Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Stegs]

My heritage is about 97% Dutch, as is my husband's. We just recently purchased some Barnevelder chicks, which are also a Dutch breed that lay darker eggs. Not that they are necessarily any easier to find, depending on the quality you want, but they are a very pretty bird and they come in a variety of colors. Might be worth looking into if you want a Dutch breed that lays darker eggs and are having difficulty finding Wellies.

i kinda have my heart set on welsummers, but i will look into this breed as i know nothing about them

I almost tempted to order a 6 welsummer hens and rooster, raise them and when they get to be about 6 weeks old sell of all my other chickens and raise strictly welsummers.....if there is a shortage of welsummers, i could almost hatch my own eggs and sell welsummer chicks. If welsummer is the only breed i have, and i start with great quality.....

I might have to think that over......

But thanks for the info on the barnevelder!

 

[1muttsfan]

You will not get great quality birds from any hatchery. The birds will generally look like Welsummers, and will lay brown eggs, but will not be close to the Standard of Perfection. If you are truly interested in breeding these lovely birds, please consider getting quality stock from a breeder. you may need to hatch eggs instead of buying birds.

Here is a thread that discusses the breed from the standpoint of knowledgable, experienced breeders. We are so fortunate at BYC to be able to share in the thoughts and opinions of top breeders. These are the folks that preserve breeds in their most perfect form.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/818263/csus-welsummer-sop

 

[aart]

i kinda have my heart set on welsummers, but i will look into this breed as i know nothing about them

I almost tempted to order a 6 welsummer hens and rooster, raise them and when they get to be about 6 weeks old sell of all my other chickens and raise strictly welsummers.....if there is a shortage of welsummers, i could almost hatch my own eggs and sell welsummer chicks. If welsummer is the only breed i have, and i start with great quality.....

Go for it!! I wanted some too, got a pair from a local 'breeder' that were sub par...she's lousy layer of fertile, but porous and non developing eggs.
He's a great cockbird tho.

You will not get great quality birds from any hatchery. The birds will generally look like Welsummers, and will lay brown eggs, but will not be close to the Standard of Perfection. If you are truly interested in breeding these lovely birds, please consider getting quality stock from a breeder. you may need to hatch eggs instead of buying birds.

Here is a thread that discusses the breed from the standpoint of knowledgable, experienced breeders. We are so fortunate at BYC to be able to share in the thoughts and opinions of top breeders. These are the folks that preserve breeds in their most perfect form.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/818263/csus-welsummer-sop

That thread is pretty much dead....same person started a FB group and club, but it's pretty slow too.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/welsummerclubofnorthamerica/

@Opa in Michigan had some nice ones but sold them all due to other obligations...not sure if the recipient is instate and selling.

Hatchery birds are likely low quality...a crap shoot for egg color.....especially if you want SOP birds.
You can find them for sale in, but buyer beware.

 

[gladahmae]

Yeah I got welsummers from tractor supply 2 years ago and was NOT impressed. Didn't lay any darker than my ISA Browns, very flighty, and so on. If you are serious about breeding get good stock to start with.

 

[iamfivewire]

x2 of what gladahmae said - i got a hatchery wellie from the feed store last year & looked nothing like a wellie - he was a pretty bird tho

 

[Folly's place]

My couple of Wellies from Cackle are pretty nice, actually. If you want show quality birds, find a good breeder somehow. Is there a national club? SQ birds may be bred to be beautiful, but egg production may not be something the breeder cares about. If you just want a flock, Cackle birds look pretty good to me, and the egg color is fine. Good luck! Mary

 

[aart]

My couple of Wellies from Cackle are pretty nice, actually. If you want show quality birds, find a good breeder somehow. Is there a national club? SQ birds may be bred to be beautiful, but egg production may not be something the breeder cares about. If you just want a flock, Cackle birds look pretty good to me, and the egg color is fine. Good luck! Mary

There is...link in my post above...but it's not too active and I don't think there's any breeders in MI.
Some are breeding bantams and other color variations....and, you are correct, not paying much attention to egg color.

 

[1muttsfan]

That thread is pretty much dead.

That thread has an enormous amount of valuable information on the breed and is well worth reading over.

 

[aart]

Quote: I didn't say it didn't have good info.....just probably going to find a source for birds there.

 

[uchytil]

One of my ducks quacked this morning. Like....legitimate quack. So that means I have at least ONE female. Yay!

? My drakes quack, the hens grunt...here's hoping for ya, lol