Keeping your own flock of chickens is a real treat for a numeral of reasons . They provide fresh eggs , and hours of entertainment , and theirmanure can be compostedand used in your garden . But not every type of chicken is the same . Some are with child , some are smaller . Some are docile and others can be a little bit more upstage or even belligerent . One of my favorite type of chickens in the Welsummer chicken . I ’ve go on Welsummer chickens for years now , and any metre I ’m front to wreak more chickens into my passel , I always look for a Welsummer or two .
In this article , we ’ll do a deep prima donna on the Welsummer Gallus gallus and determine whether or not it ’s the right chicken for your backyard passel .
All about the Welsummer chicken
Welsummers are one of my favorite type of poulet due to their excellent forage ability and docile nature . They have been jokingly dubbed the “ crybaby for the closing of the world ” because they ’re so keen on forage and finding their own food for thought , which reduces your feed cost . Before get yourself some Welsummer chicks , it ’s best to have intercourse a bit about them .
Welsummers are gorgeous chickens , with red and brown feathers that resemble a flaming paisley practice . These chickens originated in the Netherlands and were recognized by the APA as a strain in 1995 . They are favorable , calm , and intelligent chickens . The Welsummer rooster is not likely to be violent but it is not a tame doll either . Welsummer chickens are considered twofold use , near for both heart and soul and egg , but they are a bit smaller in stature . Not all chicken custodian will raise them for their core .
Welsummers are good egg layers , laying approximately 160 black brown eggs per year . If you are interested in by nature incubating chicken eggs , Welsummers are a good breed to pick out . They are good nesters and will gayly sit on eggs and raise young . They exist an average of 5 - 8 class .
History of the Welsummer chicken
The Welsummer chicken is a relatively Modern breed . It was recognized by the APA in 1995 and was first bred into existence in the other 1920s . It was first bred in the small Dutch village of Welsum from a mix of exist breeds . Rhode Island Reds , Barnevelders , Partridge Leghorns , Cochins , and Wyandottes were all used as breed stock to prepare what would eventually make out to be called the Welsummer chicken .
The Welsummer cock is the chicken splendidly depicted as The Kellogg ’s Corn Flakes mascot , first debut on cereal box in 1957 .
Temperament
Welsummers are easy - go chickens not prone to moodiness or ferocity . It ’s a ripe breed to pick if you have young kid . They are patient , but not terribly meek . Welsummer Gallus gallus probably wo n’t be a lap crybaby for you , but their prank will provide your family tons of amusement . Roosters have a alike temperament and are not prone to hostility .
Purpose
Welsummer chickens are considered by some to be dual - purpose birds , being good for both inwardness and eggs , but are not proceed for meat by many breeders . They are compact snort , medium - sized in height but weighing 6 - 7 pounds . In a single year , your Welsummer hen will produce approximately 160 eggs .
Coop and run
Chickens tend to pick up regretful behaviors when their coop and running are n’t up to their standards , so ensure you have the appropriate James Cook and run for your Welsummer volaille is vitally important .
Welsummers are self - sufficient razzing that can forage a substantial amount of their dieting , saving on feed . The more space you could offer them , the more you ’ll save and the happy they ’ll be . Welsummer chickens should be provided 10 or more square feet of complimentary - mountain range area per boo .
Chicken run and coops should be kept decent houseclean out and provide with fresh straw on a regular basis . At least one nest box per lay hen is preferred , although they can tolerate “ buddying up ” and put eggs in the same nest box . These chickens are be intimate to swan some and will occasionally feel creative places to lay their eggs .
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Common problems with Welsummer chickens
Welsummer chickens are tough , stout chickens not prone to very many problems that the stock as a whole is n’t prone to . The Welsummer cock has a declamatory comb and wattle , making them susceptible to cryopathy in very dusty conditions . If it looks like temperatures are about to swing below zero , you may want to keep your rooster confine to the coop until warmer weather condition approach path .
Breeding Welsummer chickens
Breeding your Welsummer chicken does n’t take issue importantly from breeding other types of inheritance chicken . Providing your Welsummer hens access to a rooster and allowing nature to take its class will give in healthy , solid chicks . A ratio of 10 hens for every cock will typically yield good fertility rate . you could allow a broody biddy to sit on her eggs , but Welsummers are not known to be broody . It ’s better to hatch them in an brooder . A agile guide to hatch :
For more selective information , check out ourcomprehensive guide on incubating volaille orchis .
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
