Wyandotte

The Wyandotte is an American breed prized for its rounded, full-feathered body, neat rose comb and famously beautiful laced plumage. It is a hardy, dual-purpose fowl: a solid brown-egg layer that also carries a good amount of meat, with the close feathering and low comb making it well suited to colder, damper conditions. The breed comes in a wide range of colours, of which the Silver Laced is the original and best known.

Wyandottes are docile, steady birds that settle easily into a mixed flock and handle confinement better than many active breeds, while still enjoying a forage. Their calm nature and attractive markings make them a popular choice for both first-time keepers and showing. Hens lay well across the main season and can go broody, often making attentive mothers, which suits anyone hoping to hatch their own.