The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[maryhysong]

Well I am still waiting for my old rooster to finish molting so I can hatch some chicks! Poor old guy ( about 5 yrs old) has a bald butt where the girls have pulled his old feathers out and the new ones are not in yet. But while I'm waiting a friend gave me another hen that looks a little better than the other girls I"ve got and she just started laying for me.


The darkest brown at about 3:00 in the photo is a BCM and the next one up with large freckles is the wellie egg. (next to that one is BO, pure Ameraucauna, Easter egger, the bottom three eggs are from some new pullets, some are EExEE and some are EExWellie)

Will try to get some good pics of the new girl the next few days for the SOP thread.

 

[Johnn]

How much are welsummers

In England they are usually about £16-26

 

[Weirdness555]

It all depends on how old you buy them. POL £16-26, but day old more like £4

 

[memechick]

Hi ....... I just started reading this thread because I have a two week old Welsummer chick that I hope is a pullet. But it sounds like you need to make the distinction at a day old or wait till they are 5 weeks old? I have attached a few pictures of Ginger ... she is 2 weeks ... can any of you take a stab at determining if she is a pullet?

Hello ..... thank you to everyone who responded to my post. You were all correct this little baby did turn out to be a boy. He is 8 weeks old now and has the cutest personality. I have decided to keep him and called him Isaac. I have never owned a roo. Any tips to share? LOL. Here he is today.


Here he is with his "adoptive" mother Tulip and step sister Mindy.

Even at 8 weeks old they are still sleeping under Tulips wings in the nest box. At what point will they progress to the roost at night?

 

[call ducks]

Congrats! Can't wait to see pictures!

Thank you - When I was offered these birds my first response was "YESSS".

I have not seen these birds yet I will only set my eyes on them once I pick them up at the airport (Yup, In Canada the only way many can ship birds is by air cargo - costs a bloody fortune but I can recive birds from the other side of Canada in 12 hours so not bad).

The date got pushed back, she had a request for a couple dozen eggs. I am really excited because these birds are a new line to NA.

Cheers
Colin

 

[VictoriaChickie]

Hi all,
I am very interested in the welsummer breed, and would like to start up a small (8) backyard flock.
I am considering getting 2 welsummers, 2 orpingtons, 2 dorkings, and 2 easter eggers.
I have a few questions though:
1. I have found all 4 of these breeds/types at murray mcmurray hatcheries, is this a good source for chicks?
2. Would welsummers be good as a kid friendly chicken?
3. Is there anything else that is important to know about this breed in particular? (are they good with other breedes? ect.)
thank you all

 

[Twinklin]

Hi all,
I am very interested in the welsummer breed, and would like to start up a small (8) backyard flock.
I am considering getting 2 welsummers, 2 orpingtons, 2 dorkings, and 2 easter eggers.
I have a few questions though:
1. I have found all 4 of these breeds/types at murray mcmurray hatcheries, is this a good source for chicks?
2. Would welsummers be good as a kid friendly chicken?
3. Is there anything else that is important to know about this breed in particular? (are they good with other breedes? ect.)
thank you all

I haven't ordered any chicks online before. I have 1 welsummer and 3 other breeds. Of my 4 girls the Welsummer is barely above the bottom bird. She tried very hard to be top chicken while the leader was sick and placed in quarantine for a few days but she got knocked back down shortly after the leader was put back with the flock. The leader's best buddy then took the second in command spot. All chickens are different but mine is not very cuddly, not that any of my chickens really are. My Welly is also VERY loud. She screams and squawks for no reason. She isn't mean at all though. She talks back a lot, any time I say something to them while giving them treats she yells back at me. She's never aggressive. She's probably the most obedient too, she heads back to the run if i tell her too while the other birds all go running other directions to avoid being locked up.

 

[RhapsodyOwens]

Hi all,
I am very interested in the welsummer breed, and would like to start up a small (8) backyard flock.
I am considering getting 2 welsummers, 2 orpingtons, 2 dorkings, and 2 easter eggers.
I have a few questions though:
1. I have found all 4 of these breeds/types at murray mcmurray hatcheries, is this a good source for chicks?
2. Would welsummers be good as a kid friendly chicken?
3. Is there anything else that is important to know about this breed in particular? (are they good with other breedes? ect.)
thank you all

Over 3/4 of my flock are from Murry McMurry Hatchery. I was very happy with them! One of my orders was received so fast that some of mine still had their umbilical cord attached. Being a first time chicken owner, I panicked and called them, thinking it was some kind of string. (Very dumb first time chicken owner apparently) The lady was very polite and assured me that they were fine, and then called back in a few days to make sure they had fallen off like they should! And not a single one of mine died in transit. I only lost one single bird (buff Orpington), and I think that was because my husky gave them a good chase when he got out of his fence one day. So I highly recommend Murry McMurry hatchery. There are also other threads with hatchery reviews.
Welsummers are generally calm, and like Orpingtons, sometimes tend to be toward the bottom of the pecking order because of their docility. If you are getting chicks, handle them every day, and most will more than likely be handled well and very kid friendly. (Except SSH apparently!) the farm we visited had welsummers when I was looking to add some, and they were great with my 4 & 2 year old

 

[Hayduke27]

Hello ..... thank you to everyone who responded to my post. You were all correct this little baby did turn out to be a boy. He is 8 weeks old now and has the cutest personality. I have decided to keep him and called him Isaac. I have never owned a roo. Any tips to share? LOL. Here he is today.


Here he is with his "adoptive" mother Tulip and step sister Mindy.

Even at 8 weeks old they are still sleeping under Tulips wings in the nest box. At what point will they progress to the roost at night?

Welsummer roos are very beautiful. Mine is quite the ladies man, and has developed all the traits of an awesome rooster. He calls the ladies to food, is extremely vigilant, and is tolerant of me messing with the hens.

My only tip to share for a first time roo keeper would be to keep in mind that the roo is there as the protector of the flock. It's his job to make sure the ladies are unharmed and well fed (or at least he thinks it's his job!). On this note, keep in mind 1.) when you mess with the hens in his presence, he will sometimes get upset. While you should never tolerate him attacking you, just keep in mind that when you mess with the hens, you're interfering with his main job, and be mindful that will be watching! 2.) Roosters aren't cuddle buddies. There are a few out there, but overall, it's much safer if the rooster knows you are the alpha, and is wary of you. They don't need to be scared of you, obviously, but when you reach down to pick him up, he should shy away. If he jumps right into your lap or on your shoulder, he is not intimidated by you at all, and if he develops any aggression, he won't hesitate to jump right back onto that shoulder for an attack!

Overall, it's just good roo etiquette to treat them like the man of the group. No snuggling, be respectful of the hens in his presence, and stroke his ego every now and again

You'll love him!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: Good advise. One more thing - I walk through my roosters, not around them. They yield to me, never me to them.