The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[Beer can]

B
mine is 30 weeks and still no eggs. Hitting pol right as winter starts is definitely affecting them.

I think your right, between the cold and lack of sufficient daylight.
My wellies are 28 weeks, and nothing. I also have brown leghorns and standard eegrs a banty eegr and one polish.
Last two weeks I get one small white egg from one of the brown legerns, and one olive egg from the banty eegr. The rest ain't earnin their keep.

 

[sssharon]

Estamets, I knew my Welsummer wasn't enjoying the cold weather. I read they were cold hardy but what a bunch of bull. My Welie died today. I tried to help her to late.

Im going to stop what the experts say and pay more attention.

 

[estamets]

Estamets, I knew my Welsummer wasn't enjoying the cold weather. I read they were cold hardy but what a bunch of bull. My Welie died today. I tried to help her to late.

Im going to stop what the experts say and pay more attention.

oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that. It's so heart breaking to lose a bird.

 

[wny egger]

Estamets, I knew my Welsummer wasn't enjoying the cold weather. I read they were cold hardy but what a bunch of bull. My Welie died today. I tried to help her to late.

Im going to stop what the experts say and pay more attention.

sorry to hear about your wellie not making it ..its hard sometimes when we feel like we are doing what we are suppost to and then have this happen ..

a good cold weather breed would be a wyandotte with their rose combs and small woddles..some say all birds are cold hardy , but then there wouldnt be migration every yr if that was the case....

 

[sssharon]

Thanks Estamets. I lost two chickens. Sebrights aren't good in cold weather either. I was just not paying close enough attention. I could see they didn't like the cold and I tried to do things to make it better for them but I let them come in to late. I doctored my Sebright for 2 full days and she was to far gone. Well,, I learned a valuable lesson, don't believe everything you read and go with your gut instinct when you think something's not right. This is just the beginning of cold weather. Ne. winters are hard. My other chickens are doing well. Cross my fingers.

 

[estamets]

Thanks Estamets. I lost two chickens. Sebrights aren't good in cold weather either. I was just not paying close enough attention. I could see they didn't like the cold and I tried to do things to make it better for them but I let them come in to late. I doctored my Sebright for 2 full days and she was to far gone. Well,, I learned a valuable lesson, don't believe everything you read and go with your gut instinct when you think something's not right. This is just the beginning of cold weather. Ne. winters are hard. My other chickens are doing well. Cross my fingers.

Fingers crossed for you! And I'm so sorry for your losses. It's true, you really do need to trust your instincts. My flock has had a series of health issues recently, and each time I talk myself out of isolating and treating one of them, I regret it the next day when they're worse.

Our problem out here is heat, and I do everything in my power to keep them safe: misters, frozen treats, cooping them on really hot days to make sure they don't overexert themselves... Weather is such a powerful force!

It's going to drop down to 54 degrees tonight. I have to remind myself not to worry about the babies outside, knowing that 54 is a warm Autumn day in most places.

 

[Beer can]

Its going to warm up to the 50s this weekend and I cant wait! Its been in the teens at night. Sorry to here about your losses, Im a little worried about a small polish hen my daughter made us keep, there not supposed to be cold hardy. They all, Wellies, brown leghorns and EEgrs all seem to be doing well. I read in cold its better for their feet to have a wide roost, so I cut down a 6" round tree, 6' long and all eight of them snuggle up together on it at night, they prefer it over the skinnier ones.

 

[sssharon]

Beer can, I would keep a good eye on the Polish. I've read before that bantams are not cold hardy and I believe that wholeheartedly. They also said Wellies were cold hardy but I must have had the one exception to the rule. My two chickens that are gone both gave me warnings and I should have figured out something for them sooner. My Wellie always had a little problem with congestion but she had it for the eight months I had her. One of my daughters Frizzles couldn't take this weather and is gone too. I know they tell you not to run a heat light but I can't imagine even my other chickens who are not bothered by the cold liking it when it gets sub-zero. I made a sweater for my Sebright but it was to late. They have them online selling for 40 dollars. I made my own just for the fun it. Sorry to pull your ear so long. Just keep a good eye on your bird. Google chicken sweaters, it's real funny!

 

[aart]

Beer can, I would keep a good eye on the Polish. I've read before that bantams are not cold hardy and I believe that wholeheartedly. They also said Wellies were cold hardy but I must have had the one exception to the rule. My two chickens that are gone both gave me warnings and I should have figured out something for them sooner. My Wellie always had a little problem with congestion but she had it for the eight months I had her. One of my daughters Frizzles couldn't take this weather and is gone too. I know they tell you not to run a heat light but I can't imagine even my other chickens who are not bothered by the cold liking it when it gets sub-zero. I made a sweater for my Sebright but it was to late. They have them online selling for 40 dollars. I made my own just for the fun it. Sorry to pull your ear so long. Just keep a good eye on your bird. Google chicken sweaters, it's real funny!

That sounds like a respiratory disease.......most chicken breeds can take the cold, if they are healthy and provided with adequate shelter.

 

[sssharon]

Estamets, I have 4 of the chickens you have and not only do we have extremely cold weather the hot weather is brutal too. When it's hot I gave them lot's of fresh water probably 2 times a day and put ice in it. When they would get in my garden I gave them the hose. They didn't mind that either. They were fine. Now I just have to worry about the cold. I have a B.R. A Buff and black Orpington, marans, and also an OE and EE and they act like this weather is great. It was 20 degrees the other day and they were running around in the yard like it was summer. It had been 14 out the day before. So unless chickens act differently to their nature in different climates you'll probably have no problems. Hopefully not. Thanks for your kind words.