The Welsummer Thread!!!!

[OneCrazyCowgirl]

don't have pictures of all of them. Just of one.

 

[faykokoWV]

Hello!

I've waded through this entire thread over the last couple weeks, and feel as if I know many of you! We've just come off a state quarantine for MG,

(gotten from who knows where) and we are currently restocking. Along with that comes reviewing all our goals. Since I need colorful egg layers fastest and first, I started off ordering hatchery birds of several different breeds, and I'll do the same in the spring when more are available. There are a couple breeds that I want good, showable stock for, though.

I've already ordered hatching eggs within driving distance for my English Orpingtons, and I'd like show quality Wellies too, in the spring. I'll likely order chicks from Whitmore, but I'll also want at least one other line to play with. I'm hoping for recommendations, pros and cons of one line over another, strengths and weaknesses.

Thanks for any info you can offer, and nice to meet you all!
Meg

so funny you should as that, we just had a big discussion on the club's facebook page about breeding lines. The general consensus was that while you have a better chance of getting good stock based on a specific line - after a few generations of breeding the historical line is irrelevant. One of the best things to do is become familiar with the SOP and use that when looking at pictures/birds from someones breeding stock.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Quote: Yes, the SOP is always the place to go, isn't it! I was looking for different lines also to limit inbreeding. I've ordered my Whitmore chicks

and am still keeping my eyes open for good chicks from one or two other places.

I think I'm going to have to break down and do facebook again, just for all the breed pages. Ugh.

 

[Stumpy]

Hi. I am fairly new to chickens, but after reading some of this thread, have decided I might really like to have some Welsummers. I'd really like to avoid flighty birds, though, as someone mentioned this trait from some hatchery birds. What lines should I look for and what lines should I avoid?

BTW, what is the name of the Facebook group for Welsummers?

Thanks for any info!

 

[Chicken Slave]

I have several other breeds I have been raising since May of this year. I purchased to Welsummers from an older gentleman in his 80's who was suddenly incapacitated from physical activity. Those two girls had just molted and are both laying again w/ in a month! Not every day but close enough. My other girls got lice or mites and are being treated now. Hoping they come around and start laying soon. They are all old enough. The two Welsummers are two years old. One of them is really funny. She's just out there bitchin.hahaha Not constant but she sure is talkative. Complains about lots of things but most of all about me coming out to turn the light off at night.haha

 

[EweSheep]

Hi. I am fairly new to chickens, but after reading some of this thread, have decided I might really like to have some Welsummers. I'd really like to avoid flighty birds, though, as someone mentioned this trait from some hatchery birds. What lines should I look for and what lines should I avoid?

BTW, what is the name of the Facebook group for Welsummers?

Thanks for any info!

You can find breeders on the WCNA site and majority of them are reputable and honest breeders, all sharing the common goal for the Welsummer breed. You can pick and choose any lines you want and focus on that particular line you like the most. Lines to avoid are directly from hatcheries, so to avoid disappointments, do not order thru the hatcheries. If a breeder DOES have hatchery lines, ask them where they were originated from and how LONG the breeders have been at it to improve and see the egg shell colors, rate of production and the birds themselves. Are they consistent in their offsprings, not throwing off wild colored chicks, or Leghorn/other than Welsummer conformations/body types, white earlobes popping up and egg shell colors? You have to do some serious questions and expect hard answers and if the breeders waffled or hesitating about the sincerity of your questions, then time to say thank you and look elsewhere. I expect the breeders in the WCNA to have high expectations from their birds, expect nothing less, work toward the SOP, improving the flock when traits do pop up (good and bad) and upfront that if there are undesirable traits popping up, you should either pass it up or work hard culling out that trait. Disposition is very important too...particuarly the cockerals. They should not be as flighty as Leghorns but more aloof or they can be friendly. Not too many times they are cuddly wuddly birds but there are exceptions, just like broodiness traits. There are a few lines I would avoid but I won't say it on here.

You best bet is to get it from the WCNA to get a good start and not having to cull so hard as previous breeders of the past had done most of the work for us but we always try to improve and get better results out of our Welsummers.

For those who are leery about FB, don't.....just limit yourself to certain breed clubs and don't friend anyone if you don't want to "socialize" or get broadcasts of silly stuff. Just pick and choose wisely and if you don't like the feeds coming in such as junk and "pass it down" ads, just block it all and limit your exposure, strictly on breed clubs. We have a few breeders that we normally don't see often, particuarly the oldest breeders, going on FB's Welsummer Club of North America and as far as I know, I never got any complaints from them being bombarded with feedbacks, notices or any junkies from FB.

WCNA also work with BYC sites and our own breed club, so we can get the attention from all four sites. BYC and FB's WCNA has the most traffic while the WCNA and Yahoo has the least. WCNA has the updates on breeders list, any e-newsletters, and anything newsworthy.

 

[Stumpy]

Ewesheep, thank you for taking the time to give me that informative reply. I have looked on the WCNA website. I'm about 2.5 hours from one breeder and 5 from another in driving distance. The closer one has no contact info. I am hoping this winter (with fewer eggs than my DH has gotten used to) will convince him to let me have more than two new hens in the spring! I will continue to try to learn about the lines, etc. I am not going to be interested in breeding or showing, just healthy and hopefully calm hens.

 

[EweSheep]

Stumpy, be careful, they WILL grow on you to get more LOL! In fact, just about all of us are enablers!

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Stumpy, be careful, they WILL grow on you to get more LOL! In fact, just about all of us are enablers!

Enablers? On a chicken forum? Surely you jest!

Let's see....I ordered hatchery birds for fun, then came on this thread to get more info on them. Now I have orders placed at Whitmore, and a BYC member for eggs in the spring, and plan on more from Estes in the spring.

I'd love to get some showable birds out of it, but just "better" would be good for now, too.

Oh no, no enabling going on here!

 

[faykokoWV]

I still say this is one of the most welcoming breed groups on BYC! Eager to share information and to help all work to improve the breed. I've learned so much from this group and they have helped me to become a better breeder than I ever would have been on my own.