Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[keesmom]

Anyone have Delaware or Welsummer? Trying to decide between them as I can only add so many chickens haha

I want to add Delaware as it's a heritage breed but the Columbian pattern in one of the reviews was barely noticable, which I don't want an almost pure white bird, but then I've been considering the Welsummer too for the gorgeous speckled eggs. I really want variety and not just yet another brown haha

Or should I just ditch both ideas and simply add another EE? Haha

I currently have 1 Barred Rock, 2 Black Australorps, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 2 Easter Eggers, all from Meyer. Originally had 2 BRs but one died young

and the extra Orpington was the Meyer Meal Maker and I'm so happy she wound up being an Orpington AND female

And the other breeds I'm definitely getting are Speckled Sussex, Golden Laced Wyandotte, and Partridge Rock. I would get an SLW too but I've heard they can be more mean than GLW?

Idk, should I just ditch both the Delaware and Welsummer and go with the SLW after all??

I'd like opinions and preferably pictures to help me make my decision.

I'd only like to add 4 more

Disclaimer: This is my opinion on a small sample of these breeds. You may find your experiences different.

I have not had Delawares. I do know they are barred Columbian, so I can see why the pattern may be harder to see. If you want a columbian bird there are Columbian Wyandottes.

I have had Welsummers. Ten years ago though. Pictures of them are inaccessible at the moment. They were pretty to look at and laid well. Slightly darker eggs and some with speckles. Obviously not as pretty as breeder birds' eggs but different than other brown eggs. I wasn't as thrilled with the personalities though. A little bossy and standoffish. I didn't replace them once they were gone. I actually prefer our brown Leghorn that we have now. She doesn't like to be picked up but she will follow us around. Same pretty color pattern, better personality and much better egg layer.

I've had several varieties of Wyandottes (gold laced, silver laced, blue laced red). Okay layers of medium eggs. Personality wise they were a mixed bag, kind of like the EEs we've had over the years. Some nosy and friendly, other less so. My favorite Wyandotte was our old splash laced red boy Moe. He was a great flock rooster and lived to be 10. We have no Wyandottes at the moment.

We have a speckled Sussex currently. Decent layer but was slow to start. Pretty to look at but she seems ditzy at times. We have white Rocks that are constantly underfoot. They are great layers, so maybe your partridge Rock will be as well.

Here are the Rocks with a few flockmembers waiting for morning treats.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I only got one Welsummer from Meyer, but my experience with her personality was somewhat different, I think. She always had a stern look on her face, but she was a sweetheart--if a little pushy for her attention! She was bossy with the other girls, but never mean. Rather, she just seemed strict and stern like a nanny to the flock, keeping everyone in line and reminding them to mind their manners. She did only lay slightly darker than normal brown eggs, though, with some fine speckling across them that really stood out when I ran water over the shell. I might have a picture, but it would take me a bit to find it. Sadly, she passed away abruptly a couple weeks ago, so she's no longer with me. I would gladly get another from them, though! I've never had a Delaware, so I can't help on that front.

Here's my Mabel, showing off her characteristic scowl. Boy, I miss seeing this face!

 

[Amy King Hanson]

@KDOGG331 I have both Delaware and Silver Laced Wyandottes from last years order.I have to say Delawares are my favorite. Once they know you bring food/treats, they will LOVE you. My Silver Laced Wyandottes were younger and started on the bottom of the pecking order but I've noticed lately they are working their way up. I think it is just their nature to be top hen.

In this picture you can see my two Delawares up front and ready for treats. That's my youngest SLW which is why she doesn't have a lot of white yet.

In this picture is my older SLW blinking of course. But if I didn't stop taking pictures and throw my treats, I was going to be knocked down.

Delaware eggs are huge. My friend got a Welsummer from Meyer last spring and I'd say her eggs were tan with dark spots. Which either my Delaware or SLWs does too.

The two rows of brown eggs on the right come from the coop that my Delawares and Wyandottes are in.

