Welsummer vs BLRW...Which Lays Better?

[speckledhen]

I have Silver Laced Wyandottes, all hatchery girls, and all fabulous layers. I'll be hatching some BLRWs and some Welsummers this spring and wondered which breed would be my better layer, all-round and in winter. Does anyone have both and can tell me your experience?

 

[EweSheep]

My Wellies dont lay in the winter but they did well over the spring, summer and fall weather. Nada eggs in winter but they do molt bad there.....but they are cold hardy, to me!

 

[Katy]

I'll be interested to see the responses. I hatched my first blrw a few weeks ago so I can't say how they lay yet. I've had my welsummers for about 4 years and just hatched some more out a couple of weeks ago. The welsummers have always laid pretty good for me...better than my marans.

 

[Buckguy20]

My Welsummers lay very well. Even through the recent ice storm. My BLRw's I used to own were terrible layers. In my opinion they were the worst breed I have ever owned. Great eye candy but that was it.

 

[paganfish]

I like the feedback, thus far...considering I ordered some Welsummers (25!) just today!

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[speckledhen]

I sort of expected this feedback on the two breeds, from things I had heard in the past. I realize that different strains of a breed can have different laying abilities, so I'm hoping the couple of BLRWs I plan to add to my flock wont slack too much. I want them for eye candy anyway and only plan to keep a couple of girls from whatever BLRWs I hatch. Great to know about the Welsummers! Sounds good.

 

[Picco]

I'm not familiar with welsummers, only with the wyandottes. My BLRW pullets haven't started laying yet but the breeder said they are lousy layers. The focus on breeding them has been on color and lacing rather than production. They also are said to be broody frequently. As far as strains go, there really hasn't been a lot of time for them to develop many of them in the US since the variety is a more recent arrival. From what I gather there are two common strains of the variety; the original from Germany which has a rich dark red base color, and the newer version that was created using golden laced birds. The strain with the golden influence has a more orange base color and seems to be what most people have on this forum. The GL offshoots can be found at hatcheries, while the Germans are found from breeders. The birds with GL blood are apt to be better layers, but tend to further from the standard since the color is a bit off (although the variety is not APA recognized). I prefer the darker color but find both to be beautiful.

 

[KingsCalls]

I can't help ya Cyn but, those BLRW's sure are eyecatching birds.

 

[speckledhen]

Picco, isn't that often the way it is? You sacrifice laying ability for looks or let the standard suffer for the laying ability. I also prefer the really dark ones, but I'll take whatever pops out, as long as its a pullet, LOL. If one makes a good broody, I'll be happy, too.

 

[Katy]

I got mine because of their look, but I hope they give me at least a few eggs a week!!