Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Guide: All You Need To Know

The Wyandotte chicken has always been a very popular breed.

However in recent years The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte in particular has been getting a lot of attention because of their unusual coloring.

They are a beautiful chicken that also doubles as a wonderful egg layer.

Although they are not currently recognized by the American Poultry Association it is fairly certain that they will be soon.

As this is such a new breed there are a few misconceptions about the coloration of this bird so please keep reading to learn more about this strikingly colored chicken…

Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Overview

Blue chickens of any variety are sought after since they are something of a rarity in the chicken world – like Ayam Cemanis.

The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte may just be the most popular of these blue chickens.

They have blue lacing over red feathers which makes for an interesting and beautiful pairing.

As a member of the Wyandotte family they will be a reliable egg layer and friendly with humans.

They will produce around 4 large eggs per week and are known to lay even during the winter months.

Wyandottes were created for cold weather climates so a bit of snow and ice does not bother them much at all. They will tolerate warmer climates too just make sure they have enough shade and plenty of water.

Overall the Blue Laced Red is just like her sister varieties – a no fuss chicken.

They just need the basics of chicken care and they will get along just fine.

Why We Love This Breed

Appearance

All Wyandottes are large and round chickens with a full breast and slight dip in their back.

Their head holds a rose comb which like the wattles and ear lobe are red.

Eyes are a red bay color and are deep set just above a horn colored beak.

Her skin and legs should be yellow – her legs are quite short and stocky to support her weight.

Blue Laced Red Wyandottes have dense under feathers which are a grayish blue hue. This under feathering runs from their underbelly to the tail.

On their back, breast and sides are reddish chestnut colored feathers that are laced with a gray or blue color.

The neck feathers are blue until they merge with the head feathers which are deep red.

It can be difficult to tell the difference between roosters and hens as chicks.

Watching the behavior of your chicks will give you the best clues. Boys are usually more assertive, curious and bold while the girls tend to stay to the back of the group, maintain a lower profile and keep quieter.

At the second molt (around 7-12 weeks) the boys will start to sprout hackle and sickle feathers. Around this time there will be the first pathetic attempts at crowing!

Size and Weight

All varieties of Wyandottes are large chickens.

You can expect hens to weigh around 6½lb and roosters should come in around 8½lb.

Their fluff makes them look even larger!

Color

The Wyandotte comes in many colors however the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte has red feathers with blue lacing.

Since this chicken does not breed true, not all chicks will be this color.

What Is It Like To Own A Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Chicken?

Wyandottes enjoy being active and you will often find them foraging.

They love to free range and explore the yard.

She is such a good forager that they can supplement their diet with seeds, bugs and other tasty morsels that they find out roaming.

If you observe her with other chickens she can be described as aloof or even stand offish.

They do not associate much with other breeds and prefer the company of their own kind.

Personality

The Wyandottes are a calm, docile and dependable breed.

Nothing much flusters a Wyandotte – they seem to have an almost unshakeable calmness and rarely get upset about anything.

You will find they do not mix with other breeds and prefer the company of their own kind.

They are certainly not aggressive however if another bird starts picking on a Wyandotte, the Wyandotte will finish it up. They do not tolerate being picked on or pushed around and others soon learn not to mess with them.

Blue Laced Red Wyandottes are fairly quiet and peaceful and will be friendly enough to their keepers.

However they are very unlikely to become lap chickens. Whilst they will tolerate being picked up and cuddled they prefer not to have that close a contact with you.

They will enjoy your company while walking around the yard looking for treats or helping you with gardening – a task they love.

Although they rarely go broody they do make great mothers and are very attentive to their chicks.

Egg Production

She is a great egg layer and will lay around 4 eggs a week all year round.

This works out at around 200 large brown eggs a year.

Wyandottes will reach point of lay around 16-20 weeks (usually later rather than earlier).

They are not known for being broody and Wyandottes in general have a problem with fertility so can be difficult to breed.

However once she is broody she will happily sit on any eggs you give her.

Noise Levels

The Blue Laced Wyandotte is usually a quiet chicken.

They do chatter to one another but it is usually very quiet.

