The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[naturespace]

Urban, my limited knowledge of egg coloring is such. Brown is a final layer that is "sprayed" on as the egg is coming out. (that might be too simplified, but you get the point) as the hen gets farther along in the year the color can get lighter, especially with dark colored eggs... Welsummers and Marans. So after she molts she will again lay darker eggs.

Hope this helps.

 

[faykokoWV]

Urban, my limited knowledge of egg coloring is such. Brown is a final layer that is "sprayed" on as the egg is coming out. (that might be too simplified, but you get the point) as the hen gets farther along in the year the color can get lighter, especially with dark colored eggs... Welsummers and Marans. So after she molts she will again lay darker eggs.
Hope this helps.

my spotted egg layers vary in their spot size throughout the laying season, so I would agree with this reply. I also agree that after they molt, they start out laying very dark and the eggs lighten throughout the laying season. In spring they are darker.

I think the length of time they lay for varies based on a lot of factors. Many breeds diminish in laying volume after the 3rd year, I don't think this is unique to wellies (but I've been wrong before lol)
to say they only lay for three years would be a blanket statement I would be unwilling to make. Allowing them to take a break over the winter and not providing supplemental light will lengthen the number of years they are able to lay.

that being said, I try to rehome hens that are over 2 years old and restock my breeders with younger birds

 

[EweSheep]

I keep mine even at six years old (the one I recently lost) was laying an egg every other day and sometimes everyday, whatever her moods strikes her!

My Spitzhaubens are laying, small pullet eggs....and the Nate Welsummers, not yet but will be soon I hope, probably in August or September if they are inclined.

 

[stoopid]

I have some Wellie girls at 6-7 years still laying.
A pleasure to keep around.
And the spots do change (get lighter) as time goes on.
In the spring, they should look new again, and the process goes on.
And I have noticed that every girl has their own pattern, like a fingerprint.

 

[naturespace]

We got our first egg today!!!

Far right dark egg. It is 34 grams. She is 21.5 weeks old. the lighter colored eggs are from our Baques Hens. they are also first pullet eggs, but a little bigger at 41 and 46 grams.



and our little girl who laid the egg.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Nice egg from a pretty girl! Congrats!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I haven't been on much, but I do have a new pullet laying the most perfectly colored eggs. I'm thrilled!

I've been having an interesting time with my wellies. First wellie that went broody kicked her baby to the curb at about 4 weeks. By 6 weeks, my oldest hen, Cleopatra "adopted" her. This includes her clucking to the fully feathered "baby for food, sleeping in the nest with her - it's really quite hilarious. They are still going at it at 9 weeks old now.

2nd wellie that went broody is still raising her babies. They are 5 weeks old now.


Now if they would just get back to laying!!!!!!

 

[naturespace]

Happy,
Are the first eggs a good measure of what they will lay going forward? I was hoping for a darker base color. I do think this one was not covered in brown totally. it has some white specks. I was going to give it time and hope for a nice terra cotta color with dark specs.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Happy,
Are the first eggs a good measure of what they will lay going forward? I was hoping for a darker base color. I do think this one was not covered in brown totally. it has some white specks. I was going to give it time and hope for a nice terra cotta color with dark specs.

I have found with my birds that the first eggs are usually lighter than they will lay. It's all part of their bodies adjusting. My pullet has been laying a couple weeks now, and they have gradually become darker. There will still be a bit of variation, and as they lay longer into the cycle, the eggs will lighten until they molt - then back to darker again.

 

[mrheinz77]

Ready for some exciting Welsummer news? The following was posted by Little Ameraucana Mom over on my classified.

We just won Champion continental with a welsummer pullet from his welsummers.!!!!

In the PM she sent me she said there was some pretty stiff competition.