The Ultimate Guide to the Welsummer Chicken Breed
Are you starting to think about adding some new chickens to your flock? Whether you plan to hatch your own or raise your birds up as chickens, the Welsummer breed is one that deserves mention.
You might be wondering - "what the cluck is a Welsummer?" Welsummers are a breed of Dutch chickens that are known for their dark brown eggs and stunning plumage.
If you've never seen a Welsummer strut its stuff, you're missing out! These birds have some serious style. With their reddish-brown feathers and striking black speckles and stripes, they are a real head-turner in the chicken coop! And here's a fun fact: the pattern of their feathers has inspired artists and designers alike for centuries.
In this week's guest blog post, we'll dive into everything you need to know about the Welsummer chicken breed if you're interested in adding some personality to your backyard:
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With all the different types of chickens out there to raise, you likely have your hands full just trying to choose just one. Whether you want to raise them for eggs, meat, or both, you’ll need to choose the best option for your situation. So, how does the Welsummer chicken fit in?
The Welsummer chicken is an ideal dual-purpose bird beloved for its terra cotta-colored eggs. With its relatively docile nature, it makes for a great yard bird and companion. It’s cold hardy, resistant to most diseases, and has a long lifespan, making it an excellent choice.
This article will explore everything you ever wanted to know about the Welsummer chicken breed. We’ll cover what they’re good for, the pros and cons of raising them, and the breed standards. Read on for the ultimate guide to the Welsummer chicken.
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What Are Welsummer Chickens Known For?
Here are a few key traits of this chicken breed:
Dual-purpose bird
Brown speckled eggs
Lightweight build
No predisposition to specific health conditions
Excellent foragers
For more information on the Welsummer chicken breed, you can watch this video:
History of the Welsummer Chicken Breed
The Welsummer chicken breed was developed in Welsum, Netherlands, in the early 20th century. It was created through the crossing of several other breeds, including Plymouth Rock and Partridge Leghorn, to create a hardy species with a good appearance.
In the 1920s, the Welsummer was introduced to England. Here, it was immediately loved for its stunning appearance and egg-laying capabilities. As the breed gained popularity, it was exported to other countries, including the United States.
However, in the United States, it would not be until the late 20th and early 21st centuries that the Welsummer would be more than an obscure breed. At that time, there was significantly more interest in raising heritage breeds, bringing the Welsummer to the forefront.
Today, breeders recognize the Welsummer as an excellent producer of medium to large brown eggs.
Welsummer Chicken Breed Standard
When it comes to the Welsummer rooster, you’re most likely to notice their bold coloring first. They feature yellow legs; reddish-brown heads; red combs; and black, beetle-green chests.
On the other hand, the hens have golden brown heads. Their bodies are a darker brown and feature feathers that are shafted in a lighter brown or white. Males and females have four toes and bare legs.
Chicks hatch with yellow feathers but also have brown patches. They are autosexing. The females will have darker heads and sharply defined lines running down their backs, while the males feature fuzzy patterns and lighter-colored heads.
This breed makes an excellent choice for a backyard companion because of its docile temperament. However, they’re not very shy about talking your ear off, so if you have neighbors, you may want to consider a different breed of chicken.
You’ll find the roosters to be quite charming and friendly. However, this can be a downside, as they will flee from danger rather than protect the flock.
The Welsummer is a cold-weather bird and thrives in the northern climates. They can also tolerate slightly warmer areas if you provide enough shade and water.
Welsummers are excellent foragers and can be nearly self-sufficient when left to their own devices. They enjoy digging up food sources and seeing what they can find. However, if you cannot accommodate them in this way, they are amenable to confinement.
Is the Welsummer Chicken Good for Eggs?
The Welsummer chicken is a breed that is well-respected for its eggs, both in production and coloring. While it may not be the best egg layer around, you can count on getting sufficient output.
How Many Eggs Does a Welsummer Lay?
The number of eggs Welsummer chickens lay varies based on the reports given. Some owners report around 160 eggs annually, while others report as many as 250. In general, they will lay one egg every other day or every three days.
It is suggested that the more eggs you get from your Welsummer, the lower the chances are that you have a purebred bird.
What Color Eggs Does a Welsummer Chicken Lay?
Welsummer chicken eggs are large with medium to dark brown coloring. They are frequently speckled. What’s interesting about these eggs is that the coloring is so thick that when they are first laid, you can wipe some of it off.
Additionally, the egg colors will vary. While they will start out dark, they will ultimately lighten as the laying increases in frequency. When there is a break in the laying period, the color will return to a darker hue.
When Do Welsummer Chickens Begin Laying Eggs?
You will typically get eggs from your Welsummer chickens when they reach 20–24 weeks old or 5–6 months old.
Are Welsummer Chickens Broody?
They are not good at raising their own chicks, and you will need to find another hen to do the job for them. You’ll likely not have to worry about broodiness with this breed, but neglectfulness is another story entirely.
However, if you do have a Welsummer who chooses to brood, it’s best to take the chicks away from her. These birds can be extremely neglectful mothers, resulting in poor health and death of their chicks.
The best plan is to place the chicks in a brooder or place them under another breed of chicken that is brooding. Just make sure you make the move when the adoptive mother is sleeping.
Can You Raise Welsummer Chickens for Meat?
