Wellsummers??

[dellakay]

Not even knowledgeable to tell if I got the right spelling or not, but I remember seeing a River Cottage episode online when they did a "best meat breed" contest and I am almost poz that was the winning breed name....
That admitted, I wonder if anyone has had any experience with these in the states, and if so, where they got the chicks. This may be the wrong place for this kind of question, if so, please forgive, but I thought I would jump in with both feet and see what I can find out... Any help, both with spelling and sources would be GREATLY appreciated!!! tootles, Della

 

[20736]

Welsummers are available from most commercial hatcheries, as well as private breeders in the States.

 

[Bellatrixed]

I don't think Welsummers would be a very efficient meat breed at all. I mean, you can eat any chicken, but I think they're fairly scrawny and slow growers compared to lots of other breeds. The main value of Welsummers are the extra dark "chocolate" colored eggs.

Sorry for the unsolicited opinion, I've just never heard them considered a primary meat breed before! lol

 

[EggsnQuackers]

I've got a Welsummer rooster and a hen. I got them as day old chicks from the feed store.
The rooster, "Flake", is a pretty good sized bird but there are better meat breeds out there. Flake is a good rooster for our flock. We free range and that bird isn't afraid of anything. I've had nicer roosters. I'm not afraid of him chasing me across the yard or anything but he's pretty dominant and seems to have a large "personal space" bubble.
I'm not sure where you're from, but if you're from a cold climate it's worth noting that Flake got through our very cold Northern Minnesota winter with minimal frostbite on his comb and wattles. I can't say the same for our supposedly "cold hardy" Buff Orpington roosters.
The Welsummer hen, "Wild Woman", is very nice. She's very calm and quiet, not friendly, but not at all flighty and she's got a bit of an independent streak. She's a decent layer, not the best, but not the worst. And her eggs are very pretty.
They are both very attractive looking birds.

 

[dellakay]

Thank you SO much for your info, that is EXACTLY what I was hoping for, as I am green as grass to this whole chicken biz!! Please feel free to let me know anything about them whether they are the legendary meat breed I was looking for or the scrawniest guys in the whole barnyard!! Thank you Bellatrixed and EggsnQuackers for your speedy and informative replies, wasn't sure what I would get, really, as I am so new to this board as well....
THANX OODLES TO EVERYONE!!!

tootles, Della

 

[dellakay]

Dear 20736,
Didn't mean to leave you out of the thankyou's! That's good to know, read your tag and sounds like you are a true "old hand" at this chicken thing.....it will be a while before I consider myself the same!!
tootles, Della

 

[20736]

I don't think anybody gets into poultry thinking, "I wonder what I'll have 30 years from now?"
It just happens.
Hope you enjoy it.

 

[kitchenchick]

I have welsummers and they are my favorites. Mine aren't hatchery stock ,they are from Barbar lines,and are decent size. I've culled the extra roosters for the freezer, and they butchered out nice and averaged 5 lbs dressed. Besides the dark eggs I like that they are effect with their feed. It's doesn't take as much to grow them out'takes a little longer, but with less feed cost. Compared to my birchen marans they ate 3/4 the same volume as the birchens, and are comparable size. They are hardy freerangers and good mothers. If I had to keep only one breed it would be the wellies. ssshhhhhuuush, don't tell my husband!LOL

 

[EweSheep]

They are dual purpose breed. Dressed out nicely but don't expect them to be like those Cornish X's. They are pretty good on feed and I have daily layers from end of Jan to all the way thru mid October before they take their winter break.

 

[Creamlegbargirl]

Would someone please tell me how to locate a breeder of Welsummers for the Barber line. I ordered 22 Welsummers from Cackle last spring and to date I have 3 left living. Not sure how much longer they will last. From the get go they were very weak and sickly birds. Cackle wanted me to pay for a necropsy because they don't think there was a problem with that particular hatch. Needless to say I will not be ordering from them again. However, that being said, I do not want to give up on the Welsummer breed. I truly would like to purchase 25 to 30 of good stock. Please advise if anyone knows of good breeders that would ship. I would like to get my order in now for an early spring delivery. Thanks so much!