The Welsummer Thread!!!! - Page 724

Last month was a strange hatching month for me.  I sent 27 eggs to Oklahoma.  It turns out that 5 weren't fertile but 22 eggs went to lockdown and 21 hatched.  With another batch of 12 sent to a different part of Oklahoma all had separated air cells.

I placed 12 eggs under a broody and she immediately kicked out 4.  The over the next week ate 5 which left 3 but those didn't hatch.  I had a 31 eggs in a incubator when I went south and evidently something must have happened in my absence.  None hatched.  So now I'm starting over with 3 dozen more.  Hopefully with better results.  I also have 5 eggs under another broody so we'll see if she does any better.
 

I set 15 from McSpin in homemade incubator early May and 3 hatched. Checked some of the eggs and think I may have had humidity too high during lock down. This if first hatch ever, so maybe next batch will do better. The 3 are a week old and grand kids love the heck out of them. Now just waiting to see what I have. 2 not sure of but one has definite markings of a female.

I have a question about neck coloring in the Welsummer. I recently purchased some new chicks from a non-hatchery source. They have come recommended as a Welsummer breeder. The chicks are approximately 12 weeks old and feathered out. The female chicks so far look far more bleached out in feather coloring then my birds I got from a local breeder which is thought to originate from Calicowoods breeding.

Attached are photos of the rich coloring I have in my older birds. The younger ones do not have the rich yellow/gold neck feathering and around the top of head and throat latch area they are light brown. Not dark like the pullet pictured. Does this coloring intensify as they age? Or is this group of Welsummers going to have a "washed out" feather appearance?

THANKS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tailfeathers 

 

Sorry, I can't help ya.  I am and have been specifically breeding out any broodiness.  I want my gals laying those big BEE-U-TEE-FULL eggs to fill my Sportsman! 

 

God Bless,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Chooks 

 

Same here, but I got one anyway. 

 

She is on her 2nd chance with a chick that hatched a couple days ago.  We'll see how she does this time in segregation.

Oh, I agree. I am not a fan of broody birds. Buffs are terrible. I do have a lot of Welly's so the number of broodies is not large. I am keeping one and culling the others. I do like to have at least a couple of broodies around to sit on eggs. My Buff which I am keeping is a great mom and raising a ton of guineas and chicks. She loves them all and worth her wait in gold.

Soldier~your birds are  beautiful.

  When you say buffs..are you talking BO's?  I know they can be great broody moms. 

I'm not sure about the lighter neck feathers..anyone else?

I just hatched some, and I am going to keep the two that look like girls to me.  I hope they are the darker, I've seen pictures of lighter ones. 

My one and only lil Welsummer. She looks so gawky right now...but she is very sweet.

I know what you mean Royce about good broodies being worth their weight in gold.  I have an olive egger that is a terrific mom and so is my current BR that's raising babies.

I tell you this is a conspiracy now......................now another welsummer is broody. Pulled her out of the nest last night and put her on the roost.  She's back on the nest this morning.

My other wellie hatched 2 chicks, but 1 didn't fully absorb it's yolk sac (and it ruptured) and it died.  So she's got one chick and is doing well with it in segregation.  Another week and I'll let them out with the flock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynthia12 

Soldier~your birds are  beautiful.

  When you say buffs..are you talking BO's?  I know they can be great broody moms. 

I'm not sure about the lighter neck feathers..anyone else?

I just hatched some, and I am going to keep the two that look like girls to me.  I hope they are the darker, I've seen pictures of lighter ones. 

Thank you Cynthia. I really do love the Welsummer breed. The colors are so striking.

Yes I do mean BO when I say Buffs.

Attached are photos of my Broody Welly. The PROUD MAMMA!! My husband said little does she know she is raising a bunch of "Terrorists!!"

I laughed. She has a total of 15. All of her eggs hatched today!

So the lesson of the day is Broody Welly's can be a "dual purpose" bird too. An egg layer of beautiful eggs or an excellent natural "incubator and brooder". She is the natural "GREEN" bird :O))))