Hatchery stock welsummers

[knjinnm]

Quote:
Hi Nate,
Have you tried feather sexing yet?
Joe

 

[SFIcelandics]

Quote:
Hi Nate,
Have you tried feather sexing yet?
Joe

I was told that, the feather sexing only works on "hybrids" or "hatchery stock". I prefer to sell Straight Run anyways, as I am a small scale breeder, so I couldn't fill an order of 100 pullets always. For farm pick up, I have facial marking sexed chicks, and it has been pretty accurate, but I don't do it for more than 5 chicks.

Nate

 

[ChooksChick]

Estes Hatchery in Missouri has a wonderful line of Wellies they bought from a gentleman's estate when he passed away. He was a well-known Wellie breeder by the name of Harry Shaw of Calicowoods.

They offer them sexed, and they have lovely stock.

 

[SFIcelandics]

Quote:
Yes, they did get them from Harry Shaw, but I do not believe that they cull, and breed as much to the show standard as the backyard breeders do. And good stock can be messed up in a generation or 2, if the correct breeding's are not made. :-(

 

[ChooksChick]

You're absolutely right- but starting with good genes, the foundation is still there to build on and cull from. It all just depends on what the buyer is getting them for- of all of the hatcheries, I think this is the best option. Definitely better to go with a breeder, but I didn't read the whole thread to find out the reason a hatchery was specifically the question.

Quote:
Yes, they did get them from Harry Shaw, but I do not believe that they cull, and breed as much to the show standard as the backyard breeders do. And good stock can be messed up in a generation or 2, if the correct breeding's are not made. :-(

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
Yes, they did get them from Harry Shaw, but I do not believe that they cull, and breed as much to the show standard as the backyard breeders do. And good stock can be messed up in a generation or 2, if the correct breeding's are not made. :-(

I got the second generation of chicks and I was very disappointed in the quality. They don't cull. They were pretty weak and I am sure somewhere down the line, something happened. They said they never outcrossed their Welsummer stock with any other lines, just their own. If ONE wants to have hatchery stock, Estes would be the one I would try to get some good ones out of. Better than Mr Valentine's lines which they were very very disappointing lines, more Leghorn in type and their eggs were too light for my taste.

I got the original Calicowood hen that came from Harry Shaw and she was beautiful as they go. She is going to be four years old and I am sure Mr Shaw would have been proud of her and her type and her egg color.

 

[enggass]

Doesn't look like they offer them anymore...

 

[EweSheep]

They only offer in limited spring months, probably from Feb to June kind of thing that most hatcheries will do. Estes would be alot more expensive for pullets if you don't mind paying the extra.

 

[SFIcelandics]

Quote:
Yes, with shipping and everything it runs pretty close to $5.00 per pullet.

Nate

 

[Bawk]

I see this is an older thread now. What have you heard lately about Estes and about Whitmore? We are only looking to get a small flock. It looks like if from a breeder, we won't be able to get about 15 pullets and a rooster; but from the better hatcheries I just see straight run also. Welsummers is the breed we want to get next if we can find them. Will have to see how this goes, still checking on this. Wanted to know their adult weight also, can't find it online.