Welsumer

[Tailfeathers]

Mirjam, you might check out that Estes Hatchery discussed above. I'm not familiar with that one. But even if they bought out a bunch of SQ birds from someone, I'd still be suspect of them. I just don't know of any hatcheries who put selective breeding over producing mass quanitities of birds.

Every breeder knows that the only way to maintain a good, quality flock is to cull and cull hard. What hatchery does that?

My advice... if you want good representative birds and consistent egg color, go to a Breeder. Check them out first. Ask to see their birds and their eggs. See if they are a member of the breed Association. Check to see if they're listed as a Breeder. That, of course, can't be done with Welsummers because there is no organization in the USA yet but I suspect that's gonna change soon. However, you should still be able to see their birds and their eggs. Any good Breeder is gonna be very concerned about the quality of product they're selling because they must rely on word of mouth advertising.

God Bless,

 

[Henrietta23]

I have two from Ideal. They are beautiful, a little standoffish and honestly I don't know if they're laying or not. If they are, the eggs are not very dark. But I love the way they look in my mixed flock!

 

[farmgirlshelley]

If anyone can find Welsummers that are not from a big hatchery I would love to know. I really want to have some of those birds.

 

[Tailfeathers]

Where are you located? Are you wanting local or would you want shipped chicks and/or hatching eggs?

God Bless,

 

[mirjam]

Tailfeathers,
I'm in Vermont, Middlebury area. I'm looking for hatchlings (not now, next spring). I'm really looking for sexed hatchlings as I don't want roosters (have one already, it is hard to rehome roos, and I don't have the guts to make soup out of them...get too attached... and so on). I think my requirement to get sexed chicks will put me right in the market for the big hatcheries. I doubt that small time breeders do that.
If I wouldn't require sexed chicks and had a couple people locally who would split an order of 25, I would definitely order from Whitmore Farm that another BYCer pointed to. Their stock of Welsumers sounds fantastic.

 

[zchickens]

I recently purchased some SQ Welsumers from Duane Urch (paid $25 each for 1 roo and 2 hens)

A picture of the roo

A picture of one of the hens

The roo has a great disposition, and allows himself to be picked up by my 9 year old on a regular basis. The birds are still fairly young yet, as hens have yet to start laying.

Duane does advertise regularly in the polutry press, and sells hatching eggs and chicks. He can be reached at [email protected].

I can let you know what the eggs look like, after my birds start laying if you want.

Z

 

[KayP]

Mypetchicken.com will have Welsumers this spring.

 

[Tailfeathers]

Just looking for something I posted awhile back in a post and read this one again.

Mirjam, if you're still watching this post, I thought I'd let you know that Welsummers can be sexed without vent checking them. So small breeders might be willing to send you sexed chicks. I would.

God Bless,

 

[Opa]

I bought Welsummers from Estes Hatchery and I have been thrilled with them. While they only sell them straight run I got 12 pullets out of the 18 ordered. They can be sexed at hatch with the pullet have a very much wider dark vee on their head. I sexed mine this way with 100% accuracy. The eggs I have been getting have either been a very dark terra cotta with small speckles or a slighly lighter color with very dark large speckled spots. The hens are very social (towards people) but they are very calm and quiet. The one rooster I kept is very calm. When I pick him up every 2-3 days to apply udder balm to his comb and wattles he doesn't fight it at all. In fact I think he might be enjoying it. They are great birds and I know you will enjoy them.

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All of the dark or speckled eggs came from my welsummers

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

Quote:
Beautiful eggs Opa! and the avatar's not bad either.