The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[Opa]

I agree that if your Welsummers are flighty or aggressive then I would think that their breeding is suspect. I've had Welsummers for a number of years and while they are not a "friendly" breed they are extremely calm. Even my roosters have never shown the slightest agression any time I enter their run. I've also found they are the easiest on their hens of any breed I own and my hens to not exhibit the slightest bit of "rooster wear".

 

[debid]

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I'm not picturing what you're explaining. Do you have a picture?

I do have a hen with spurs, so it is possible.

I'll have to see if I can get them to be still enough for a super zoom...

I've been staring hard at them trying to convince them that they need to get their act together and start laying like the rest of their miscellaneous pullet sisters. These Wellie girls were hatched March 30th! And before anyone says it, they are colored 100% female.

None of mine are crazy or skittish or flighty and certainly not aggressive. They're not lap chickens but they seem calm to me... unless you're trying to catch them (good luck with that -- these girls can RUN!) One of them used to jump up on the side of the brooder every time I opened the lid and she didn't mind being held. The teenage stage has made them more standoffish.

 

[Tailfeathers]

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Your post didn't mention whether the woman you got your birds from was a breeder and offspring of her breeding or whether they were birds she had and sold to you. If they were birds she had and sold to you, I can assure you that the birds' did not develop a new personality just because of the move. She would have had to experience the same thing you are and therefore it is either a case of her definition of "extremely skittish" being different than yours or outright deception.

If they are the result of her breeding, then I would ask about the temperament of her rooster as well as some other questions about what she looks for in the birds she breeds. My suspicion is that her birds are hatchery birds or the offspring of hatchery birds and therefore no selective breeding has been done. It's been a long time since I've had any hatchery Welsummres and while I know personality wasn't the main reason I got rid of all of them, I think it may have been in the case of a bird or two.

I would not call any of my Welsummers overly friendly. For example, I've never had a Welsummer fly up and land on my shoulder like I have some of my Ameraucanas. Having said that, I also would definitely NOT call them "overly skittish" or "flighty". Again, just a guess, but my suspicion is that there may be some Leghorn in their background somewhere. I am not a Leghorn breeder nor am I very knowledgeable at all about the breed, so it is not my intent to offend any Leghorn fanciers out there but from the limited exposure I've had to them, they are a very flighty and skittish bird.

All of my Welsummers tolerate my presence just fine. Males and females. I have specifically culled for any aggression in my males and have never had a problem seeing any aggression in my females. In has been at least three years since I've seen any kind of overly aggressiveness in any of my birds. That's not to say I won't see one reach out and whop another bird on the head at roosting time but that is the extent of it. My birds easily tolerate my presence around them as I do my chores and walk amongtst them to look them over and make my picks. They get a little excited if I pick them up off the roost but it doesn't take very long for them to settle down at all. And it must be noted that I simply do not get to handle my birds as often as I'd like to. When I take them to a show, they are just fine. Quite the contrary to some birds I've seen which almost literally kill themselves trying to escape.

I would suggest selling the birds to someone who doesn't mind them being "extremely skitty". Maybe someone who doesn't plan to spend much time with them either and just likes the dark eggs. Then seek out a good breeder, ask a lot of questions, and try your hand again with some different Wellies!

God Bless,

 

[pinkchick]

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I agree 100%. I have never had rooster wear on the Welsummer hens...not once.

 

[pinkchick]

Quick update on Odin....he is doing a little better. He is walking around outside when I let him out now instead of just standing at the fence looking out. I have been pumping him full of vitamins and everything I can think of that will help him. He is also going through one heck of a molt, that can't be helping.
The only thing I can't figure out is the gentle little side to side rocking motion of his body that is non stop. He has good balance when he walks and pecks at stuff...heck yesterday he even stood infront of the Delaware pen oogling them and did a little wing dance, but he still shakes and still looks very down. Hard to explain.

I think he may like all the special attention and treats a little too....the big lug.

 

[texaschickmom]

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Sounds like you're taking good care of him and doing everything you can for him. I sure hope he pulls through.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Glad he's improving Kim!

 

[EweSheep]

Could it be that he might have an ear infection or some thing that he ran into, stunned him out in a zone that he just could not bounce back?

Have you checked the feed for possible mold?

I am sure you are doing everything possible for Odin!

 

[Happy Chooks]

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I thought the same, but I've never had a bird with an ear infection.

 

[pinkchick]

Thank you friends! I am still watching him very closely. He had me very scared for a few days. I just wish I could figure out the shaking....


Robin..anything is possible..and I have been through everything. He is going to be returned to his 3 ladies today and put in a coop closer to me instead of down over the hill in the layer flock.
The one thing I can say for sure is that the feed is totally good, feed must be no older than 2 weeks old when I purchase it. I will make the feed store open a new pallet for me if what they try to sell me is too old.