Is this sound a Welsummer 'thing'?

[mtnviewfarms]

Hello friends - We just purchased 17 Welsummer chicks at four different ages - same parents. Saw the parent birds when picked up
the chicks and they were gorgeous.

We've only previously hatched and raised BRs and we immediately
noticed on the ride home that the Wellies were making totally different
sounds than we've ever heard from our BRs. They were making this
sort of cooing, then almost warbling and then a trilling sort of sound!
We loved it - very soothing and calming - not at all like the loud chirps
and squawks we hear from our BRs.

Is this a 'normal' Wellie thing? Also, when they are beyond the just
hatched stage, how do you differentiate the sexes? Thanks so much.

Elaine

 

[baGAWK123]

Hi there! Congratulations on getting Welsummer (great choice), I have 4 wellies and I LOVE them! They do lay fairly well, and all of them have such sweet personalities. I've raised mine from chicks and they do make a lot of interesting sounds. When sexing, you first look at their eyes if the chick is a pullet it will have dark eyeliner, the end of the eyeliner will extend all the way to the ear. Then look at the top of the head, if there is a dark line its an indication of a pullet. If they are over 4 weeks, the eyeliner and stripe on the head will be less apparent and you should sex them as you would any other chicken.

 

[Debbi]

My Marans and Silkie chicks both make that trilling sound. Most of the time, it's their "bed time song". Right before darkness, they all start. I hadn't had chickens for almost 20 years, and the last ones I did have were BR. I don't ever remember them making half the noises these breeds do, but then again, I was a working Mom of 2, and didn't have much time to just sit and watch the chickens. Now that I do, I'm learning all kinds of things about their noises and behaviors! They a quite interesting for sure! Good luck with your Wellies!!