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Welcome to the Welsummer thread!
Look at overall health and vigor, if adopting or purchasing an older cockerel or mature roo (or any chickens for that matter) ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN about the bird/s and background. Don't be afraid to ask flock health history questions, how's fertility, do they throw any genetic defects, how's the egg laying rate, see current egg color if you can, look at parent stock, etc...etc...etc..... get as much info as you can.......IMO, this is the most important thing you can ever do when scouting out new blood or birds.
Look for nice yellow legs, no white plumage anywhere on the bird, nice reddish bay eye color, good overall balanced body. Welsummers should not be scrawny and lanky, but they should have some substance to them, just not tanks on legs. The males should have a nice proud and very alert sort of boxy stance with a nice broad chest. Watch the birds demeanor around people or other birds. Watch for feather stubs on shanks or webbing of the toes, avoid squirrel tail, wry tail, crooked toes, cross beak..etc.
I know I am forgetting something and I know more will come by and give their advise and opinions too...but for now, I hope this helps a little.
Welcome to the Welsummer thread! Look at overall health and vigor, if adopting or purchasing an older cockerel or mature roo (or any chickens for that matter) ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN about the bird/s and background. Don't be afraid to ask flock health history questions, how's fertility, do they throw any genetic defects, how's the egg laying rate, see current egg color if you can, look at parent stock, etc...etc...etc..... get as much info as you can.......IMO, this is the most important thing you can ever do when scouting out new blood or birds.
Look for nice yellow legs, no white plumage anywhere on the bird, nice reddish bay eye color, good overall balanced body. Welsummers should not be scrawny and lanky, but they should have some substance to them, just not tanks on legs. The males should have a nice proud and very alert sort of boxy stance with a nice broad chest. Watch the birds demeanor around people or other birds. Watch for feather stubs on shanks or webbing of the toes, avoid squirrel tail, wry tail, crooked toes, cross beak..etc.
I know I am forgetting something and I know more will come by and give their advise and opinions too...but for now, I hope this helps a little.
