BCM X Welsummer?

[BeardedLadyFarm]

Anybody have have a Marans/ Welsummer cross? I have a bunch of really dark Wellie eggs in the incubator right now, and they ran with Wellie and Black Copper roos. The first couple chicks out are black, so I'm assuming they are a cross.

I was just curious what these birds look like, and what to expect in terms of egg production and color.

Thanks!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I don't know, but I'll be looking here to see what responses you get.

 

[pinkchick]

My best buddy hatched some of her Wellie cross Black Coppers. Some are looking like Wellies, some are looking like ?????????? and a couple are looking like Marans but one of them a little roo came out with vulture hocks and the most leg feathering I have ever seen. CRAZY!!!!!!! He is the cutest thing though looks like he should grow up to be a street sweeper. I will ask if they can post photos of these little crossed babies for ya sometime.

 

[Illia]

Egg color should lighten, and become very speckled or stippled. I've seen a Marans x Penedesenca x Welsummer, and the eggs were light and very speckled. Quite pretty, really, makes me think of Quail eggs. Boy would I love a hen that lays Quail-like eggs.

I'd call her cookie.

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

I'm not sure what would lighten the eggs, as the Welsummer moms are from Whitmore farms and lay very dark eggs, and the Marans roo is also of very good dark lines. I agree there should be more speckling, as the Wellies do have some major speckling going on.

I'm hoping for maybe a bit of hybrid vigor, and improved personality?????? My 3 Marans are all a little fussy, but their eggs are worth it!

This is only my second hatch, and unlike the first hatch, these eggs are all local, so they weren't shipped. 4 out so far, and 9 more pips!

(oh yeah, Cottagegarden's BBS Ameraucanas and Olive Eggers are in there too, and they're in a BIG hurry to get out!)

 

[Illia]

I think that even with both lines being dark, you can ruin the dark eggs by crossing them. . . Crossing dark egg layers of even the same breed but seperate "lines" or even color variations is a picky process that often lightens the egg. I would mainly guarantee speckling in the eggs though.

 

[Bluemoon420]

I did a test hatch back in Feb. The cross was BCM Roo, over Welsummer hens. It appears I have only one hen in that group. She's gorgeous, and has light blue legs. She looks similar to a welsummer. The boys are mixed, some look alittle like BCM, some don't look like either.

Here's a pic of the pullet from a couple weeks ago.

We had a feather picker in the bunch. Her feathers have since been filling back in.

I haven't taken much pictures of the boys yet. I'm still deciding if I am keeping a couple or not.

Bluemoon