatchery based breeds, but they're VERY underweight and lanky for a Wyandotte, and when I pick them up I can feel and her their hips popping around. Kinda creepy, honestly.