The Welsummer Thread!!!!

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To run a test hatch or to even breed, you could put the cochins in their own are for a day or 2, and the roosters will breed the hens, and you will be given fertile eggs for quite a while. I was hatching chicks still for 4 weeks after I took the rooster out of the pen(just to see how long the hens can actually hold the sperm). And if you put the PC together once a week, that should be plenty enough for you to get fertile eggs! :)

Its amazing what nature has done for survival of animals.

Think about it: How often do you think that pheasants and other wild species breed? Maybe once or twice to make their clutch, as most pheasants and such are solitary animals, and do not hang out in flocks like turkeys. And they still manage to sit and hatch their eggs!

We thought about that as I don't want to just put them into the girls pen as I don't want the other girls breed. Tomorrow I'll have to measure the one pen to see if I can fit a rabbit hutch or dog crate in there and give that a shot.
 
I have a question for those of you familiar with the laying habits of Welsummers. I have an (almost) 7 month old Welsummer pullet who, at about two weeks old, had an accident and had to take antibiotics for a week (she broke a wing and had it amputated by a vet at our local university). She is completely recovered now and very healthy and happy, but she still hasn't laid any eggs. I've read that Welsummers aren't the strongest layers anyway, but does anyone think the antibiotics and/or trauma from the accident may have stunted her development? She did take longer to mature than her flock-mates (she is the only Welsummer), but is now the biggest of them. So, is it normal for Welsummers to mature and start laying slower than other standard sized breeds? Btw, this is more of an I'm curious question than an I'm worried question. I don't care if she ever lays, but I was looking forward to those beautiful terracotta eggs! Thanks for any replies!

Oh, and here is a recent pic:
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Sometimes trauma will set the laying period back a bit but never it would be ever lay an egg...they WILL! Patience is the key and it would be worth it once she starts laying!
 
Hey Nate and everyone else thanks for all of the information. I will incorporate this into my BANK of Chicken Knowledge. Although I only have two Welsummer hens in my mixed flock at this point, all of this is good stuff and my girls appreciate all the help I can get !
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Congrats on owning one of these little Gems. I have about 50 standards right now, and 20 bantam hens, and 4 roosters.

Patience is key with this breed, but it is well worth it!!!

And about them not being the strongest layers. You'll be suprised!!! They lay more than a marans, and they have wonderful temperment. They average 160-200 eggs per year!!! Which is not bad for a "heritage breed" that is bred by the backyard breeder.

If yours is from hatchery stock, she should lay more than that.

Cant wait to see pictures of that first egg! :)

Nate
 
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Welcome! She is adorable! I am glad to hear that she has overcome her rocky start. They really are very hardy birds and she proves it. Can't wait to see her pretty eggs!
 

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