Blue Laced Red Wyandotte chickens are a visually striking and popular breed known for their unique blue-laced red plumage and friendly temperament. They are a dual-purpose breed, meaning they are good for both egg production and as a meat chicken. They are relatively cold hardy and adaptable to different living conditions.
Key Characteristics
Appearance: The most defining feature is the intricate blue lacing on the red feathers, creating a beautiful contrast. They have a rose comb and yellow legs and feet.
Temperament: They are generally docile, calm, and friendly, making them good for families and first-time chicken keepers.
Egg Production: They are reliable egg layers, producing medium to large brown eggs.
Meat Production: Their well-fleshed bodies make them a good dual-purpose breed for meat as well.
Cold Hardiness: Their rose comb and thick plumage make them well-suited to cold climates.
Adaptability: They adapt well to both confinement and free-range environments.
Broodiness: Hens may occasionally go broody, showing a strong maternal instinct.
Not Recognized by APA: It's worth noting that this color variety is not yet officially recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA).
Breeding Considerations:
The blue color in Blue Laced Red Wyandottes is a result of the Andalusian blue gene, which doesn't always breed true.
Breeding two blue-laced birds can result in chicks with three different color variations: blue, black, and splash.
To get predominantly blue-laced chicks, breeders may cross black-laced and splash-laced birds.
Not Always Show Quality
Not all blue-laced birds will meet the standards of the American Poultry Association, especially when breeding for specific lacing patterns.
Blue laced Wyandotte chickens, specifically Blue Laced Red Wyandottes, get their blue lacing from the Andalusian blue gene (Bl). This gene dilutes the black pigment in the feathers, creating a blue or slate-blue laced pattern on a base color, often red. Breeding two blue-laced birds together doesn't always produce all blue offspring; instead, you'll get a mix of black, blue, and splash (almost white) birds.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
The Blue Gene:
The Andalusian blue gene (Bl) is semi-dominant and responsible for the dilution of black pigment in feathers.
Blue Laced Red Wyandottes:
These birds have a red base color with blue lacing, which is the result of the Bl gene acting on the black pigment.
Breeding Blues:
When two blue-laced birds are bred, the offspring will exhibit different color variations due to the way the blue gene is inherited:
Blue: One copy of the Bl gene (Blbl) results in a blue (or slate blue) laced pattern.
Black: No copies of the Bl gene (blbl) results in the base color (black, in this case, red) being expressed without dilution.
Splash: Two copies of the Bl gene (BlBl) results in a double dilution, leading to a nearly white bird with some blue markings, often called splash.
Other Genes Involved:
Besides the blue gene, other genes like the pattern gene (Pg), melanotic gene (Ml), and Columbian gene(Co) play a role in creating the specific laced pattern in Blue Laced Red Wyandottes.