There are many different chicken breeds out there, and the Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte is one of them. Although not as popular as some other breeds, Blue Laced Wyandottes make extraordinary chickens for both experienced and beginner chicken owners. Among other chickens, it is known for its beautiful blue and gold feathers and for being a docile and friendly chicken.
Therefore, if you want to know about this fantastic chicken breed, read on to learn everything you need.
What is a Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte?
The Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte, also known as Blue Laced Red Wyandotte or Violet Laced, has a few different origin stories. The typical one is they were created by Mr. Heidenbluth in Germany by crossing Gold Laced Wyandottes and Andalusians. In 1929, it became the latest addition to the German Standard of Perfection.
Blue Laced Gold Wyandottes get their name from their blue and gold coloration. Some have blue lacing, while others have gold lacing.
Appearance and Lacing
The Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte is a large chicken with a single rose comb and wattles. The earlobes are white, and the eyes are red.
In original Wyandottes, the lacing is usually blue but can also be gold.
The lace has a feathering pattern that distinguishes them from other chickens. The feathers have a dark center with a light outer edge, creating a lace-like pattern on the chicken’s plumage. The stunning plumage is golden with blue lace. Splash laced variety with yellow legs is also famous in Wyandotte chickens.
There is also a Silver Laced variety of this chicken.
Size and Weight
This breed is a large chicken. The roosters weigh 8-9 pounds, and the hens weigh 6-7 pounds.
Uses
Blue Laced Gold Wyandottes are an excellent all-around chicken. It is a good layer of brown eggs and a good meat bird. It is a beautiful bird that makes a great pet or addition to any farm or homestead. Wyandotte is recognized by the American poultry association for its beautiful rose combs and coloration.
blue laced gold wyandotte eggs and Meat
Wyandotte breed is dual-purpose chicken, meaning you can use them for both egg and meat production. It is a good egg layer, producing around 200-280 brown eggs per year. The color of the blue laced gold wyandotte eggs varies from light to dark brown.
Many owners report finding their most prolific layers by installing a chicken coop camerain the egg box.
Varieties and Offspring
Wyandottes have varieties that come in different colors. Aside from Blue Laced Wyandottes, there are Silver Laced chickens, Gold Laced chickens, Blue Laced Red chickens, and many more.
The origin of The Silver-Laced Wyandottes came from the Blue Laced Wyandottes. They are very similar in appearance, but the plumage is silver with black lacing instead of blue.
The Golden laced Wyandotte was developed from Silver laced Wyandotte and brown leghorn. These chickens have beautiful feathers with golden lace. As Gold Wyandotte chickens are hybrid chickens, their chicks are not uncommon to hatch with coloration different from their parents. They can inherit traits from either parent breed.
The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte are descendants of the Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte and the Silver-Laced Wyandotte. It is very similar in appearance to both of its parent breeds, but the plumage is red with blue lacing instead of silver.
Temperament, Broodiness, Foraging
Generally, Wyandottes are active chickens known for being friendly and docile. They do well in free-range conditions and are known to be great foragers. They forage for various food, including insects, greens, and seeds.
Chickens of this type are also cold-hardy, so they do well in colder climates. Generally, Wyandottes have strong broody tendencies, but the blue laced are seldom broody. They are not known for being broody chickens. It means they do not have a strong desire to sit on and hatch eggs.
How to breed Blue Laced Gold Wyandottes
Blue Laced Gold Wyandottes are a hybrid chicken, so they cannot be bred true. This means that their chicks will not necessarily inherit the blue and gold plumage of their parents. If you want to breed Blue Laced Gold Wyandottes, you may find success by following a similar process for breeding blue-laced red wyandottes. However, most keepers find it much easier to purchase them from a reputable breeder.
Then, like other chickens, they need a dry, clean place to nest and lay their eggs. Blue Laced Gold Wyandottes will also need a good quality diet and plenty of fresh water.
Health Issues and Care
As with all living things, chickens need food and water to survive. But providing them with the proper nutrition is not always as simple as it seems. Chickens need a well-balanced diet to stay healthy and lay eggs, and sometimes getting that balance right can be a challenge.
A chicken’s diet should consist of three main things:
- Grit – This helps chickens grind their food in their gizzards. Chickens will usually pick up grit on their own from the ground, but you may need to provide extra if they don’t seem to be getting enough.
- Layer feed – This is a specially formulated feed that provides chickens with the nutrients they need to lay eggs.
- Water – a chicken watering systemis needed to stay hydrated and to help them digest their food. You must be especially careful when raising chicks and get a special baby chick waterer.
In addition to these three things, chickens also like to eat bugs and other small creatures. This helps them get the protein they need, and it’s also a good source of entertainment for them.
Like all chickens, they have no significant health issues but are susceptible to common poultry diseases like Marek’s disease and avian influenza.
Drawbacks and Concerns
- The Blue Laced Wyandottes are large chickens and might not suit small backyard flocks. They might also need plenty of space to roam and forage.
- They also tend to overeat, hence you need to have a feeder that dispenses food in moderation.
- These chickens are also known to be very active, so they might not do well in confinement.
- The roosters can be aggressive, so they might not be the best choice for backyard flocks with children.
- Blue Laced Gold Wyandottes are prone to getting over-excited so they may become flighty or skittish. Handling them with patience is essential.
- They can be difficult to find, so you might have to order them from a hatchery or breeder. These chickens are not as common as other chicken breeds.
Is The Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte Right for Your Backyard Flock?
It’s for you if:
- You’re looking for a large chicken breed for meat production.
- You want a friendly and docile chicken.
- You’re looking for a good layer of brown eggs.
- You live in a moderate climate.
If you think this breed is the right chicken for you, then why not start with a few chickens? You can get a chick in many different hatcheries and through many other breeders. Like with the Golden laced Wyandottes, Blue Laced Gold variety can also make a great addition to your flock.
Where can you get a Blue Laced Gold Wyandotte?
As with all poultry breeds, you can obtain them through a reputable hatchery or retailer. A few places that sell this breed are: