The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[Opa]

I understand all too well about a business not making any money. My son and I have been in business together for over twegnty years and used to stay booked 16-20 weeks out all the time. That is no longer the case, we haven't built a house in almost 4 years. We've been barely keeping the wolf away with repairs and renovations. However, we are constantly getting underbid. I can bid a job at cost and still lose.

On a brighter note, I put 32 Welsummer eggs in the incubator tonight.

 

[Tailfeathers]

Opa, I'm so sorry to hear that. I know the Construction industry has been hit pretty hard. I'm in a related industry as I recruit Civil Engineers for private consultants. I have heard about some of the ridiculous bidding that is going on. All I can say is that I am so thankful that I know Who my Provider is and I stand on the promise of my Life Verse below. Sometimes I may not get to eat supper but God always feeds me - even if it's Midrats - and it's always good!

Best wishes on the Wellie eggs. I've got chicks coming out my ears and will be collecting eggs for one more hatching egg order to a guy in AK and then the gals on going in a pen with my BW Ameraucana to make some EE's.

God Bless,

 

[pinkchick]

I understand all too well about a business not making any money.  My son and I have been in business together for over twegnty years and used to stay booked 16-20 weeks out all the time.  That is no longer the case, we haven't built a house in almost 4 years.  We've been barely keeping the wolf away with repairs and renovations.  However, we are constantly getting underbid.  I can bid a job at cost and still lose.

On a brighter note, I put 32 Welsummer eggs in the incubator tonight.

 

Ditto! Ditto! Ditto!

We have been in construction and remodeling for 30 years and the last 5+ years have been very tough with the last year being the worst. My husband, the force behind the 30 years, says he has never seen it like this.
We have had to sell everything we have except the house and one vehicle to maintain and try to stay in business.....but we have run out of "the things" to sell and haven't had a job now since January.
Advertising has also doubled over here....that's another thing that makes it very hard to compete......getting exposure and having to pay an arm and a leg when nothing is coming in.
Can't underbid anyone at this point even if we offer to do it for $5.00 an hour....let alone try to compete with unlicensed-uninsured and non-bonded individuals.


Ok back to Wellies............Good luck with your hatch Opa. I hope it is a great one!

 

[pinkchick]

HappyChooks~ The ramp looks great and I bet those chickies have no problems using it. How many more days does she have to go with the eggs?

Here is my little Wellie pullet. I named her Kelly.

Please excuse their scaredy cat appearances....my dog, (chicken killing history and long story about the dog that I won't go into, but 2 weeks ago she killed my only Silver Black Birchen Marans pullet .......that pullet should have started laying any day .

Bad Dog! ) anyway she was sitting next to us while I was taking photos and she tends to make all the chickens nervous, especially babies.


They have lovely yellow colored legs!!!!!! I am very happy about this. I struggled with pale leg color from the get go.

The cockerel in the middle is the cockerel that I will be keeping and I can sure see some nice size happening in him already. The other cockerel is pretty small and has a funky comb like Odin's was.


I will try to get photos of him standing up. They didn't want to participate to actively in this photo shoot.

 

[Cynthia12]

Look what I got in the mail today! I had no idea they could be so dark. I have had Welsummers, but my eggs weren't this dark. Those eggs are all speckled in different ways too. From the peppered look, to the mottled look. I have the breeders name on there..was showing it off on my state thread..but had to share, and, ask a question here. I remember reading somewhere, that Welsummers could be sexed at hatching. Now I'm reading that the V mark isn't that reliable anymore? And also have read that the Welsummer cockeral will get the comb in quicker than most breeds. I would love it if the V shape mark was still a good indication for a girl. Wouldn't that be easy..or is it...still?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Kim......she is due to hatch on Tuesday.

Love the pictures, they look great. I can't wait to see how they mature. Kelly looks like a sweet little pullet.

 

[naturespace]

Look what I got in the mail today!  I had no idea they could be so dark. I have had Welsummers, but my eggs weren't this dark.  Those eggs are all speckled in different ways too. From the peppered look, to the mottled look.  I have the breeders name on there..was showing it off on my state thread..but had to share, and, ask a question here.   I remember reading somewhere, that Welsummers could be sexed at hatching.  Now I'm reading that the V mark isn't that reliable anymore?  And also have read that the Welsummer cockeral will get the comb in quicker than most breeds.  I would love it if the V shape mark was still a good indication for a girl.  Wouldn't that be easy..or is it...still?  

Good looking eggs! I got my eggs from Bethel as well. I had 4 chicks that all had a strong V shape and i thought i got 4 pullets. Ends up I got 3 pullets and a cockerel. So her line of Wellies does not hold up to the V shape or eyeliner sexing. My male did get a big comb fast.

here is a photo of them at 2 weeks old. He has the yellow band. you can see his comb is pretty big already.




and at 4 weeks

 

[Opa]

For my eggs the vee has been a fairly reliable indicator of sex. I have noticed the comb does become apparent quite early on my birds.

 

[Cynthia12]

Good looking eggs! I got my eggs from Bethel as well. I had 4 chicks that all had a strong V shape and i thought i got 4 pullets. Ends up I got 3 pullets and a cockerel. So her line of Wellies does not hold up to the V shape or eyeliner sexing. My male did get a big comb fast.
here is a photo of them at 2 weeks old. He has the yellow band. you can see his comb is pretty big already.

and at 4 weeks

Thanks you guys! I was wondering about the eye liner too. The longer the eye liner, the more probability it's a pullet..is what I heard. These are cute babies here..are these the ones from Bethel? I'm thinking I can wait two weeks to see a difference in comb size, and there is quite a difference here all right!

 

[naturespace]

Yes, those are Bethel chicks. You are correct, crisper eyeliner for the girls.