My new Wellie Chicks

[L&Schickens]

A friend of mine hatched these for me. (I have been banned from hatching any more this year

) I gave him 16 eggs and 12 hatched, he gave me 6. They are by his rooster, Winston who I am "borrowing" and out of my champion Welsummer hens. My last batch that are by my show roo that was killed are now over 2 months old and are all pullets! That is good, but I wished at least one was a rooster.

With a record like that, I should have hatched more of his eggs!

I wanted a Wellington Jr. So now with this latest batch, I hope I get a roo out of the bunch.

They are sooo cute!!

 

[Tailfeathers]

Hi Shellie,

Congratulations!

I picked up a half-dozen more Welsummer chicks from my breeder when I went down to get my Barnevelders from him. They are growing like weeds.

It looks like you've got five pullets there for sure. The one with its head tucked is hard to tell but I think it's a pullet too.

I haven't even loaded my own incubator yet. Am collecting for my last batch of hatching eggs and then can start my own breeding and collecting. I have several orders for chicks and committed to selling one of my roosters once I'm done breeding him.

Btw, my #55 Welsummer pullet took Best Continental and made it to Champion Row at the Cascade Show.

Best Wishes on getting you a little Winston Jr!

God Bless,

 

[PeeperKeeper]

They are adorable! Speaking of bans... DH won't let me go to Tractor Supply because of all the little chicks. So my sister goes and calls me on the phone and describes all the little chicks. Her DH told her she could look but don't TOUCH!

 

[CountryMom]

Congrats! They are so cute. Mine are getting so big it is hard to remember them little. LOL I really am enjoying this breed more than we did with just the one hatchery Wellie we had. Unfortunately I didn't get the odds you did with pullets. I have three pullets and four roosters!

 

[EweSheep]

AWWWWWWWWWWW! Now the temptation!!!!

I agree with Tailfeathers, looks like you got mostly pullets.

 

[L&Schickens]

That is great about your hen making Champion row Royce!! Wonderful!!
How can you tell about the pullets at this age?
I guess I will have to break down and actually BUY a roo since I can't seem to hatch one!!

 

[EweSheep]

The V's on the heads are more defined and the fuzzy V;s are males. I dont always rely on those markings with my Welsummers because I get either sex in a different way! I think it may be due to bloodlines.

Yes, Royce do have some beautiful Welsummers and his birds will be a nice addition to my flock later this year!

 

[Tailfeathers]

EweSheep has it right. So far I've been able to determine with 100% accuracy the males from the females based on their headcap. Distinct "V" caps with a black outside line have been females. "Fuzzy" or non-distinct caps have always been the males.

Thanks for the kind words Robin. I'm getting closer all the time to finally being able to get those Welsummers into the breeding pens!

And thanks Shellie for the congrats. It would have been nice to see ya at the show. Btw, you're not going to believe this but I actually sold that Champion Continental Welsummer. It's a long story but suffice it to say I made a major goof. I'm hoping I can borrow her back and trade some chicks for allowing me to breed her.

God Bless,

 

[L&Schickens]

I am going to go take an eraser to the heads of these chicks to "Fade" the "V" a little so I can have a rooster!!!

 

[BellLisamo]

awwwww how cute! love welsummer chicks!