Welsummer Question

[McSpin]

Quote:
I think it also depends on the time of year they were hatched. I've had some groups start at 23 weeks and others out of the same line, start at 32 weeks. Only difference was when each group was hatched. The earlier-in-the-year hatch group took longer each time so far.

 

[EweSheep]

Every one of my Welsummers came from private breeders and not one of them ever laid an egg before seven months. Maybe it is slow growth or genetics. All of them laid the correct terra cotta eggs and some are speckled and some are not.

As for the hatchery bred Welsummers, the earlier it is, the better it gets because folks wanted something that would lay early and mature early. And the egg colors are not of terra cotta hue but brown eggs like a Barred Rock. And they could be crossed with something else too and the conformation of the birds are anything from a Leghorn conformation to an Buff Orpington conformation. Those are not consistant in size and shapes.

For the roo that has crooked toes, or any of my hatching eggs from other folks, they are culled. It could be of either way, genetics, lack of proper vitamins or during incubation. For the pullets that have crooked toes, they are strictly pets and egg laying. I dont keep any of those and I'd rather dispose of them than breeding down to future generations that they dont need to be.

 

[bigredfeather]

Here is what I believe to be my best cockeral. He is the only one with no crooked toes. I was thinking about taking him to our county fair for judging. Am I wasting my time, or does he look like a Welsummer roo should?

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Here is a picture of crooked toes. This isn't from the one pictured above.

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ETA This pic.

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[TammyTX]

Does your best one have red on his breast? I've been told that they have to have some red.

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
I added a front view pic above. Is this what you mean by red on his breast?

 

[TammyTX]

Yes. I don't know anything about showing birds but I remembered someone told me about the red. The one in my freezer had an all black breast.

He is very handsome and not as mean looking as mine is!

Is he 20 weeks too?

 

[bigredfeather]

Quote:
I just checked, and he's 19 weeks old today.

 

[CountryMom]

I have Welsummers that are 7 months and not laying either. But with temps hitting as high as 104 here I think it will delay them longer. Just in the past couple of weeks have I seen their combs and tiny waddles starting to turn red. They are maturing a bit slower than my hatchery birds, but did come from a breeder.

My two roos also have mostly black with some red showing through the breast area. Not sure what is right in color there. I need to get updated pictures.

 

[EweSheep]

BigRed, I personally would not show him at this point, he is too gangly of a teenager and does not present himself too well. He looks too much like a Leghorn in shape and I would wait a while to get him "matured". Believe me he will be handsome once he is a year old or better. He got good colors.

There is alot of debate going on at the Welsummer Club which breast color is suited for showing and it all depends on what you would like to have in your stock. They should not have alot of bay or brown feathers on their chest but mostly black is preferred. We are hoping for an updated version of the Welsummer standards of the APA but not yet printed. Some foreign breeders in the UK prefer all black or black with very few brown tips on feathers. Tailfeathers can correct me on that one since I am flexible on the color of chest feathers but solid black and solid brown is NOT acceptable to me. Tailfeather have done some showing of his Welsummers.

As for the crooked toes, I would not show that rooster at all. Nor would I breed him in chance of genetics.

With the heat going on, they will delay laying a bit but before you know it, they will!

 

[bigredfeather]

Thank you for the advise EweSheep. You sound like you have some great knowledge and expirience. I had someone else tell me to wait until he was at least 10 months old to show.