Egg laying, sounding the alarm and roosters crowing are really the noisiest they get.

Facts About This Breed

1. The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte chicken was developed in the United States.
2. This specific coloring is not an officially recognized variety.
3. Unfortunately due to their fluff they have a relatively low fertility rate.
4. Good quality chicks can cost up to $40 each.
5. As they have a rose comb it is very rare for them to get frostbite.

Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Care Guide

Health Issues

Generally this is a robust and healthy breed.

Apart from some issues with low fertility (because of their fluffiness) they really are sturdy birds. Also because of their rose combs and dense under-fluff they are well adapted to cold climates.

One of the few health issues Blue Laced Red Wyandottes have is the usual pests such as lice, mites and worms.

They should be treated either on a regular schedule or as needed depending on your management style.

Because the Blue Laced Red has become so popular demand has been high and some folks have been guilty of using inferior birds to breed.

This has caused some strains to have issues with body conformation.

Whilst not really a health issue it is more of an inferior stock issue.

Just be aware of this and make sure to buy from reputable dealers only.

Feeding

Just like any other chicken breed the correct nutrition is very important.

As chicks (up to the age of 16 weeks) they should be fed crumbles with at least 20% protein. Crumbles are easier for the chick to eat.

Once they reach 16 weeks you can transition them over to 16% layer feed, either crumble or pellet. You should offer your laying hens extra calcium in the form of oyster shell in a separate container so that they can take it as needed.

You can also use cooked eggshells and crumble them.

Finally make sure they always have clean and fresh water available.

Coop Setup

Wyandottes are large and fluffy chickens so they will each need 8 square feet of coop space – more would be better especially if they are sharing with other breeds.

Again they will need a bit of extra room on the perch.

So try to give them 10-12 inches of personal space on the roosts.

Blue Laced Red Wyandotte hens will use the space to their full advantage in the warmer months and snuggle up tighter in the winter.

As for nesting boxing a standard 12×12 inch nesting box will be enough for them. There is enough room to wriggle around and get comfortable but not enough room for nest sharing.

Run and Roaming

As previously mentioned Wyandottes just love to free range and are good foragers.

If you let them free range they will keep the yard clean of small bugs and critters for you.

Also having access to fresh greens and protein will keep them healthy and fit.

If you do have to keep them in a run they do tolerate confinement pretty well.

Just make sure they have space to move around in (minimum of 10 square feet for each chicken). Also inside the run make sure to give them things to pique their interest. Leaf piles, a variety of perches at differing heights, log stumps and quiet areas where they can be away from the flock will all help.

Finally as they do not fly well a 3-4 foot fenced area will keep them inside the run.

Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Breed History

We have already covered the complete history of the Wyandotte breed however a brief version specific to the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte will be outlined here.

The Wyandotte breed came about from a vision of the perfect chicken that was shared by a small band of breeders.

For this band of breeders the ideal chicken was cold hardy and a good supplier of eggs and meat.

Chickens of that era did one or the other so having a good dual purpose hen would be a blessing.

The first Wyandotte was the Silver Laced variety followed very shortly by the Gold Laced.

However the origins of the Blue Laced Red are a bit more complicated.

It was originally thought that the Blue Laced Red was created in Germany in the late 1800s. However there is written evidence that the variety was created here in the US and then shipped to the UK and possibly Europe.

Regardless of where they were created this is an old variety that has recently been rediscovered.

The original Blue Laced Reds did not seem to enjoy wide acclaim and were limited to a few dedicated breeders.

However the recent surge in popularity is no doubt due in part to the color combination – it is something different. However this breed should be celebrated as a good steady layer and a decent dual purpose chicken.

Summary

There has been lots of interest in the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte in recent years.

Perhaps folks are intrigued by the coloring or maybe just want something new!

If you are looking for a great family breed then look no further. They are reasonably friendly with their owners but they are definitely not lap chickens, like Silkies.

She will lay all year round and is capable of looking after herself for the most part.

All of these chickens will lay lovely eggs and be a happy presence in your yard.

Let us know in the comments section below how your Wyandottes turned out…