The Columbian Wyandotte chicken are docile and friendly, while being excellent egg-layers and are ideal broilers too. To top it off - they're beautiful too, making them the perfect all-around bird for your backyard coop.
The Columbian Wyandotte chicken is high on everyone’s list as one of the best American breeds for beginners – and we are here to give you the rundown on why this phenomenal chicken is worth adding to your backyard flock.
The Columbian Wyandotte Chicken was first introduced at the Chicago World Fair in the 1870s. However, they were not exhibited until 1893 at the World’s Columbian Exposition where they got their name.
They are said to have come into existence from cross-breeding a White Wyandotte with a Barred Plymouth Rock.
The resulting bird was breathtaking to behold with a collar of beautiful black feathers on an otherwise white body, making for a gorgeous contrast. Yet she is so much more than her appearance!
In this article, we will explore what makes a Columbian Wyandotte Chicken special, and why this breed of chicken is a perfect choice to add to your chicken coop.
Table of Contents
What does a Columbian Wyandotte Chicken Look Like?
Wyandotte chickens are known to have beautiful lacing and come in stunning colors. The most popular Wyandotte according to the APA is the Silver Laced Wyandotte, followed by the Golden Laced Wyandotte.
The Columbian Wyandotte is rarer and while she doesn’t have lacing like her cousins, she is a beauty in her own right.
The Columbian Wyandotte chicken has a look all her own with a beautiful, fluffy, round appearance, stark white feathers framed with a black ruffled collar at her neck, and bright red rose comb and wattles. She may also have elegant black tail feathers and wing tips.
This is an accepted breed by the American Poultry Association and was included in Standard of Perfection as of 1923.
She is a medium to large bird, often weighing in around 7lbs, though her loose laying feathers make her appear larger than she is. This sweet girl also comes in a bantam version if you’re looking for a smaller bird to care for.
You should note that pullets will lose their yellow fuzz and begin to replace it with white feathers only – it can take some time before their black feathers come in – so don’t be alarmed!
What Kind of Personality does a Columbian Wyandotte Chicken Have?
The Columbian Wyandotte has a docile, friendly personality. They are not known to be aggressive and do well with families that have small children.
You can easily raise Columbian Wyandotte’s as pets because of their sweet and easygoing nature.
These birds are inquisitive and also love to forage – if you can allow your birds free-range it will make them happy! One word of caution – these birds tend to get laser-focused on foraging, which makes them an easy target for aerial predators like hawks so be sure you have a rooster to protect them or make other plans to ensure their safety.
These birds also do tend to be talkative and are on the noisier side – so be prepared to hear them outside of their coop.
Is a Columbian Wyandotte Chicken a Good Egg Layer?
Yes! This hardworking hen is a wonderful egg-laying breed:
| Egg Production | 200 to 250 per year |
| First Laying | 20 to 24 weeks |
| Laying Span | 3 years+ |
| Egg Color | Light to Dark brown |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Lays in Winter? | Yes |
Clearly she’s a solid choice for egg production, especially as she lays during the winter months too!
Is the Columbian Wyandotte Chicken a Broiler Breed?
The sheer size of the Columbian Wyandotte makes it desirable as a meat bird. Roosters often weigh up to 10lbs while hens easily reach 7lbs.
They are considered a dual-purpose breed because they are good for both egg and meat production which makes them an attractive backyard chicken option.
One word of note – the skin and appearance of the meat is not alike to typical broiler breeds and may not look as attractive as it has a yellower skin but is still quite tasty.
Is the Columbian Wyandotte Chicken Easy to Breed?
Good news for anyone wanting to breed their birds and get adorable Columbian Wyandotte chicks!
Columbian Wyandotte hens tend to go broody and make wonderful mothers. She is known to take good care of her baby chicks and this makes the work of breeders even easier.
It is rare that you will need to place eggs into an incubator – but you should keep an eye on the temperature of the eggs and the moisture in the air of your nesting boxes and monitor your hens to ensure the eggs have the best chance to hatch.
Keep an eye out for hatching eggs and ensure the baby chicks are warm enough, especially at night!
Summary
The Columbian Wyandotte chicken is a good all-around dual-purpose chicken that is friendly, docile, and low-maintenance. She does exceptionally well in cold climates, and due to her rose comb, doesn’t suffer from frostbite like other cold hardy breeds.
The Columbian Wyandotte chicken is not known to have any significant health issues or be prone to disease, but be sure your chickens receive all of their vaccines and regularly inspect them for ectoparasites like chicken lice and mites.
She can be relied upon to produce plentiful eggs, and has a long lifespan ranging from 5 to 12 years with proper care. She is one of the best choices for beginners due to the ease of care, and also gets along well with other chicken breeds in mixed flocks.