Welsummer

[ILuvsChicks]

I just got 17 six week old Welsummer chicks at a Flea Market for $20.
I asked the lady if she had any 'Meat Birds'. She said these are.
I had never heard of them. Price was good. So I bought them.
Looking on this site and the web I don't find anything about them being meat birds.
The question is, Are they?

 

[gamebirdsonly]

And if they are truly Welsummers then you got a good deal.You can eat them. But I wouldn't consider them a meat bird. They don't mature fast like a regular meat birds.

 

[ILuvsChicks]

She said $2 a piece first. Then she if you take them all $20. I don't need any more egg layers. Might keep 2 or 3. At what age should they be butchered then?

 

[nhrocks]

The Welsummers I've had have been pretty small, maybe five pound mature hens. I doubt the cockerels would have much meat on them before getting tough and rooster-tasting. They are a "fancy/rare" breed that lay dark brown speckled eggs, so people will pay pretty well for pullets. If I were you, I would sell them, easily making your money back, and buy some real meat birds.

 

[ILuvsChicks]

Problems is, it's very hard in this area to find anyone selling meat birds. I just had 14 cornish cross but lost them to a raccoon. I was out of town for a week and the

Wife was taking care of them. Hadn't had any problem since I built a totally inclosed run 5 years ago. But while I was gone they found a hole to get threw. and I lost them and two layers.

 

[Dave C]

They are a lovely breed but not a meat bird

This is one of mine from a few years back

I have eaten cock birds but there's not much on them.
Here in the uk they are classed as a light breed.