Welsummer Owners! Opinions about the breed?

[Blackberry18]

I'm ordering Welsummers this year for show and want to know a little about them; personality, egg-laying ability, growth rates, hardiness, etc. I'm buying them specifically for brown egg production (now my Leghorns are my only layers) and exhibition. My fair is early, in July, and I'm ordering mid-January. Will they be full-grown by then? What should I know about them? I read many reviews here, but these are some questions I couldn't find answers to or would like to hear others personal opinion.Thanks in advance!

P.S. Picture are great!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They're great birds and good lines have beautiful eggs.
IMO they aren't particularly heat hardy. The only chicken I've lost to heat was a welsummer.
Their eggs may be a bit small yet by July.

 

[dheltzel]

For showing in summer fairs, I think you will be fine getting the chicks in January. I find them very well mannered and of course, absolutely beautiful. They make for very impressive display birds. I suspect that a lot of shows will be cancelled in 2016 because of the AI scare, but if you can find a fair to exhibit them, they should be very nice by then.

They seem to grow and lay at about the same rate as other show quality breeds, with similar hardiness. Being single combed, the roos can get frostbite in the winter if the ventilation is not adequate. I have not seen any issues with heat or cold here in southeast PA.

Where are you buying chicks for Jan delivery? Are they show quality or hatchery stock?

 

[Blackberry18]

They're great birds and good lines have beautiful eggs.
IMO they aren't particularly heat hardy. The only chicken I've lost to heat was a welsummer.
Their eggs may be a bit small yet by July.

Thanks a lot! We don't always have hot summers in MN, so I won't worry too much about it. Thanks a lot!

 

[Blackberry18]

For showing in summer fairs, I think you will be fine getting the chicks in January. I find them very well mannered and of course, absolutely beautiful. They make for very impressive display birds. I suspect that a lot of shows will be cancelled in 2016 because of the AI scare, but if you can find a fair to exhibit them, they should be very nice by then.

They seem to grow and lay at about the same rate as other show quality breeds, with similar hardiness. Being single combed, the roos can get frostbite in the winter if the ventilation is not adequate. I have not seen any issues with heat or cold here in southeast PA.

Where are you buying chicks for Jan delivery? Are they show quality or hatchery stock?

Thanks a lot! My fair was revived after the avian influenza from last year, when it was canceled. I'm only ordering hens, but have developed methods for coping with frostbit combs since I got Leghorns, which thrive up here. I'm not quite sure who I'm ordering from, but since cannot find any breeders, they will be hatchery stock. I'm looking primarily at Meyers, since they sell this breed.

 

[dheltzel]

Thanks a lot! My fair was revived after the avian influenza from last year, when it was canceled. I'm only ordering hens, but have developed methods for coping with frostbit combs since I got Leghorns, which thrive up here. I'm not quite sure who I'm ordering from, but since cannot find any breeders, they will be hatchery stock. I'm looking primarily at Meyers, since they sell this breed.

You might also check out Whitmore Farm in Thurmont, MD. They have nice stock and they ship, but they are straight run only and probably not available when you want them. But it's a great site to read anyway.

 

[Blackberry18]

You might also check out Whitmore Farm in Thurmont, MD. They have nice stock and they ship, but they are straight run only and probably not available when you want them. But it's a great site to read anyway.

All right, thanks. I'll look into them.

 

[gootziecat]

Cackle has really nice big, hardy Wellie chicks.