The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[faykokoWV]

Well, last night I finally got caught up on this thread. It's been way too long since I've been here. Took me awhile but I did it. Then I tried to post a few comments on things I had seen and upload a few chick pics that would help show the difference between male and female chicks. Unfortunately, when I did, everything froze up and I lost the whole post. So I tried again tonight and the same thing happened.

So, the next time someone is looking for a visual reference on how to tell the sex of Wellie chicks, I'll try posting them again. For now, here are a couple of comments that I can remember from what I've read thus far.

First, someone mentioned that a bird pictured could not be the result of a cross between an Ameraucana and a Welsummer because it would've had legs that were darker if that were the case. Just wanted to say that's not true because I cross Ameraucanas with Welsummers all the time and, while it would take way too long to detail all the different results that I've seen, suffice it for now to say I've had birds that looked just like Welsummers with beards. The beards are not muffs but rather look like feathers that someone hacked off with scissors but it's there nonetheless. And, more to the point of this post, the legs were either pale whitish or even yellow. I've also had them with blue legs.

Second, Diane showed a pic of one of what she calls her "bad birds" for an example of what not to have. I would agree with everything she said except the comment about the hackles being too orange. This is personal preference as the SOP does allow for some variation. The SOP calls for a female's hackle to be "golden brown or copper, the lower feathers with black striping and golden shaft." Personally, I prefer the darker "orange" color or copper (look at a penny) than the "golden brown". In fact, most of the Welsummers IMO are far to "yellowish" and I have intentionally bred my birds toward the former and away from the latter as one of the traits in my birds to distinguish my lines from others.

That's all I can remember for now. I was gonna say with the pics that I wanted to post, that unfortunately I had some personal stuff that came up this year which prevented me from making the photo album of my Welsummers which would chronicle chicks from Day Olds through one-year old. I did manage to get Day Olds, One week olds, and two week olds though.

God Bless,

Royce

As always you're input is great! I hope things settle down enough next year to get your photo project done, but just seeing what you have will be great. Are you going to send them to Robin to put on the WCNA site or are they for your website?

 

[maryhysong]

Brown leghorn and Welsummer side by side. This is the pullet that mentioned a few months ago that took Champion Continental at the Putnam County fair. (Pictures used with permission of Little Ameraucana Mom)

It's harder to see the Leghorn in the pic, but the other difference I"m noticing is the neck hackles, the black on the Leghorn is longer and doesn't look like it has the light colored shaft on it. I have several variations in my different birds, so I am trying to figure out which one is the most correct. The Welsummer here, it looks like a short V of black with a light colored shaft and edged with the (what's the right color word? Gold, yellow?) Also, what is the right color word for the dark red feathers right around the face? I'm still trying to get a handle on these things, thanks.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Personally, I prefer the darker "orange" color or copper (look at a penny) than the "golden brown". In fact, most of the Welsummers IMO are far to "yellowish" and I have intentionally bred my birds toward the former and away from the latter as one of the traits in my birds to distinguish my lines from others.

Nice to see you here again Royce. I agree about the hackle coloring and that is also what I prefer. My rooster has the copper colored hackles and I find it very striking.

I too have hatched out Wellie/Ameraucana crosses and have also had birds that looked exactly like a wellie with a beard.

Quote: The largest difference I see is the body shape/size. Tail is longer, hackles have different markings, obviously the white earlobe, body coloring is different. Wellies are more "stocky" and leghorns are more "lean".

 

[Hens and Roos]

Nice to see you here again Royce. I agree about the hackle coloring and that is also what I prefer. My rooster has the copper colored hackles and I find it very striking.

I too have hatched out Wellie/Ameraucana crosses and have also had birds that looked exactly like a wellie with a beard.

The largest difference I see is the body shape/size. Tail is longer, hackles have different markings, obviously the white earlobe, body coloring is different. Wellies are more "stocky" and leghorns are more "lean".

from what I know about leghorns- they shouldn't have feather shafting which is different than the Welsummer.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Yes, that's also true. Wellies are supposed to have shafting and Brown Leghorns are not supposed to have shafting.

 

[FirewifeJess]

If I can get a pic of my hatchery Wellie, will some of you be willing to comment on her SOP? I'm wondering if she's anywhere close. Of course *I* think she's gorgeous, but she's just hatchery quality. From what I see of other "good" birds though, mine seems pretty close!!

 

[Happy Chooks]

If I can get a pic of my hatchery Wellie, will some of you be willing to comment on her SOP? I'm wondering if she's anywhere close. Of course *I* think she's gorgeous, but she's just hatchery quality. From what I see of other "good" birds though, mine seems pretty close!!

Of course. I'm no expert, but I'll tell you what I see.

 

[20736]

I have noticed that "hatchery" Wellie hens seem to be closer to the SOP in general than the boys. So many floppy combs with more than 5 points and bad tails on the boys. So, I will be interested to see your girl when you post the pic.

 

[FirewifeJess]

You know, I have the girls on an antibiotic right now because they have the sniffles I can't get a good pic of anyone while they're running around the run confined...they're mad at me

I will try to get a good one soon! I did just realize when I went out there that her comb and wattles are WAY too big for SOP. They're quite huge and floppy.

I thought her coloring was pretty good though, we'll see soon!

 

[EweSheep]

Love her face!!!!! I really like her comb!

Here is a headshot of my pullet. We love her and the eggs she has just started laying .