Do you like Welsummers?

[Jashdon]

I'm thinking about picking up a few welsummer chicks to add to the flock. If you keep welsummers let me know how you like them and if you would recommend them to others and why....

Thanks!

 

[silkieluvr]

I really liked the idea of someday getting dark eggs though I ended up selling them because they ate sooo much! lol!

 

[Kanchii]

We had a couple for a while, they ate many times more than a normal bird their size would, they were young and seriously ate more than my standard adult cochin hen every day, plus they were flighty and very stupid. Hopefully others have had better experiences lol.

 

[dangerouschicken]

I think of the dark egg layers, Marans have better, more mellow personalities. But I still may get some Welsummers, too.

 

[jimnjay]

I have two hen I hatched last November. They are laying well and have not missed very many days so far. They do seem hungry all the time and are not really great at foraging. They are also pretty vocal. I would say if you are not fussy about egg color they they would not be the best bet. The egg color is awesome. I have noticed that my two girls lay eggs that do not have as deep a yellow yolk. I attribute that to the fact that they do not eat much grass. I have a 10x30 run for them and it is all grass. My Silkies have nicer yolks and a better foragers than the Red Star and the two Welsummers.

 

[lurky]

I have read that welsummer's are one of the best foragers. And i think all chickens are pigs, if i had one that ate more than another, i dont know how i would be able to tell

 

[AussieSharon]

I have 17 Welsummers and absolutely love them. They are calm and mellow, and one follows me every where I go. Mine free range and eat very little pellets. They are great at keeping down the bugs.

They are a personal favorite of mine so I'd recommend them for sure.

 

[ticks]

MY Wellie is the leader of the flock. She is mean to my rooster she is flighty she is an escape artist.
the good things
She doen't mind being held, she is an awesome forager, she is a little shy.

 

[Rosalind]

I have a couple of Welsummers, and I like them very much. As far as flighty goes, my Sicilian Buttercups are MUCH worse. The Welsummers were raised by a standard Cochin broody, and they are still fairly easy to handle, put up with being cuddled and so forth.

Prolific egg-layers. Seriously. I am drowning in brown speckled eggs. They ate a lot as babies and matured very very fast, but now that they are grown up they don't eat noticeably more than the other chickens. They are not really into treats though. When I put down yogurt or fruit for them, they kinda hang back. Don't know why.

 

[EweSheep]

I agree with AussieSharon on the Wellies. I love my Wellies and they won my heart over the Marans and Barnvelders.

Mine is very docile and calm and the first to come to us. Loves treats and go after any creepy crawlies that may have cross their territory. Lays really well been laying since Feb and one of them is taking a vacation. I expect them to go thru a molt soon.

My birds come from Gordie's stock, Mothergoose and purebred Calicowood lines. I dont use any hatchery bred Wellies except for Estes Hatchery which they bought out all of Harry Shaw's Calicowoods Welsummers when he suddenly passed away. Estes chick prices are expensive, nearly five bucks a piece in str run. Pullets are a dollar or more depending on how fast they can get the orders out. They are done for the year and next year you can order them.

However there are some of us who have Welsummers for sale, eggs, chicks or started birds. Mothergoose and SpeckledHen may have some in the fall if I am correct!