The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[microchick]

They were 12 weeks this past weekend, poppyflock. The one that I'm pretty sure is a pullet is a beautiful golden brown color. The other three are multicolored and one, the first one that hatched and I suspect is a cockerel named Primo, has beautiful blue green tail feathers coming in like my adult roosters. The multicolors are not the same beautiful colors of the full blooded Welly roos but rich shades of red, red/gold and brown.

Three of them have really long legs. Have no idea where they came from as none of my roosters or hens, neither BO or Welly, have long legs.

I'll try to get some pictures of them tomorrow. I have a hen sitting on a dozen Welly/Buff O cross and pure BO eggs right now. Can't wait to see what this batch looks like.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Sandy is such a sweetheart! Okay I'm going to be no help at all... Lol. But her 2 day old chick picture I say pullet because of the strong minky v on her head and the dark eyeliner. Now the later pictures at 3.5 weeks I see a hint of reddening on the comb. Girls will stay peach until POL. The stance is indicative of a cockerel. But my little Patsy is doing that alert stance as leader in the brooder. I was really looking for a tail picture to help sway me one way or another.

 

[RanchRichey]

Hey guys, I'm a new chicken mom and I was hoping to get your "professional" opinion on the gender of my Wellsummer chick . Sandy is 3.5 weeks old and is supposed to be a pullet. I was sure to pick a chick with a very well defined V and dark eyeliner. Unfortunately I think Sandy might be an exception to that rule because "she" is starting to seem like a "he". I was SO excited about having a Wellsummer pullet but I'm afraid that's not the case. I know 3.5 weeks is too early to have a solid answer, but I figured it was worth asking. At 3.5 weeks old, Sandy has a larger, pinker comb than her older (5 week) old siblings (although they're not Wellsummers). She also sometimes does the tall "rooster" stance, and I've caught her sort of running towards the other chicks like shes trying to be aggressive or dominant. This is my first time having chickens so I'm not totally sure what to expect but it seems like sort of an aggressive "rooster" thing to do. Any input is really appreciated!! I am leaning towards rooster at this point, which is unfortunate because I can't have roosters where I live and will have to rehome Sandy if he turns out to be a "he". Anyway, thanks in advance for your help! Here's Sandy the day we got her. I'm guessing 2-3 days old: 3.5 weeks old. Doing the tall "rooster" stance. :-/ Another at 3.5 weeks: Also at 3.5 weeks: And one more: Thanks in advance for all your help!

I too am new to this chick thing, so not an expert by any stretch. I had 3 Welsummer chicks that looked identical at 1 day old. V on the head, eye liner, etc... But I too noticed a strong difference in 1 right around 3-4 weeks Here he is at 5 weeks

and one of my girls at 7 weeks

If I didn't have a direct comparison, I might not have noticed so early, but my girls at almost 8, still don't have much of a comb to speak of I hope it's a pullet, but that comb is suspicious. However, my roo also had deep brick red more solid color feathering coming in than the girls, so yours is on the right track there.

 

[poppyflock]

I too am new to this chick thing, so not an expert by any stretch.

I had 3 Welsummer chicks that looked identical at 1 day old. V on the head, eye liner, etc... But I too noticed a strong difference in 1 right around 3-4 weeks
Here he is at 5 weeks

and one of my girls at 7 weeks
If I didn't have a direct comparison, I might not have noticed so early, but my girls at almost 8, still don't have much of a comb to speak of
I hope it's a pullet, but that comb is suspicious. However, my roo also had deep brick red more solid color feathering coming in than the girls, so yours is on the right track there.

I'm also a little worried about her comb. She definitely looks more like your 5 week old roo and less like the pullet. Especially in the comb area. :-/ Thanks for sharing your pictures! Both very cute little birds!

 

[poppyflock]

They were 12 weeks this past weekend, poppyflock. The one that I'm pretty sure is a pullet is a beautiful golden brown color. The other three are multicolored and one, the first one that hatched and I suspect is a cockerel named Primo, has beautiful blue green tail feathers coming in like my adult roosters. The multicolors are not the same beautiful colors of the full blooded Welly roos but rich shades of red, red/gold and brown.

Three of them have really long legs. Have no idea where they came from as none of my roosters or hens, neither BO or Welly, have long legs.

I'll try to get some pictures of them tomorrow. I have a hen sitting on a dozen Welly/Buff O cross and pure BO eggs right now. Can't wait to see what this batch looks like.

They sound like beautiful birds! I'd love to see pictures of them. I wonder what color eggs they'll lay? How fun to hatch your own chicks and see how they turn out!

 

[ronnhill7]

I really appreciate the knowledge that so many "chicken people" have; I'm enjoying BYC!

 

[poppyflock]

Sandy is such a sweetheart! Okay I'm going to be no help at all... Lol. But her 2 day old chick picture I say pullet because of the strong minky v on her head and the dark eyeliner. Now the later pictures at 3.5 weeks I see a hint of reddening on the comb. Girls will stay peach until POL. The stance is indicative of a cockerel. But my little Patsy is doing that alert stance as leader in the brooder. I was really looking for a tail picture to help sway me one way or another.

"Her" comb seems to be getting redder and redder each day, unfortunately. Here's a picture of her tail from today. "She" has a tail but it's definitely nothing to write home about:


And as I was attempting to get tail pictures I snapped this (very blurry) picture and realized her wattles are looking pretty pink too. I'm pretty new at chickens but I think that's a roo thing?


Thanks for everyone's help! I'll be sure to share an update on Sandy in the near future once I know for sure.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Just based on my previous single comb breeds and obviously not Welsummer experience, because I'm a newbie with them,--but I see a little Rooster there. The Tail, the pinking of the comb near the base, the stance and the teenage feathers are darker than my little pullets. Sandy is looking boyish with the new pics.

 

[BelleFarm]

Hi everyone! I've been breeding Welsummers into my olive egger lines to add speckles to the olive eggs. It's worked well so far! I've been gone at college this past year(I'm actually majoring in Poultry Science), and my parents have been taking care of the flock, and they integrated everyone for less upkeep. One of my olive egger roosters (who is half Welsummer but does not look it) fertilized some Welsummer eggs that hatched, and the chicks are actually blue and black with either wheaten or brown around their faces and chests. Anyone else have experience with breeding Welsummers to black/blue/splash birds, and the resulting adult feather plumage ? Thanks!

 

[aart]

And as I was attempting to get tail pictures I snapped this (very blurry) picture and realized her wattles are looking pretty pink too. I'm pretty new at chickens but I think that's a roo thing?

Those red wattles emerging at 4-5 weeks, screams cockerel.
It's about the only thing I pay attention to with non muffed chicks.