The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[Orchid]

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I kind of figured that would be the case, since hatcheries don't exactly breed for personality.

But that's okay, I like 'em anyway.

Your pullet is lovely!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Robin.......I went out and snapped a few pictures of my pullet - outside no flash. Just candid shots, and the one in the sunlight distorts her true coloring. She does look as dark as the previous picture I posted in person.

And since Moose came over while free ranging his girls, I couldn't not get some pics of him.

And this one shows his chest width nicely.

 

[EweSheep]

Your pullet is fine, she looks very young and have plenty to fill out. They start off gangly from get go and then filled out.

Moose is looking good despite of his comb, his chest is very good! If he didnt have that double pointed comb on one of the points, he would definately be a looker! I think you are doing well with your project!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Thanks, she's 20 weeks, so she still has a lot of filling out to do. And yes, I wish Moose didn't have that double point, but nobody is perfect.

I can always add one of his son's later.

He's a fantastic protector and a sweet boy, so he has a home for life no matter what.

And thanks for the encouragement - I'm so excited to start working on them, now that I have the room! I can't wait to see what Kim's pullets bring to the breeding also!

 

[EweSheep]

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[Orchid]

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The first and only roo I've had (other than the little bantam guy in my grow out pen right now) was a production red with a huge comb, and he got frostbite last winter as well, despite my best effots to the contrary. I think you need to develop an "up north" version of the Welsummer so I can have one of those lovely roosters without fear of frostbite!

 

[EweSheep]

Orchid, we will keep trying!

That is one of our goals.

 

[Orchid]

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[Opa]

EweSheep, I'd be honored for you to use that picture. I have been very pleased with my birds and it's nice that other folks think they look good as well.

One thing I've noticed is that the Welsummer roosters I have had have all been extremely calm and well mannered. They have been very gentle on the hens and I've rarely even seen them breed. My other breeds almost never stop. My Welsummers have never shown the slightest aggression when anyone goes in the pen with them. My other roosters immediately come at anyone who gets to near the pens or cages and I hate to think about a little kid going in the pen with them.

As far as hatchery Welsummers being flighty the ones that I've gotten from Estes have all been great birds. I've had a few from private breeders that were crazy as bed bugs, but I have talked to folks who gotten Welsummers from other hatcheries and they didn't like their birds. I guess it depends alot on their breeding stock.l

 

[EweSheep]

Opa, it is done! Now if we can have Sam Elliott holding a Welsummer, it would be a FEATURE front cover LOL!

The roos supposed to be calm and well mannered. Aggressive roos aren't my favorite, I dont care how pretty he gets to be but aint pretty if he attacks me or my 7 year old dd.

The ones you got from Estes before a few years has passed are the better ones, so you got lucky getting the first year chicks from Estes......however I was not lucky in my third year crop with Estes....meaner and more flighty. Estes probably didn't cull out the undesirable traits but hopefully they get back on track.