Blue Laced Red
Wyandottes
A well-balanced heritage breed valued
for temperament, winter hardiness,
and consistency.
Breed Overview
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Temperament >> Calm, Steady, Observant
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Egg Color >> Deep Cream to Light Pink ( varies by hen)
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Egg Production >> Moderate, Consistent
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Cold Hardy >> Yes — excellent
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Heat Tolerance >> Moderate
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Broodiness >> Occasional
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Purpose >> Dual-Purpose
Why We Raise Blue Laced Red Wyandottes
Blue Laced Red Wyandottes initially drew us in because of their appearance — the contrast of deep red feathers edged in blue is hard to ignore. Over time, though, their beauty proved to be more than surface-level.
They carry themselves with a steady, balanced presence in the flock and handle cold weather reliably, all while maintaining consistent production without needing constant intervention. While they are straightforward to keep, maintaining uniform color and clean lacing through breeding requires thoughtful selection and experience — something we take seriously when deciding which birds to raise forward.
Living With Blue Laced Red Wyandottes
Blue Laced Red Wyandottes tend to be calm, steady birds that settle into established flocks without much disruption. They’re generally observant rather than flighty and handle routine interaction without excessive stress, making them easy to live with in a mixed flock.
Egg production is moderate but consistent, with eggs that often appear more cream or light pink than traditional brown. While they aren’t high-volume layers, they tend to continue laying more reliably through colder months than many breeds.
Climate & Seasonal Performance
Blue Laced Red Wyandottes are particularly well-suited to colder climates, with dense feathering and rose combs that help reduce cold-weather stress. They tend to maintain good condition and steadier laying through winter compared to many breeds.
In warmer months, they do best with access to shade, good ventilation, and fresh water. While they aren’t as heat-specialized as some lighter breeds, they manage well with thoughtful summer management.
Is This Breed a Good Fit for You?
Blue Laced Red Wyandottes tend to be a good fit for keepers who value steady temperament, seasonal reliability, and birds that integrate well into a mixed flock. They’re especially well-suited to those who appreciate a balanced, heritage-style bird rather than one bred solely for maximum production.
They may not be the best choice for someone looking for the highest possible egg numbers or a heat-specialized breed. For keepers who enjoy thoughtful management and value longevity, consistency, and visual presence in the flock, they’re a rewarding choice.
Stewardship & Breeding Work
For those interested in a deeper look at this variety at Cross B Hens & Heifers, Blue Laced Red Wyandottes are a breed we actively steward. Our focus extends beyond day-to-day keeping to long-term consistency, genetic understanding, and responsible selection across generations.
A Brief History of the Breed Variety
The Wyandotte breed was accepted into the American Poultry Association in 1883 with the Silver Laced Wyandotte. Today, there are nine recognized varieties. The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte is still being worked toward acceptance into the APA Standard.
For acceptance, the variety must ultimately follow the same lacing rules as other laced Wyandottes — including reversed lacing in the female hackle and reversed lacing in the male hackle and saddle. That standardization is the direction we are intentionally pursuing with our line.
Our Program, Progress, and Direction
By 2026, this marks our tenth year working intentionally with Blue Laced Red Wyandottes. Our flock has evolved significantly over that time. Like most long-term breeding programs, the early years included learning curves and corrections, and it is only in recent seasons that the flock has reached a level of uniformity and consistency that reflects the direction we’ve been working toward.
Our focus has always been steady improvement rather than quick results. Progress may be visible at the flock level, but refinement often comes down to small details — the shape of lacing, feather definition, or balance of the bird. There will always be room to improve, and that ongoing refinement is part of responsible stewardship.
A Closed Flock and Intentional Selection
Our Blue Laced Red Wyandottes are a closed flock, developed and maintained as the Cross B Hens & Heifers line. We do not introduce outside blood. After years of consistent selection, this allows us to produce offspring that are increasingly uniform, predictable, and repeatable — while still acknowledging that no breeding program produces perfection in every bird.
