The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[Johnn]

I like mine, have 5 hens, last month they laid around 104 eggs total- average to 3 per day so I think they do a great job. My girls are on the chatty side- always something to say when I go into the coop

Either way, they probablies couldnt do much worse than my hens are right now if i got some again!

 

[faykokoWV]

Any of the "heritage breeds" are not designed to be production egg layers. I don't think Welsummers would be considered poor layers, but they are supposed to be a dual purpose breed, meaning they are for meat or eggs, not just egg laying.

 

[Johnn]

Any of the "heritage breeds" are not designed to be production egg layers. I don't think Welsummers would be considered poor layers, but they are supposed to be a dual purpose breed, meaning they are for meat or eggs, not just egg laying.

Ok thanks, Do they are they better or worse layers than Orpingtons??

 

[mamahen22]

I have 5 Welsummer hens too. Right now they are laying around 3 a day. Mine are very friendly and talkative. They come running looking for a treat when I come out the door. One of them will sit on my lap and fall asleep while I scratch her head, lol.

 

[FlashPointFarm]

Ok thanks, Do they are they better or worse layers than Orpingtons??

Bloodline means everything. I see this a lot, such and such breed is aggressive, or such and such breed doesn't lay well, or such and such breed are good mothers. It all depends on what the breeder's goals have been, if there are any. And how well they cull for the good points.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Quote:
I have to say worse. My orps lay 6-7 eggs a week, my Welsummers lay every other day, sometimes one extra in there maybe.

 

[NC ChickenKate]

Hi Welly owners...question.
One month ago one of my two 1 1/2 year old hens (the bottom of the rung flock position) over night lost 90% of her neck feathers and her comb, earlobes and all around her eyes bleached out...just as our freezing night temps hit. I separated her from the flock and kept her warm. A total body check for mites or bugs found nothing and there was no indication that any of the others had been pecking on her exposed skin. Her appetite, temperature and poops were and remain normal. Her replacement pin feathers showed up immediately and have now covered most of her neck again. Her comb, earlobes and eye area is still bleached. She's back with the flock, eating, scratching, roosting acting totally normal.
My entire flock of 8 went through their Fall moult in October/November, including her.I would characterize it as a light moult with patchy loss of feathers for everyone. The other Welly's comb lost a bit of its color during the moult but now is a bright, healthy red. At that time egg production stopped (as expected). I do not use supplemental lighting in the coop to encourage laying through the Winter. No eggs were forthcoming until three weeks ago and now the other Welly, both of my Silkies and two of my EE's have started up laying again.
My little bleached hen worries me though. Being the bottom of the pecking order she's the most shy and easiest pushed around
I have always added organic ACV to their water and they have their organic layer mash in front of them 24/7. 3 to 4 mornings a week I feed them some scrambled eggs. Treats are the pulp of organic greens, carrots, veggies that have gone through our juicer. Should I try adding a probiotic to their diet? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?
Any and all help is very much appreciated for my hen and my sanity.
Thanx for your input NC Chicken Kate

 

[bwalden]

Hi Welly owners...question.
One month ago one of my two 1 1/2 year old hens (the bottom of the rung flock position) over night lost 90% of her neck feathers and her comb, earlobes and all around her eyes bleached out...just as our freezing night temps hit. I separated her from the flock and kept her warm. A total body check for mites or bugs found nothing and there was no indication that any of the others had been pecking on her exposed skin. Her appetite, temperature and poops were and remain normal. Her replacement pin feathers showed up immediately and have now covered most of her neck again. Her comb, earlobes and eye area is still bleached. She's back with the flock, eating, scratching, roosting acting totally normal.
My entire flock of 8 went through their Fall moult in October/November, including her.I would characterize it as a light moult with patchy loss of feathers for everyone. The other Welly's comb lost a bit of its color during the moult but now is a bright, healthy red. At that time egg production stopped (as expected). I do not use supplemental lighting in the coop to encourage laying through the Winter. No eggs were forthcoming until three weeks ago and now the other Welly, both of my Silkies and two of my EE's have started up laying again.
My little bleached hen worries me though. Being the bottom of the pecking order she's the most shy and easiest pushed around
I have always added organic ACV to their water and they have their organic layer mash in front of them 24/7. 3 to 4 mornings a week I feed them some scrambled eggs. Treats are the pulp of organic greens, carrots, veggies that have gone through our juicer. Should I try adding a probiotic to their diet? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?
Any and all help is very much appreciated for my hen and my sanity.
Thanx for your input NC Chicken Kate

About half mine are doing the same right now. I have some that look really bad. It's a hard molt. Why they did this in the middle of winter is beyond me, but it's happening. Sounds to me like yours are doing the same. Just my opinion.....

 

[NC ChickenKate]

Thanks bwalden for the quick reply. At least I know I'm not alone out there and my little hen isn't such a total aberration. I purchased my chicks through the mail...did you too?
I spent about two years traveling in and out and through Eureka Springs, AR 5 years ago...are you near there?
Again, thanks for the calming reply...I'll be able to sleep tonight.
NC Chicken Kate

 

[rodeo chicken]

Sorry if this has been addressed I've looked through multiple threads and searches. What size should my welsummer eggs be they're coming from 3 11 month old hens and are "medium" in size and dwarfed by my new Hampshire and barred rock eggs. I didn't know what the average egg size was for this breed. Thanks