The Welsummer chicken is a dual-purpose breed, which means it can be raised for meat or eggs. However, the problem faced by breeds that fit this description is that they do not achieve either function as well as a bird raised for one specific goal.
That said, the Welsummer cockerels will reach a decent weight to be slaughtered for meat, but it will take longer than a traditional meat chicken. For this breed, you can expect to wait anywhere from four to six months to have them ready for the market.
Typically, by that time, they’ll be around 5 pounds. Any additional pullets can also be slaughtered, but they will be smaller than the cockerels.
Because the Welsummer chicken is a heritage breed, it will not have a high light-to-dark meat ratio. Instead, it will be the opposite. You’ll need a market for heritage meat to do well selling this breed.
Additionally, this breed’s skin is yellow. This could be problematic in the meat market, as many people are turned off by yellow skin.
Pros and Cons of Welsummer Chickens
When it comes to anything, there are always pros and cons. With the Welsummer chicken, there is no exception to this rule. Let’s take a look at each, so you can make a more informed decision about whether this bird is right for you.
The Benefits of Welsummer Chickens
Welsummers are loved for how smart they are, although it can sometimes get them into some pretty sticky situations. On top of that, they’re one of the friendliest breeds. This combination creates a beautifully docile and approachable bird that is amazing to have around the yard.
While they’re not the top egg layers, Welsummer chickens are loved for their ability to produce a significant number of eggs each year. In addition, they are prized for the stunning color of the eggs.
In addition to their egg-laying, they are prized for not being a broody type of chicken. This is an especially beneficial characteristic when raising chickens just for their egg production. Occasionally, you may get one that’s a little broody during mating season, but it won’t last long.
Another excellent benefit is that the Welsummer can be raised as a dual-purpose bird. Mature birds can grow to 6–7 pounds, making them ideal for a family dinner. While there are bigger dual-purpose birds, this is a respectable offering.
Because the Welsummer breed comes from the Netherlands, they are well-adjusted to colder temperatures. When you take the proper winter precautions, you don’t have to worry about them not surviving the winter like with other birds.
You’ll also have no problem sexing the chicks on the day they hatch, which isn’t the case for many other breeds. Males will have a distinctive white spot on the top of their heads that the females will lack, in addition to other very clear markings.Finally, Welsummer chickens are very hardy, being resistant to most diseases and genetic mutations. In fact, the only real problem you’ll have to tackle is mites and fleas. They also have long lifespans averaging nine years, making them excellent companions.
The Disadvantages of Welsummer Chickens
While the Welsummer chickens’ eggs are prized for their rich chocolate coloring, a significant downside is that you can actually wash it away if you’re not careful handling them. The color is actually caused by mucus that helps them lay their eggs.
Another downside is their egg-laying schedules. They don’t start laying until they’re around 20 weeks old, which is significantly later than many other breeds. On top of that, once they hit three years, they exhibit a steady decline in production.
When winter comes around, all egg-laying stops. You can expect to receive no eggs between November and March, sometimes longer if the cold season extends beyond those months.
The last major disadvantage is how loud the Welsummer chicken can be. While these birds will be very talkative with you, if you have nearby neighbors, they may not enjoy the noise.
Tips for Raising Welsummer Chickens
When choosing to raise Welsummer chickens, you can do a few things to make your flock more successful. First, consider the ratio of hens to roosters you want to keep. Because of their autosexing nature, you will have an easy time maintaining this ratio once set.
You will need to provide excellent predatorial protection. Welsummers are not good fliers and have a hard time escaping from danger. They are prone to attack from the sky and the ground. You'll want to make sure they're protected.
Pay close attention to the climate. Welsummer chickens prefer cooler temperatures, which makes them ideal for northern areas. While they can be kept in warmer climates, it’s essential to pay close attention to their health and needs to ensure they do not overheat.
The Welsummer breed is an ideal free-range chicken. They are best suited to this type of living situation. So, if you cannot accommodate a free-range lifestyle, be sure to provide enough foraging time to satisfy their needs.
Use flat roosts to help protect the tender feet of your Welsummer chickens. Low-set bars will also aid in injury prevention.
You’ll also need to supply a steady amount of feed to ensure your chickens keep their weight up. This will help them reach their goal weight for meat production and assist in egg-laying productivity. When egg laying is at its peak, provide high-protein foods to promote health.
You should socialize your Welsummers from the time they are young. While they are naturally docile, they aren’t generally the type of animal to seek out human companionship.
Observe your roosters for any behavior that is aggressive. While they are often docile like the hens, there is the potential for some to become territorial. In these situations, the roosters will need to be culled.
Is the Welsummer Chicken Right for You?
The Welsummer chicken is an ideal bird for many reasons. With its high level of disease resistance, excellent cold hardiness, and dual-purpose uses, it offers many excellent benefits to those who want to raise them. They make for an easy bird to start with.
Welsummers are highly prized for their eggs because of their rich terra-cotta coloring. However, if you’re not careful, you can actually wash this off, making them less valuable to buyers. With their higher-than-average egg laying, you’ll have good production from your hens.
This is an excellent breed to raise free range, giving you an even easier time providing for them. As they make themselves essentially self-sustaining, you’ll need to do little in the way of caring for them. Now that you know the pros and cons, will you choose the Welsummer?
Want to learn more about raising chickens? Be sure to check out these articles!
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