The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[texasbirdman]

Thanks for the critique on my birds. I'm new to Wellies and all info is appreciated. Here are a few more pics. It's hard to get the rascals to stand still though. I love the roo's temperament. He's very calm around my kids and easy on the hens. Also not a noisy bird like some I've had that crow all day and night.

 

[Dr Bjorn Netland]

Actually, I don't this cock bird is all that bad, and I think he has a pretty good curve from the breast unto his underbelly. Also, I thin his comb and colors are pretty good. There might be an issue with the light gray or white at the base of the tail, but I can't really tell how much of an issue that might be from this once picture. A superior breeder in The Netherlands told me that the Welsummer cock birds should be bred only at their second year to fight the white, and NEVER allow any hen with the least speck of white into the breeding pen.
I have tried to fight both the white in the plumage and the pale yellow legs, and I think it's quite a challenge.
Lastly, and this is MY OPINION ONLY, I see too many birds with a poor back angle. Some of the top scoring birds have backs sloping way to much toward the tail set; the APA standard should inform serious breeders of this issue as well as the FAR TOO LOW TAIL ANGLE of some of the birds place in championship rows. We are NOT breeding to the German/EU standard, but to the APA standard, which is more in keeping with that of The Netherlands and the UK.

 

[Dr Bjorn Netland]

oooops!!! should be "way too much" ... So sorry.

 

[EweSheep]

how much of a back angle we need to look out for? I've seen tails perk up too high and tipped over like "squirrel tails" and some are too low. I don't know if tails do play a role in back structure as well. I know squirrel tails are inherited and not be used for breeding pures. Wry tails are another thing to look out for too!

Yes it is so hard to take pics of chickens to sit still. They gotta be on the move ALL the time LOL! Temperment is very important!!

 

[texasbirdman]

Actually, I don't this cock bird is all that bad, and I think he has a pretty good curve from the breast unto his underbelly. Also, I thin his comb and colors are pretty good. There might be an issue with the light gray or white at the base of the tail, but I can't really tell how much of an issue that might be from this once picture. A superior breeder in The Netherlands told me that the Welsummer cock birds should be bred only at their second year to fight the white, and NEVER allow any hen with the least speck of white into the breeding pen.
I have tried to fight both the white in the plumage and the pale yellow legs, and I think it's quite a challenge.
Lastly, and this is MY OPINION ONLY, I see too many birds with a poor back angle. Some of the top scoring birds have backs sloping way to much toward the tail set; the APA standard should inform serious breeders of this issue as well as the FAR TOO LOW TAIL ANGLE of some of the birds place in championship rows. We are NOT breeding to the German/EU standard, but to the APA standard, which is more in keeping with that of The Netherlands and the UK.

I thank you for your comments. A couple of questions.

Are you saying that the white fluff at the base of the tail sometimes disappears after the first molt and the cocks that come through the molt without it would make good breeders to control that issue? All of my birds are one year old.

You've peaked my interest in the Dutch birds. Do you know of any pictures that would show me what the Dutch lines look like?

Again thanks for taking the time help someone new to the breed.

 

[Cooptopia]

Took some of the girls out in the yard. Here are a couple of pics of a Welsummer chick. Surprised at how she holds herself already, tail high and everything. She is just over 3 weeks old.

 

[Dr Bjorn Netland]

I thank you for your comments. A couple of questions.

Are you saying that the white fluff at the base of the tail sometimes disappears after the first molt and the cocks that come through the molt without it would make good breeders to control that issue? All of my birds are one year old.

You've peaked my interest in the Dutch birds. Do you know of any pictures that would show me what the Dutch lines look like?

Again thanks for taking the time help someone new to the breed.

You will find lots of photos on the Dutch Welsummer club's website: welsumerclub.nl, and some of the best ones probably on welsumerclub.nl/nieuws. Make sure you spell the breed with one -m- only. The only problem with most of these pictures is that they do not show the appearance of the birds in their natural environment (outside), so the tail angles are lower than they would be if they posed outside the cage. Some of the pictures also show defects and the differences between the Dutch and German types.

 

[Cynthia12]

Ok, my Welsummer will be 6 months old on the 18th of this month..still no eggs? She is just now starting to squat for me when I catch her and pat her back side..upper part. Any time now?

 

[bwalden]

Ok, my Welsummer will be 6 months old on the 18th of this month..still no eggs?       She is just now starting to squat for me when I catch her and pat her back side..upper part.       Any time now?   

Hi Cynthia mine strart to lay generally but not always right at 5 1/2 - 6 month age +\- a week or two. I would say she should be just about there. Are you feeding layer feed yet? If not I would suggest putting her on some.

 

[bwalden]

Ok, my Welsummer will be 6 months old on the 18th of this month..still no eggs?       She is just now starting to squat for me when I catch her and pat her back side..upper part.       Any time now?   

Oh by the way how did your last hatch go?