Welsummer chickens are stunning European birds known for their dark brown, shiny feathers and their beautiful personalities.
This chicken breed is common in most backyard settings around the world and is known for several strong reasons. These are a fairly new introduction to chicken breeds, which were established less than a hundred years ago within the Netherlands.
In this breed guide, you will find information on Welsummer chickens such as their egg production, lifespan, temperament, color, size, appearance, and care.
Also read: Top 10 Best Rooster Breeds
What is Welsummer Chicken?
The Welsummer is a favorite chicken breed with many backyard chicken raisers due to its high durability, and wonderfully dark brown speckled eggs.
Welsummer Chicken is famous in the UK and Australia, but they only have a big follow-up here in the US, which is shocking as they are ‘superstar’. The mascot, Cornelius Rooster of ‘Kellogg’s Corn Flakes’ is a Welsummer chicken.
Bred from such notable breeds also as Rhode Island Red, Barnevelder, Leghorn, and Wyandotte, and in the previous decade, this famous Dutch breed is a great choice and for beginning chicken-keeper!
Welsummers rarely go broody, if handled in early stage and kept in a breeding environment.
Those looking for a pet that is engaging and energetic would do well to love the russet-brown Welsummer hen.
History of Welsummer Chicken
If you’re familiar with chickens and happy to join your 1st flock home, there is a decent possibility that you’ve seen such a Welsummer before. Cornelius, a rooster of a Kellogg, is a carbonized edition of the Welsummer.
The breed is known with partridge sequence in mind. Netherlands breeders mixed many breed partridge variants such as the Cochin, Leghorn, or Wyandotte.
Also, these species were mixed with local birds, which were produced for agricultural usages. The outcome was a medium-sized bird suitable for consumption as eggs or meat.
The species made its official debut only at the World Poultry Congress through 1921, but continued to develop for years afterward. Welsummers were warmly received by poultry lovers in the US and most of Europe in the late 19th century.
Lifespan of Welsummer Chickens
Compared to other chicken breeds, Welsummers have a good lifespan of 6-9 years. The better you take care of them, the longer they will live. We have seen some Welsummers live more than the average life expectancy.
Recognized Continental breeds and Varieties of Welsummer Chicken
Around 1924, the Dutch standard was established for this species.
They were accepted by Great Britain’s Poultry Club through 1930. They are graded as lightweight, smooth feathered. Likewise, they received the British ‘Best Service Breed’ prize in 1935 from all corners.
Eventually, in 1991, they were accepted to an American Chicken Association where they were listed as a Continental bird.
The recognized variety is pertussis, and there are also variants of silver duck wing or gold duck wing. White earlobes, feathers also on shanks or odd points upon this scalp, could be some dispositive reasons.
The organization of American Bantam categorizes them as a single clear legged comb. The Welsummers bantam variation was produced in both England and Germany back within the 1930s. It lays an egg of a lighter color than in its standard counterpart.
Egg production
Welsummers lay distinct and exquisite eggs. They are a deeper terracotta color, distinctive from a standard brown egg. However, they are not as strong as certain other species, and the quality of their eggs varies significantly.
You can read here about chickens that lay colored eggs.
Most Welsummer chickens will lie around 160 eggs each year, though some may lay closer to 250. The eggs are brown in color and large in size.
In the cold season, they prefer to lay fewer, which is not unusual, particularly in breeds that haven’t been produced specifically for egg-laying. If you are worrying about summer, you can check some best heaters for poultry farms.
Birds that are more “natural,” or similar to the norm of breeding, prefer to lay less than the others.
Temperament
When we discuss the temperament of Welsummer chickens, they are quite calm and polite birds and are suited for public and private backyard flocks interested in egg production.
They would not mind being treated by their chicken keeping, but if you are serious, they will not let them free roam. They are content to be held in a run and enclosed field.
Moreover, they would also enjoy foraging and discovering the garden if they were allowed to.
Color, Size, Appearance, Characteristics of Welsummer Chicken
Color
The rooster is quite distinct and so cute, with its hackles or saddle wings of dark or free-flowing chestnut. Moreover, their sickles are a luxuriant beetle green coloring beneath feathers or ears.
Size
A Welsummer chicken is a large size chicken breed. The Welsummer rooster typically weighs around 7.5 lbs and the hen weighs around 6 lbs.
Appearance
The well summer is a lovely, sturdy bird, whose feather shimmer in the light. They have a reasonably straight stance, with a broad, flat back. Their large comb is bright red, while their legs are a bright yellow.
The wattles and earlobes of Welsummer chickens are red in color. They are large in size and have a full breast and large full tail. Also, they have a broad back and short beak.
Characteristics
- Among the few self-sexing baby chicks, Welsummers would be easy to pick. Female chicks have significantly darker marks on the head or back than males do.
- The marks on female chicks are much cleaner-edged and more specified, making it effortless to differentiate the egg-layers from potential roasts.
- Also, the whole breed can save you cash on feed by foraging much of its food unless free-range is approved. Those features would surely benefit chicken keepers trying to maximize the output of their flocks!
- They typically live for about 9 years, and the very first three years can regularly lay eggs. And what can be greater than a friend who lets you eat with chocolate-brown eggs?
Benefits of Raising this Breed
Welsummer chickens are lovely birds we like to see in our garden, happy with foraging, free-range. It is very fascinating to pick their delicious dark brown color eggs-they really inspire our relatives and friends if we put them out again for breakfast!
Along with the beautiful Welsummers, there are also many other species for you to consider for your dream flock. The simple part, agrees to be a chicken mom.
The hardest thing to do is determined that breed matches you the best. It can be confusing or difficult-so where do-so where do you start?
If you really want spotted terracotta eggs, Welsummer chicken is a fine addition to a flock! Initially, this was bred as a dual function Welsummer hen, therefore; it dresses out at a fair weight.
Problems in Raising Welsummer Chicken
Welsummer chickens were found in colder European climates, and so appear to be durable, particularly for cold resistance. There is a thing to be very cautious in winter, though.
Since Welsummer combs appear to be big, they are vulnerable to cold and other forms of frostbite.
Care Guide for Welsummer chicken
Welsummers are normally easy to handle and rarely require any different treatment than any other chicken breed.
Choose early on your flock proportion
This advice is not an absolute necessity, but it can be of use to keepers occasionally. You may just be able to hold hens in certain urban areas, but you may choose just one to two chickens for a garden flock.
Confirm all the birds are socialized
Welsummers are typically docile birds, and they do not appear to follow their own human touch. If you really want your herd to become more stable, be sure to spend time with them while they are younger or being with them.
Please ensure that they have a place to forage
Welsummers are sturdy birds that can run high if they need to. This allows them an acceptable freestanding breed.
If you really cannot encourage your birds, also live free-range. However, please ensure they have more than enough area and time to forage.
Be aware of weather
Welsummers do their best in colder temperatures, making them ideal for the northern USA. However, as long as it is connected to a dry, shaded area and plenty of water, they could also be contained in warm climes.
When you live in a warm environment, be vigilant to ensure that their coop is very well ventilated.
Conclusion
When for Prince Charles such beauties are sufficient, as they have to be exceptional! For several years, he has managed a flock of these birds and is also the Royal Patron of a British Welsummer Club.
I loved my little ‘Wellies’ herd. They are still personable about being ‘old ladies’ currently.
Welsummer chickens are exquisite birds that create a fantastic choice for those that want friendly chickens or delicious eggs. These birds get a perfect disposition for the poultry keep at the backyard, so their lively personalities can bring some appeal to any flock.
