The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[Sylvester017]

Here is a link to her page with a bunch of rey pictures,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/my-rey-of-sunshine.

That is a great write-up. Rey's feathers are gorgeous! An EE?

 

[CuzChickens]

That is a great write-up.  Rey's feathers are gorgeous!  An EE?

Thank you! Actually, Rey is a Partridge Plymouth Rock. I fell in love with the breed because of those feathers!

 

[ronnhill7]

Great photos.
I'm looking for some quality, well-bred Welsummers to improve my flock. If anyone may know where I might find some hatching eggs or chicks, please let me know.
-ron

 

[aart]

Great photos.
I'm looking for some quality, well-bred Welsummers to improve my flock. If anyone may know where I might find some hatching eggs or chicks, please let me know.
-ron

If you want SOP birds....best to go here
https://www.facebook.com/groups/welsummerclubofnorthamerica/

 

[Sylvester017]

Thank you! Actually, Rey is a Partridge Plymouth Rock. I fell in love with the breed because of those feathers!

Partridge is one of my favorites too. Penciling and mille fleur are beautiful also.

 

[CuzChickens]

Yes, I love the Mille Fluers! Here is a picture of one I saw at a fair last week:

He was trying to take a dust bath, so he looks a bit out of sorts. LOL

I won't post any more though, since this is a Welsummer thread. If you'd like to see more I have more pictures here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ree-stalls-are-mucked-and-its-on-to-the-third.

 

[kadavis08]

Good morning! About what age did your welsummers start laying? They seem to grow pretty quickly. Our hachi is a beast at 18 weeks

 

[aart]

Good morning! About what age did your welsummers start laying? They seem to grow pretty quickly. Our hachi is a beast at 18 weeks

Mine started at 23 weeks.....most will start within the typical 18-26 weeks, unless they are from a breeders line that starts later.
If you are in the northern hemisphere, pullets getting close to POL at this time of year may be somewhat delayed due to the decreasing sunlight.
Size doesn't have much to do with sexual maturity.

New layers can be quite goofy acting, they don't know what they are doing at first and can be confused and anxious, it can take up to a month or so before they get it all figured out. Putting some fake eggs or golf balls in the nest might help show them where to lay. They may scratch around in the nests for weeks before laying, spreading the bedding everywhere. They will scratch around a bit less in nest as they get used to the routine. Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.

Signs of onset of lay---I've found the pelvic points to be the most accurate.
Squatting:
If you touch their back they will hunker down on the ground, then shake their tail feathers when they get back up.
Tho not all birds will do this, especially if there's a cockbird in the flock.
This shows they are sexually mature and egg laying is close at hand.

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

Vent Appearance:
Dry, tight, and smaller - usually not laying.
Moist, wide, and larger - usually laying.

Pelvic Points 2 bony points(pelvic bones) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.

 

[microchick]

My girls generally started laying at 6 months. I have a pullet right now who will be 6 months in December who started singing her egg song last week.

 

[ronnhill7]

Mine began to lay at six months as well/
-ron