Breed profile
Wyandotte
The rose-combed beauty that still earns her feed. Wyandottes are American originals, and the Silver Laced is the original variety: silvery-white feathers laced in greenish black. The hatchery estimate runs 180 to 260 brown eggs a year, and the breed combines a docile, steady temperament with cold-weather grit. The rose comb is not just ornament; unlike a Leghorn's tall single comb it sits low and resists frostbite.
The egg numbers
| Eggs per year (first laying year) | 180–260 |
|---|---|
| In-lay rate | ≈3–5 a week |
| Strain note | One hatchery's Silver Laced Wyandotte estimate: 180-260 brown eggs per year, flagged as estimates only; another's Q&A estimates 220-280 for the same variety, so the published band keeps the spread. |
| Egg color | brown |
| Egg size | medium |
| Starts laying | 20–26 weeks |
| Winter laying | moderate |
Body and climate
| Form | standard |
|---|---|
| Strain | heritage |
| APA class | American |
| Comb | rose |
| Leg feathering | clean |
| Leg color | yellow |
| Bird size | large |
| Skin color | yellow |
| Recognized varieties | Nine APA color varieties recognized in the US: black, blue, buff, Columbian, golden laced, partridge, silver laced, silver penciled and white. |
| Weeks to maturity | 20 |
| Mature hen weight | 6.5 lb |
| Mature rooster weight | 8.5 lb |
| Weight note | Standard range: females 2.7-3.2 kg (6-7 lb), males 3.5-4 kg (8-9 lb); midpoints shown. |
| Cold hardiness | good |
| Heat tolerance | good |
| Climate note | The Silver Laced hatchery description: cold weather doesn't seem to bother them, and hens keep laying through the winter. |
Character
| Temperament | Docile, steady, and easy to enjoy. |
|---|---|
| Disposition | good |
| Free range | good |
| Meat production | better |
| Broodiness | moderate |
| Broody note | These hens may go broody from time to time and make excellent mothers when they do. |
| Good first breed | Yes |
What this means for your setup
Mid-heavy birds: hens 6 to 7 pounds on the standard range. The winter story is good news, since hens keep laying through the cold, so your winter budget goes to keeping their water liquid rather than replacing lost production. Broody hens pause laying when they sit, so have a plan for breaking up a setter if chicks are not the goal.
Gear that fits this breed
Coop Size Calculator
turn 6.5-lb hens into coop, run and roost numbers
Egg Calculator
turn the 180–260 egg-a-year range into a hen count
How Much Space Chickens Need
heavy fowl are the reason the generous end of the space math exists
Wyandotte FAQ
How many eggs do Wyandottes lay a year?
The hatchery estimate for Silver Laced Wyandottes is 180-260 brown eggs per year, with the usual caveat that age, daylight, feed and housing all move the number.
Are Wyandottes cold-hardy?
Yes. The hatchery description says cold weather doesn't seem to bother them and hens keep laying through the winter, and the low rose comb is less frostbite-prone than a tall single comb.
Do Wyandottes go broody?
Sometimes. The hens may go broody from time to time and make excellent mothers when they do, though broodiness pauses laying.