Welsummer

Breed Details:

I was awestruck the first time I saw a flock of Welsummers free ranging. The roosters were breathtaking with their bright colors and size, and the hens had an understated beauty. Then someone showed me an egg and I gasped at the wonderful color and size. I was hooked. In my experience they are a gentle, although not overly friendly breed. They take confinement well.

Hens are very independent and do not tend to go broody. I have heard of roosters being mean but mine have been pretty laid back. Beware dark eggs can be tricky to hatch. Following is some information from the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection:

Standard Weights:

• Cock 7 pounds
• Cockerel 6 pounds
• Hen 6 pounds
• Pullet 5 pounds

According to the standard colors for males:

• Comb, face, wattles and earlobes: Bright red. The comb having five regular and distinct points.
• Beak: Dark horn shading to yellow at point
• Eyes: Reddish bay
• Head: Rich golden brown
• Neck: Hackle - rich golden brown as uniform as possible, free from black striping, some striping allowed in under feathers; Front of neck: same as breast
• Back: Bright reddish brown; Saddle - Rich golden brown as uniform as possible, free from black striping, some striping allowed in under feathers.
• Tail: Main tail - lustrous, greenish black; Sickles - lustrous, greenish black; Upper coverts - black; Lower coverts - black edged with brown.
• Wings: Shoulder front and bows - bright reddish brown; Coverts - lustrous, greenish black forming a wing bar when the wing is folded. A little brown peppering is permissible; Primaries - upper web black; lower web brown; Secondaries - upper web black with brown peppering, lower web brown.
• Breast: Black with red mottling
• Body and Fluff: Black and red mottling
• Legs and Toes: Thighs - black with red mottling; Shanks and toes - yellow.
• Undercolor of all sections: Slate

According to the standard colors for females are same as males except:

• Head: Golden brown
• Neck: Hackle - golden brown or copper, lower feathers with black striping and a golden shaft; Front of neck: same as breast
• Back: Reddish brown, each feather stippled with black and having a distinct lighter shaft.
• Tail: Main trail - black; Coverts - black edged with brown.
• Wings: Bows - same as back; Coverts - chestnut brown; Primaries - upper web black, slightly peppered with brown; lower web brown; Secondaries - upper web black slightly peppered with brown; lower web brown coarsely stippled with black.
• Breast: Rich, chestnut red going well down.
• Body and Fluff: Brown with gray shading
• Legs and Toes: Thighs - same as breast; Shanks and toes - yellow.

Disqualifications:

• White earlobes