Wyandotte Chicken Breed: The Best Chickens for Beginners

Wyandotte chickens are probably my favorite breed. They are super laid back and tend to stay out of trouble. 

I’ve had several over the years and they all lied well and handled our cold winters well. 

There are several colors and I will get to those later but let’s do a quick look at the breed itself.

Wyandotte Chicken Breed Overview

Wyandotte chickens are a popular breed among backyard chicken keepers. 

• They are a great dual-purpose bird.
• A friendly and docile demeanor temperament
• A rooster weighs 8-9 lbs and hens are about 6 pounds.
• Lots of color choices.
• Wyandottes are reliable egg layers, producing approximately 200 eggs per year. 
• They are adaptable to a range of climates but are well-suited for colder climates due to their feathering.

Size and Weight

The Wyandotte chicken breed comes in two sizes: standard and bantam. 

The standard-sized Wyandottes are a decent size but not so big that they wouldn’t work for smaller backyard farmers.

When it comes to roosters, the standard Wyandotte can weigh between 7-8 pounds on average. 

In comparison, the hens typically weigh slightly less, ranging from 5-6 pounds. 

Here are the standard weights for adults: 

• Cockerals (males under 1 year) weigh around 6-7.5 pounds.
• Pullets (female chickens under 1 year) weigh about 5-6 pounds.
• Roosters range from 7-8.5 pounds.
• Hens weigh approximately 6.5 pounds. 

Bantam Wyandottes are much smaller in size. 

• Cockerals – 36oz
• Pullets – 32oz
• The roosters weigh 40oz 
• Hens weigh – 36oz

Personality

Wyandotte chickens are not only known for their good size and weight but also for their laid-back and friendly personalities. These chickens have a docile temperament, making them a good choice for backyard chicken keepers and families with kids.

One of the notable aspects of their personality is their adaptability. Wyandottes can thrive in various environments, making them suitable for both rural and urban settings. 

Wyandottes are one of the few chicken breeds that don’t mind or even enjoy human interaction. They easily bond with their owners and if you are wanting to have a few “lap chickens” this is a great breed for your backyard flock.  

In addition to their sociability with humans, Wyandottes also get along well with other breeds. They have a friendly nature that makes them excellent additions to a mixed flock. 

Can Go Broody: They are great mothers and tend to exhibit protective behavior when nesting.

Noise Levels

Wyandotte chickens are known for their chattiness and tendency to make noise throughout the day but its not loud and annoying like some chicken breeds.

Both hens and roosters can be quite vocal, especially when their personal space is disturbed.

It is also worth mentioning that each Wyandotte chicken has its own unique personality, which can influence its chattiness. Some individual chickens may be naturally quieter and more content, while others may have a more vocal and expressive nature.

Wyandotte Chickens Colors

Wyandotte chickens have dense feathering and come in a variety of colors, each with its own unique appearance. The number of recognized colors can vary depending on the country. But here are the colors recognized by the American poultry association.

The color variety Wyandotte breed was:

• Black
• Blue
• Buff
• Columbian
• Golden Laced
• Silver Laced
• Patrige
• Sliver Penciled
• White

Other colors you will see available but are not recagnized by the APA are:

• Black laced
• Blue-laced red wyandottes
• Splash laced red 

I have had the Columbian wyandottes, silver-laced Wyandotte, and one red blue laced Wyandotte and they were great chickens.

Whether you prefer the classic look of the silver lacing, the golden beauty of the golden laced, or the elegant simplicity of the white variety, Wyandotte chickens offer a wide range of colors to choose from. 

Egg Production

Wyandotte chickens are not only good-tempered but they are also known for their impressive egg production capabilities. This dual-purpose breed is a reliable layer, consistently providing its owners with a steady supply of delicious eggs.

A  Wyandotte hen can lay around 180-260 medium to large brown eggs per year. 

To maximize egg production, several factors come into play.

• Providing Wyandotte hens with high-quality feed, rich in protein, nutrients, and minerals, will ensure they have the energy and resources needed to lay eggs. Supplementing their diet with fresh greens and protein-packed treats can also boost their overall productivity.
• Having at least 14hrs of daylight is key to keeping any chicken breed laying all year long. You can supplement the light with artifishal light in the chicken coop to keep them laying throughout the year. 
• A clean and stress-free environment is important. Wyandottes and chickens in general thrive in a peaceful setting so even having your dogs (or kids) chase them on a regular basis will cause them to not lay as often. 

Facts About This Breed

These breed facts are pulled from the cackle hatchery breed description.

• Purpose and type: Preimary production, egg laying and pet. Secondary meat source. 
• Eggshell color: Light to medium brown.
• Temerment: Docile
• Fertility Percentage: 60-75%
• Broody: Setter
• Mating Raio: 9 females to 1 male
• Roost Hight: 2-4 feet
• Country of Origin: United States
• APA: Res, they are recognized by the American Poultry Standard Of Perfection.

Wyandotte chickens are a well-known and popular American breed. With their good egg-laying capabilities and also being a dual-purpose breed, awesome for beginner chicken keepers and homesteaders who want to have lots of options when it comes to the poultry they raise.

Keep in mind that they do grow a bit slower and will not have as much meat as some other breeds. But are still useful if you are looking for a breed that can be eaten after it has stopped producing eggs.

These birds can be relied upon to provide a good amount of eggs throughout the year even in the cold climates during the winter months. Just make sure they have a coop to go to during the really bad days of winter.  

With proper care and nutrition, Wyandottes can live for six to 10 years. While it is not common to have chickens get supper old simply because of all the predators that think of chickens as a great snack I have had one hen that lived to be 10 years old and she laid an egg once every 10-15 days for the last 3 years or so of her life. ⬇️

Wyandottes are agile breeds so unless they are in a covered chicken run they will get out to free range which is fine but like any chickens they will get into your flowers and vegetable gardens. This is literally the only reason I have not bought more of this breed. I decided to keep getting another breed that can’t (normally) get out of our chicken run fence so they aren’t getting into trouble. 

This breed would make a great breed if you lived in town or a city but make sure you still are able to keep them contained because you don’t want them driving your neighbors crazy. That is when you could end up getting in trouble with the neighborhood and may have to get rid of them if your neighbors complained. 

Otherwise, whyandottes are a great breed and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to have good egg layers that are easy to handle.