The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[birdlady79]

I'm so disappointed.... My Wellie is a little over 6 months and still has not laid.... I have this feeling she won't ever lay.... She's loud and annoying like a rooster... I've read some where that some hens who act like roosters have something wrong with their ovaries... Has anyone had any experiences with this??

 

[wny egger]

Hi, hope you all don't mind a question from someone interested in getting some Welsummers. I was wondering what they are like temperament wise? Are they docile, flighty, aggressive?

this is just my opinion and really not worth a whol.e lot ..but i figure the more you handle your birds as babys and as they grow the less aggressive they will be with you.i think this is true with all breeds ..but now if a stranger came in to the pen they may be a little more flighty or even aggressive twards them ..i think they see strangers as a new member and are trying to set their standing in the pecking order ..i no my granddaughter handled them as babys alot but once they were grown and in the pen and she went in the pen for the forst time they went after her fingers ..my wellies are kind of skiddish but not aggressive at all..

like i said just my opinion..lol

 

[estamets]

this is just my opinion and really not worth a whol.e lot ..but i figure the more you handle your birds as babys and as they grow the less aggressive they will be with you.i think this is true with all breeds ..but now if a stranger came in to the pen they may be a little more flighty or even aggressive twards them ..i think they see strangers as a new member and are trying to set their standing in the pecking order ..i no my granddaughter handled them as babys alot but once they were grown and in the pen and she went in the pen for the forst time they went after her fingers ..my wellies are kind of skiddish but not aggressive at all..

like i said just my opinion..lol

My Wellie is the same - a little skittish but not aggressive. She is a little harder to pick up than the others, but once I've got her she settles down. And while she isn't a lap sitter like my Rocks, she will usually come and sit next to me when I'm hanging out in the backyard. So, I would describe her as docile (but not overly friendly), curious, calm, and just gosh-darn beautiful to look at.

She was the one exception I made to my efforts to build an exceptionally docile flock, because I want those eggs!

 

[Prairie Fleur]

Thanks for the input! Anyone here have any more input on them? How many eggs per week to they average?

 

[estamets]

Thanks for the input! Anyone here have any more input on them? How many eggs per week to they average?

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/breed-list.aspx
This is a great resource if you're looking to compare breeds. It describes personality, and has good info on lay rates, size, docility, etc.

 

[20736]

I have found Welsummers to be less excitable than Leghorns and Australorps, but a little more excitable than Brahmas.
I can keep several roosters together in the same yard without too much noise or fighting.

 

[Deb B]

Thanks for the input! Anyone here have any more input on them? How many eggs per week to they average?

My one Wellie hen lays about 4-5 eggs a week. She laid right through the winter (but only about 2-3 eggs a week then, I don't use supplemental light in the winter). Come to think of it, I bought her as a year old hen and she laid the day after I moved her to my house.....nothing rattles that gal. As others have said, she's not a lap chicken, but calms right down once you grab her. She's noisy. Sings the Egg Song with gusto, and does it both before and after she lays! I also have three 12 week old Wellies that I'm growing out, 2 pullets and a cockerel. They are a little noisy, but not bad. One of the pullets is very friendly and comes over to be picked up. The other two don't like to be picked up. But they are calm once they are in hand.

 

[Prairie Fleur]

Thanks everyone! I like what I'm hearing! Especially about the roosters. I'm not planning to get any roosters to start out with but I like any breed better that the roosters aren't too aggressive.

 

[wny egger]

this is my roo levon [like the elton john song]..i was noticing he is starting to cover up his grey fluff on his butt..he is turning into a very handsome roo..hes as big as the wyandottes ..they are all 18 weeks old now ..he is starting to mount the girls and its not a pretty site..i am thinking of building him a new coop just for him ..my wife hates hearing those girls scream out when he goes after them ..



he still has alot going on in his breast feathers but i am thinking as he gets older the colors will straighten themselves out ..like they have with his grey fluff..



my wellie girls are lagging in size it seems ..compaired to the rest of the flock ..they tend to get picked onm a bit by the roo and the wyandottes ..the are forced by the flock to eat last ..i made sure i add exstra feed for the once everyone else is done eating ..and they are starting to get a little bigger but still lag behind the rest ..

not sure i think i read somewere the saddle and hackle should be the same color ..anyone have any ideas ..thanks in advance for any answers..

as you can see the size diffrents in the wyandottes and the wellie girls.they are a bit smaller .also were the others are picking butt feathers off her ..i did see a few wyandottes come to her rescue ..they kept putting themselves between the roo and the girl getting picked on...






the feathers on the breast of the females looks pretty good but i think as they grow they will get better coloring ...

 

[aart]

I don't know if Lt Brahmas are larger birds than Colombian Wyandottes, but my LB's have outgrown my Wellie girl (24 wks) and the LB's are 4 weeks younger.

I see your boy is getting his first (?) curlies. Mine at 23 wks is growing his second set.
Not sure if the hackles and saddles will change color once their juvenile molts are done or not....might not be truly 'assessable' until they have an adult molt.