Some of mine were darker or lighter as babies. The differences were even less noticable as adults. I think the darker ones ended up with slightly more defined markings.
Her bill and feet should be all one color and all dark. Her coloring isn't correct on her plumage either. She is missing details and color on her torso and has too much on her head in comparison. Welsh girls should have a little color on their heads but the body should be darker. Not show...
I vote for WH #3. 2 looks more glossy, but 3 has a length and fullness of body that I really like. I think his color and form a little more flashy and correct as well. He would be my choice if I were going for purebreds. 2 is a nice bird too. I just like 3 better. I agree with your...
I'm doing the same thing right now. Training a puppy to be around poultry. Mine is a yorkie puppy. He takes great interest in the chickens and needs to be told to respect their personal boundaries. (Not chasing... He will try to lick their bottoms.) He leaves the ducks alone now. The only...
I don't know if they are the best of the best as I am not a qualified judge. I can't see everything from the pictures, but they are definitely purebreds of good quality. Both your drake and your hens look nice. Your hens are molting. They will look much better in a few weeks. I don't know...
You are right to question. I agree with others. Probably mixed breed of some kind. Some of the coloring looks welshish, but the head markings aren't right even for young birds. Some of the less discerning hatcheries might sell some WH with eye stripes and orange legs/bills, aka also likely...
chickmchickie, WH drake to pekin duck is a good out-cross that is sometimes done on purpose. Egg laying ability is inherited mostly from fathers, so your girls have good utility. Mother makes them a good meat bird, so drakes also have good utility. Your babies will likely have white splashes...
Show quality Welsh Harlequin trio. Drake is reserve champion. One of the hens was reserve best of breed, second only to the drake. Gorgeous birds. Drake has an exceptionally long body. Both hens have black bills and dark legs. They are out of Holderreads TSQ stock. They are two years old...
Mine weren't hand raised. They were bothered by two obnoxious little boys their whole lives. I had to keep them locked up to keep them safe in the beginning. Despite all the harassment they received, they will still eat out of anybodies hand and come running right up to us when we have the...
I lived in a rural area once upon a time with all those critters. We had coyotes but they never came through the 6 foot tall chain link. Whether they could or not (I don't think they could) they never did. Foxes probably could have come in through the wide parts of the gate, but we never saw...
What kind of fencing do you have? Have all the birds gone missing at night? According to the book, the most likely predators would be a bob cat (or huge barn cat) or a fox. Both go by night and leave little or no trace because they usually take the prey with them. They usually take only one...
I had a friend in high school who did it your way. She hatched a single egg using a dishtowel, a heat pad and a spray bottle. She didn't touch the egg very often because she was afraid it would accumulate the oils from her hands and they would block the pores. She turned it with a gloved hand...
For forced air incubators the ideal temperature is considered to be 99.25 to 99.5 through the 24th day. (Still air 102-102.5 with thermometer level with the top of eggs, not resting on top.) After the 24th day the temperature may need to be DECREASED because the embryos are generating their own...
Purebred Welsh Harlequin Ducklings. Out of Holderreads top show quality stock. Drake is best of breed and reserve champion. One of the ducks was reserve best of breed. All are show quality. I will be setting some eggs on the 30th of April. Some will be retained for myself. I wanted to see...
If you are looking for a drake to make a terminal cross with your welsh hens for meat birds... I'm just guessing here. You would be best going with Peking or Rouen, though muscovy would also be an option as I hear the mules they produce are fast growing and tasty. If you want to preserve egg...
Calls are super annoying and who knows what colors you could get. What you want is a mini appleyard. Same coloration as the welsh harlequin in a diminutive size. And... not annoying. Look at Holderreads for good birds... GORGEOUS.
I think the main concern is that they don't get chilled, or drown. Ducklings not tended by their mother don't have the oils in their feathers that provide water protection for the first week or so when they become more proficient groomers. They can get wet as a result and then they won't...
I was thinking to give the same thing a try. I have a chicken that has always wanted to be a mother, but alas, no roosters are allowed in my area. However, I have a drake and several ducks that often have fertile eggs. I'd think it would be fun to give her a chance at motherhood. The timing...
I know older thread, but still a viable subject. My welshes also "honk" on occasions rather than quack. They love to announce when the get released in the mornings. Most of my ladies are pretty quiet. However I have one hen that is very loud. She is also the only one that goes broody on...