Welsumers @ 3 weeks (pics)

[sherrydeanne]

That's a funky comb for a Wellie. My Wellie girl had a HUGE comb (same as the boys) at 3 weeks and kept pace with them up through about week 5 and then BAM, the roo's had a growth spurt and hers has stayed about the same since then (she's maybe 12 weeks or so now). I'm afraid you only have one girl (the light chested).

 

[EweSheep]

I never saw a comb on a Wellie like that. Hopefully it is not a crossbred one or a genetic throw back somewhere in her pedigree a rose comb or pea comb might have been the culprit.

If that chick does not grow a single comb, then it is more likely I would not use that chick for breeding. We dont need that kind of oddity in the breed.

Sorry never heard of the breeder yet in the WCNA yet.

 

[krazycow6]

A Welsummer pullet will have a very solid dark V on the top of her head up until about 6 weeks old. The cockerals will have a V on top of the head but it will be slightly distorted. This sexing method for Welsummers has never failed me. I even posted one of my cockerals on here that everyone thought was a pullet. I already knew it was a cockeral because of the V, but wanted to see what everyone else had to say about it. It is an excellent method.

 

[TimG]

Quote:
This is the same chick that has the funky feathers. I'm guessing the comb condition is related to that. (The other chick with the similar feather condition is a Partridge Chantecler which has a cushion comb so can't tell anything about it at this point.)

No, I won't use it for breeding, but will put in the laying flock if it turns out to be healthy and a pullet.

McSpin is the person's BYC name. If you look at his profile you will find a link to his web site and his real name.

When they were about a week old, I could recognize two with distinct Vs on their heads, the others had Vs to varying degrees. So, probably those of you who have guessed two pullets are correct. Not quite the start to breeding I had hoped for, but on the bright side I should have plenty of roosters to choose from.

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
As much as I had Welsummer chicks in the last two years, I have been wrong more accounts than any other breeds. I've had Estes and Calicowoods, Mothergoose and Barber lines hatchery chicks, all in pullets and believe it or not, I had a few pullets and alot of cockerals and both of them have solid Vs and fuzzy V's. That includes my bantam Welsummers which I thought I had 50/50 boys and girls and one was ?. now it was two pullets and five cockerals! Go figure!

I honestly think it is due to the bloodlines because some breeders are very determined that sex can be done at hatching by that method.

 

[krazycow6]

None of my birds come from hatcheries, and that method works for me. So I dont know what to tell ya.

 

[EweSheep]

The only Welsummers I got from hatcheries are from Estes but they bought it from Calicowoods but my oldest hen is second gen from Calicowoods and she laid beautiful dark terra cotta eggs. The rest of them were from private breeders.

As one mention on the WCNA, it may be due to the bloodlines.

 

[krazycow6]

Very well could be. Not knockin you I was just tellin my experience. Thought it might help.

 

[TimG]

So, only one of these is a girl? The one in the bottom left corner is the one with the odd feather condition. See this thread for more pictures of the odd feathering.

 

[georgialee]

Only the one on the bottom left looks like a pullet to me. I have some pullets a couple weeks older and their combs are flesh colored.