Selection is central to our work. Health and vigor come first, followed by correct body type, color accuracy, and lacing consistency. Certain traits are always selected against, regardless of other qualities, while others may be improved through thoughtful pairing over generations. Not every bird we consider for breeding remains in the program, and that is a normal and necessary part of long-term breeding.
Birds that do not meet our program goals may still go on to be productive breeders elsewhere or contribute to other projects. Individual merit is respected, even when a bird does not align with our specific direction.
Why This Variety is Challenging
Blue Laced Red Wyandottes are genetically complex because the blue lacing is controlled by a dilution gene that modifies black pigment. Birds with one copy of the gene express blue lacing, birds without it express black lacing, and birds with two copies express splash. While only blue-laced birds align with the proposed show standard, black, blue, and splash birds all play an important role in a functional breeding program.
In addition to color expression, certain traits can persist recessively within established lines. For example, single combs may still appear when otherwise correct rose-combed birds carry the trait genetically, even if neither parent displays it. The presence of a recessive trait does not automatically disqualify a bird from the breeding program; selection decisions are made by evaluating the whole bird and the long-term direction of the line.
Achieving correct lacing requires multiple traits to align at the same time — including clean feather edging, consistent lacing shape, proper hackle expression, and overall clarity of pattern. As lines become more established and predictable, underlying genetic traits become more visible, allowing for more intentional selection. Even then, genetic recombination during meiosis can introduce variation from one generation to the next. For this reason, progress within the variety depends on long-term selection across generations rather than short-term pairing decisions.
Ongoing Evaluation and Future Work
We continue to evaluate our flock with an eye toward long-term genetic soundness and refinement. This includes plans to further assess and reduce unwanted traits over time, as well as the development of distinct family lines to support targeted improvement without compromising overall flock health.
Each season builds on the last. Our goal is not a finished bird, but a breeding program that remains functional, transparent, and intentional — with progress measured across generations rather than individual years.
Why We Emphasize Hatching Eggs & Chicks
Raising birds beyond early stages requires time, space, and daily labor, and those resources are essential to maintaining an active breeding program. As birds mature, they are no longer simply being grown out — they are being observed and evaluated as part of the program. Space used to hold older birds is space that could otherwise support future breeder candidates.
Once birds reach the point where sex and pattern are clear, selection decisions begin. Some birds are identified early, while others are held longer to better understand how they develop. If a bird ultimately does not align with the direction of the program, it is absorbed into our own flock rather than offered for sale in an effort to recoup some cost.
Because of this structure, we are not set up to raise pullets or adult birds for others. For those hoping to work with our birds, hatching eggs and fresh-hatched chicks offer the most realistic opportunity. This allows the program to remain focused, sustainable, and centered on the breed itself rather than volume or turnover.
Following the Program’s Progress
As the program continues to develop, we share updates, photos, and seasonal progress through our social channels. This allows those who are interested to follow the evolution of the flock over time and see how long-term selection translates into visible improvement.
Pricing & Availability
Availability for Blue Laced Red Wyandottes is limited and varies by season based on breeding pen rotation and overall program needs.
Not all options are offered every year.
Hatching Eggs
• Available by the egg
• $ 10 per egg
• Pricing reflects the 2026 season
Availability is seasonal and finalized once breeding pens are established. Quantities are limited and may vary each week.
Eggs are marked with both breeding pen and collection date for buyer reference. As a courtesy, one additional egg is included for every five eggs purchased.
As noted above, this variety is genetically complex, and occasional traits such as single combs may still appear in hatched chicks.
Availability is announced by email when eggs are offered. Subscribing to our email list is the best way to receive notification when ordering windows open.
Chicks
• Straight-run
• $20 each (0–2 weeks)
• $25 each (3–4 weeks)
• Pricing reflects the 2026 season
Chicks are offered in limited, seasonal batches. Availability varies by hatch.
This breed is not sexed at hatch, and because of how this variety is bred, chick orders may include black, blue, and splash laced birds based on hatch outcomes. Requests from specific breeding pens may be accommodated in limited situations.
All chicks hatched on the farm are wing-banded at hatch for identification and tracking.
Single-comb chicks are not included in standard orders unless specifically requested.
Availability announcements are sent by email when ordering windows open.