 

[tomphot]

Anyone have Delaware or Welsummer? Trying to decide between them as I can only add so many chickens haha

I want to add Delaware as it's a heritage breed but the Columbian pattern in one of the reviews was barely noticable, which I don't want an almost pure white bird, but then I've been considering the Welsummer too for the gorgeous speckled eggs. I really want variety and not just yet another brown haha

Or should I just ditch both ideas and simply add another EE? Haha

I currently have 1 Barred Rock, 2 Black Australorps, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 2 Easter Eggers, all from Meyer. Originally had 2 BRs but one died young

and the extra Orpington was the Meyer Meal Maker and I'm so happy she wound up being an Orpington AND female

And the other breeds I'm definitely getting are Speckled Sussex, Golden Laced Wyandotte, and Partridge Rock. I would get an SLW too but I've heard they can be more mean than GLW?

Idk, should I just ditch both the Delaware and Welsummer and go with the SLW after all??

I'd like opinions and preferably pictures to help me make my decision.

I'd only like to add 4 more

I have a Welsummer from Meyer - she is very inquisitive and very friendly. When I go in the coop to scoop the board, she always joins me and supervises. Her eggs are not always the same same color or with the same number of spots. They are always the darkest eggs I get and some have very dark speckles some with raised spots and some hardly noticeable at all.
Her are pics of her at 23 weeks - she's bigger now but a very good looking bird.

 

[CuzChickens]

KDOG, just get all the breeds and get a bigger pen! Lol. I love the Welsummers, highly recommend.

 

[Merrymouse]

I have a Welsummer from Meyer - she is very inquisitive and very friendly. When I go in the coop to scoop the board, she always joins me and supervises. Her eggs are not always the same same color or with the same number of spots. They are always the darkest eggs I get and some have very dark speckles some with raised spots and some hardly noticeable at all.
Her are pics of her at 23 weeks - she's bigger now but a very good looking bird.

Wow! just have to day that chicken is a beauty

 

[Magnolia7330]

I have a Welsummer from Meyer - she is very inquisitive and very friendly. When I go in the coop to scoop the board, she always joins me and supervises. Her eggs are not always the same same color or with the same number of spots. They are always the darkest eggs I get and some have very dark speckles some with raised spots and some hardly noticeable at all.
Her are pics of her at 23 weeks - she's bigger now but a very good looking bird.

I will be getting a Welsummer from Meyer in April. I hope she grows up to be as beautiful as yours.

 

[Delawaremommy]

Anyone have Delaware or Welsummer? Trying to decide between them as I can only add so many chickens haha

I want to add Delaware as it's a heritage breed but the Columbian pattern in one of the reviews was barely noticable, which I don't want an almost pure white bird, but then I've been considering the Welsummer too for the gorgeous speckled eggs. I really want variety and not just yet another brown haha

Or should I just ditch both ideas and simply add another EE? Haha

I currently have 1 Barred Rock, 2 Black Australorps, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 2 Easter Eggers, all from Meyer. Originally had 2 BRs but one died young and the extra Orpington was the Meyer Meal Maker and I'm so happy she wound up being an Orpington AND female

And the other breeds I'm definitely getting are Speckled Sussex, Golden Laced Wyandotte, and Partridge Rock. I would get an SLW too but I've heard they can be more mean than GLW?

Idk, should I just ditch both the Delaware and Welsummer and go with the SLW after all??

I'd like opinions and preferably pictures to help me make my decision.

I'd only like to add 4 more

I started with Delaware from Meyer...loved them....the pattern darkened with first molt and they are the one in my icon...its not actually considered a Columbian pattern just Columbian like....they were excellent layers and super friendly...not flighty but very busy all the time....

 

[ShrekDawg]

Sorry I never answered but thanks so much for answering everybody! They seem like great birds and now it's gonna be hard to choose lol

Anybody have partridge rocks? I've seen a post recently where hatchery ones are supposedly a lot lighter and while both are gorgeous, I'm a little bit concerned hah

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

My two Partridges from Meyer are gorgeous and dark colored, but I got them in 2012 and I've seen someone else get one more recently from them that was lighter in coloration, so no guarantees, I guess. Here are my girls: