The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[SFIcelandics]

Quote:
Yeah, NPIP is a big deal, can't have any birds come onto the farm unless they are from a certified NPIP source, etc... Pretty scrict I believe, I have all the information on it, and will be NPIP certified this coming year(2011).

I am really happy on how the Largefowl Welsummers from my line are turning out... Everyone has said good things about them so far, and all the ones that I am growing out are pretty young. Most of my LF welsummers that are going to be added to the breeding pen are only about 2-4 months old right now...

Nate

 

[EweSheep]

If NPIP is strict, then by all means, gotta go with the rules! Can't afford to risk it unless you get the birds certified.

 

[flower]

Hey Everyone, Here is my forth consecutive egg from Miss OOOgly next to a Dominigue pullet's egg.

the color my be somewhat eggagerated due to the use of artificial light but the size is good

 

[Tailfeathers]

Quote:
That's interesting. I have heard the same thing from others. I recently talked with a Grand Master Exhibitor who told me he once paid for 5 different sets of hatching chicks before he ever got a single chick out of any eggs and then it was like only a half-dozen.

I don't understand that. I've shipped Ameraucana and Welsummer chicks all over this country. If I remember correctly all but one of my customers had a 50% hatch rate or better and the one who didn't was the only customer that also got a broken egg. He was in NY and said the box looked like somebody had played football with it.

Moreover, the Development Rate on the eggs I sent were 75% or better in almost all cases. I look more at the DR than the HR because I have no control over what somebody uses as an incubator or how they use it during the development cycle. As long as the eggs developed, then they were fertile and packaged well so I figure I've done my job.

Also, I've gotten eggs from many different states as well and I've usually had good results. Notwithstanding one nightmare situation where I bought some very special eggs three different times and got ZERO eggs to even develop - not to mention getting eggs that were already spoiled and smelling - I think I've always gotten 50% or better hatch rate. Come to think of it there was one other time where I got a bunch of infertile eggs but received a refund for those. I do recall having a few that developed blood rings and a few that never developed because the air cell was scrambled and the insides were like water. But for the most part I've had pretty good success both ways.

Btw, on the subject of NPIP, when it comes to the strictness and such, I'll just say I know several that go with "What the State don't know won't hurt them." and they're not near as strict about their place as one might think.

God Bless,

 

[SFIcelandics]

Quote:
That's interesting. I have heard the same thing from others. I recently talked with a Grand Master Exhibitor who told me he once paid for 5 different sets of hatching chicks before he ever got a single chick out of any eggs and then it was like only a half-dozen.

I don't understand that. I've shipped Ameraucana and Welsummer chicks all over this country. If I remember correctly all but one of my customers had a 50% hatch rate or better and the one who didn't was the only customer that also got a broken egg. He was in NY and said the box looked like somebody had played football with it.

Moreover, the Development Rate on the eggs I sent were 75% or better in almost all cases. I look more at the DR than the HR because I have no control over what somebody uses as an incubator or how they use it during the development cycle. As long as the eggs developed, then they were fertile and packaged well so I figure I've done my job.

Also, I've gotten eggs from many different states as well and I've usually had good results. Notwithstanding one nightmare situation where I bought some very special eggs three different times and got ZERO eggs to even develop - not to mention getting eggs that were already spoiled and smelling - I think I've always gotten 50% or better hatch rate. Come to think of it there was one other time where I got a bunch of infertile eggs but received a refund for those. I do recall having a few that developed blood rings and a few that never developed because the air cell was scrambled and the insides were like water. But for the most part I've had pretty good success both ways.

Btw, on the subject of NPIP, when it comes to the strictness and such, I'll just say I know several that go with "What the State don't know won't hurt them." and they're not near as strict about their place as one might think.

God Bless,

Yeah, I have had great hatch rates on my eggs to some, others not so well, but they still got chicks. I got a few eggs shipped in this year, and maybe 1 or 2 out of a dozen max.

Out of 7 dozen maran and welsummer eggs that I got in this year, I only have 9 birds out of those 7 dozen! :-(. And out of those 9, 5 are cockerels.

To each his own, but I would much rather pay a little bit more, and get the chicks, because then I know how many chicks I will have rather than "counting my chickens before they hatch".

Do you live close to Erhard that you go and pick up your birds?

Nate

 

[Tailfeathers]

Yep. Erhard's a good friend. I go down there a few times a year and he occasionally stops by here when he comes up to see his daughters. We'll be meeting up again in a couple of weeks at the next show.

God Bless,

 

[EweSheep]

I am not NPIP but ALL of my flock are from NPIP breeders so it counted a bit for me and not having the government too involved in my flock.

I have sent hatching eggs and chickens out of state and NO, the post office does not always check, they just do their jobs to deliver the package, nothing more, per my very good friend who is a USPS state inspector/biohazard inspector and they do not have the man power or persons to look up every NPIP number on the boxes or check for paperwork. It is the responsibility of the bird owner and buyer to inspect and quarantine birds upon arrival. If questions arises, you can always have the vet come out and do inspections.

I know you can get into trouble but I've been hearing more NPIP breeders are going underground buying birds elsewhere, quarantine them with NPIP breeder's paperwork or not and the next NPIP testing, have all the birds tested.

I've known a few NPIP breeders flying under the radar buying non NPIP breeders the ones who are underground, rarest of breeds and don't want to be bothered with paperwork.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
Royce my friend I hear ya!!!!! That is exactly what keeps me from NPIP, that one day would cost me my first born and possibly my right leg. It's not only the drive time that jacks the price up but also if a person has more than 30 adult birds (6 months of age) then every adult bird you own must be tested, I remember the state vet telling me that they do not test birds under a certain age, but once they become of age they need to be tested....so that could amount to 2 seperate trips = $$$$$$$$$$. They estimate 2.5 minutes to test each bird, here at my house the vet would be testing birds for 395 minutes at $85 per hour, if I added it up correctly that would be $559.98 then add the windsheild time we pay for, to my house and back that would be another 4 hours at $340.00..........AND that doesn't include the cost of the tests themselves. Last year the state had funding which allowed them to do one of the tests that would normally cost $15.00 for free for anyone signing up for NPIP but the rest of the testing we pay for. Currently they no longer have those funds so we now have to pay for everything. On top of the fact that there is only one state vet to do the testing. Can you imagine what folks have to pay if they are in Eastern WA or Southern Eastern WA?
OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW which show are you and Erhard going to? Are you going to the one coming up in Dec. in Chehalis? I am really going to try and make it to that one. Wanted to go to the one in Stevenson but couldn't make it. I would love to meet up with you and Erhard one of these days!

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Since we are talking welsummers has anyone ever had one go broody and become a mom? if so was she a good mom?


I ask because they were listed as a NON-setter and this is her first setting I have 8 eggs under her right now so far so good...

 

[Happy Chooks]

Congrats Backyard Chicken Rancher! I haven't had my wellies go broody, but they are only a year old.

Nate....That's awful on those hatch rates. I've (so far-knock on wood) had great hatches from people here on BYC. I shipped out some test eggs from my flock (olive eggers) and fertility is fantastic. One tester said all eggs hatched and the other tester lost 2 to blood rings, but the rest are still going strong. I packed those eggs so tight, they weren't going anywhere in that box.