The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[McSpin]

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If you're after good production, ask about that. If you want dark eggs, make sure they're dark enough. If you want birds that are not broody, find that out. If you'd rather calm birds, check on that. Since you're not interested in showing, I wouldn't avoid birds because of show faults. It's kind of pointless to rule out birds because of conformation traits that are unimportant to you.

The production listed may be a hair on the low side, but summer heat can do that. Welsummers are not a production bird and hens that lays 4-5 eggs/week is about average. I would quarantine them until you feel comfortable with them. Myself, I would introduce one (expendable) bird from my existing stock to the new flock to see if it "catches" anything.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

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Good point. I'm mainly interested in dark eggs.

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I knew production wasn't their strong suit, but I wasn't sure what "average" was. Thanks for the info. 3 eggs per day over a week comes to total of 21 eggs over a 7 day period and from 5 pullets that's an average of 4.2 eggs per week per pullett. And you may be correct that production could pick up once (IF!) cooler weather arrives. It's probably a little cooler closer to the OK border, but over the past couple of months here in East Texas temps have ranged from the high 90's - 100's with LOTS of humidity. blah!

Don't hens usually stop laying after they've been stressed? I would imagine a 4 hour road trip to a new home would be kinda stressful for them. How long would you estimate production will be "off" after relocation?

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Well, my current flock is only 8.5 weeks old, so I think I would worry about the older birds taking out the new introduction before any parasites or disease could. However, I do have a EE cockrel (that was supposed to be a pullet) that is headed to freezer camp here in the next few weeks. He's pretty standoffish, and I'm not too keen on having to pluck a chicken, so he may end up being my guinea chicken.

Thanks!

Rachel

 

[flower]

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USUALLY this the biggest issue after regarding the question of purchase value. My second important step after checking with husband would be a picture of the eggs which may or amy not be accurate. According to what I read the egg production at this time of year seems normal as per the above posting .....so....... (if it were me me, but it is not) what does you husband who is going to Fort worth have to say ? Good Luck

 

[EweSheep]

Piney, I am not impressed with the pics you showed me on Craiglist......just pitiful looking Welsummers if you ask me. From their colors to their combs, I would be ashamed to show such birds like that. Not sure of the background of these birds but it looks like a bad lot. Save yourself a trip and find some good Wellies from some of us in here. If I had to wait for the Silkies to become broody, next year sounds like a good plan unless Nate or Whitmore, McSpin or anyone in here can send you a pair of Wellies to start off from.

 

[hiker125]

Ok, I realize that I may get a biased answer here, but I have a choice between welsummers and marans. My local feed store is getting a batch of each tomrrow. I am looking for nice friendly quiet backyard chickens for eggs. I am thinking about 4 hens to give me about a dozen eggs a week.

Are either of these good for this? I am leaning toward the welsummers.

 

[EweSheep]

Hatchery Welsummers and Marans will give you more eggs but be mindful, you might or may not get the egg color you wanted. sometimes you will get lucky to get the correct egg shells.

Welsummers are not normally broody which the Marans do have the tendency to do so.

Try both breeds and you can keep both breeds or get rid of the ones that disappoint you.

 

[Desert Rooster]

do some welsummer roos have white earlobes???? cuz mine does, he looks just like the roos on here, only with white earlobes

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

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Well, I guess I won't be road tripping this weekend after all.

I suppose I'll just wait til my Silkies start going broody and get some eggs, or wait til this spring when folks start shipping day old again. Sadly patience is not one of my virtues, so I may just talk myself into buying an incubator.

Thanks for the great advice everyone!

Rachel

 

[McSpin]

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I'm not trying to make a sale, but we are still shipping day-old chicks and I'm sure others are too. You are in a warmer climate, so it shouldn't be much problem getting them this time of year. Keep in mind with chicks, you need to get more than a few. For me, the minimum is 10 because there have to be enough so they can stay warm enough on a cool shipping day.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

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You mean I don't have to wait after all!? Music to my ears!

I'll PM you momentarily.

Rachel