The chicks are growing so fast. They already have little feathers. There will be another post today featuring pictures of them--this is not my weekly journal update. But I realized today that I never did post what breed my lovely little girls are! Here is some information about their breed, taken from Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds, and from other sources.
The chicken breed I purchased is Wyandotte, in two color variations, silver-laced and golden-laced. The breed name comes from the Native American tribe Wendat, from parts of Canada and upstate New York. The breed was developed in the 1870s. Silver-laced was the first color, and its roots are not so much known.
The Wyandotte is a soft, heavy breed. Soft refers to the contouring of its feathers--it is more loosely feathered than "hard" breeds, whose feathers stick to the body. Soft breeds are generally also considered cold-hardy breeds. Heavy refers to the breed's standard body type. The Wyandotte is a dual-purpose bird, meaning it can be used for eggs or meat. Meat birds are often considered "heavy." Heavy breeds tend to be calmer and less flighty than "light" breeds, which are primarily for egg-laying and can be very feisty.
They have a small rose comb (the fleshy part on top of their heads). The comb and wattles (dangly flesh under the beak) are used for heat release in chickens, since the birds do not sweat. The small rose comb is good for cold environments, as it reduces the areas for frostbite.
Wyandotte hens weigh around 6.5 lbs (3 kg) when fully mature. They are a pleasant, docile breed.
Silver Laced hen
(http://www.backyardpoultry.com/old/vis/wyandotte1.jpg)
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