The Ultimate Welsummer Chicken Breed Guide – Delicious Brown Eggs And Gorgeous Plumage!
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Are you looking for a chicken breed that lays jumbo-sized, delicious, brown eggs? Or maybe you want a chicken with gorgeous plumage and a fun personality? If so, then say hello to the Welsummer chicken! This legendary Dutch breed has been winning over homesteaders since the 1900s. They’re friendly, active birds with consistent egg production wrapped in a package so beautiful that they also inspired one of America’s most famous cereal mascots. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about this remarkable breed!
Sound good?
Then allow us to introduce the epic Welsummer chicken breed!
Welsummer Chicken Breed Overview
The Welsummer breed hails from the Dutch village of Welsum and dates back to the 1900s. It came about through careful crosses of local farmyard birds with Rhode Island Reds, Barnevelders, and Partridge Leghorns.
| Origin: | Welsum, Netherlands. (Early 1900s). |
| Lifespan: | 7 to 10 years. |
| Cost: | $5 to $10 for chicks. $15 to $30 for pullets. |
| Rooster Weight: | 7 to 8 pounds. |
| Hen Weight: | 6 to 7 pounds. |
| Temperament: | Friendly, active, intelligent, alert. Hens are generally calm and non-aggressive. Roosters can be protective but manageable. |
| Appearance: | Rich partridge plumage with golden-brown and reddish-brown feathers penciled with black. Roosters have lustrous beetle-green tail feathers. Single red comb. Yellow legs. |
| Uses: | Dual-purpose (eggs and meat). |
| Egg color: | Dark terracotta brown, often with darker brown speckles. |
| Egg production: | 160 to 200 eggs per year. |
| APA Admitted?: | Yes, admitted to the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection in 1991. |
Welsummer Chicken Breed Overview
The table above will help you learn about the Welsummer chicken. But there’s plenty more to know! Consider the following.
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Origin And History
The Welsummer chicken emerged from the Dutch hamlet of Welsum in the early 20th century. There, local farmers wanted a bird that could produce plenty of eggs and deliciously ample meat. They weren’t interested in creating a fancy show bird. They wanted a hardworking farmyard chicken.
These resourceful breeders crossed their local farmyard hens with several imported breeds. Rhode Island Reds brought egg-laying prowess with hardiness. Barnevelders contributed their famous dark egg color. Partridge Leghorns added their size and productivity. These mixtures resulted in the Welsummer. It’s a beautiful breed that exceeded expectations across the board.
The breed quickly gained popularity throughout the Netherlands in the 1920s. Dutch poultry breeders officially recognized the Welsummer in 1927.
From there, Welsummer chickens spread across Europe and eventually reached England and North America. British fanciers imported them in the 1920s, while American enthusiasts had to wait a bit longer.
The Welsummer chicken breed gained special fame as the inspiration for the Kellogg’s Corn Flakes rooster, Cornelius. That distinctive partridge coloring and proud posture made the breed an icon.
The American Poultry Association admitted Welsummers to the Standard of Perfection in 1991. Their entry cemented their place in American poultry keeping.
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Health And Lifespan
Welsummers are remarkably hardy birds with few breed-specific health issues. They typically live 7 to 10 years with proper care, though some hens may lay productively for only their first 3 to 5 years.
They’re susceptible to common poultry ailments, including mites, lice, and respiratory infections. Check for parasites regularly and keep their coop clean and well-ventilated.
Welsummers handle cold weather exceptionally well thanks to their dense feathering and moderate combs. Their combs resist frostbite better than large-combed breeds. They’re also heat-tolerant. However, they’ll appreciate shade and cool water during summer.
Watch for bumblefoot if they’re jumping from high roosts onto hard surfaces. Their active foraging nature keeps them fit. But obesity can become an issue if they’re confined without enough exercise. Annual health checks and prompt treatment of any problems will keep your Welsummers thriving for years.
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Food And Water
Welsummers thrive on a basic layer feed containing 16-18% protein. Adult hens need about 1/4 to 1/3 pound of feed per day. However, free-ranging birds may eat slightly less commercial feed.
Feed oyster shell or crushed eggshells to your Welsummer chickens. These help eggshell production, which is crucial given their large egg size.
Welsummers are also enthusiastic foragers. They adore chicken scraps, berries, melons, and tomatoes. Welsummers also gobble up mealworms, earthworms, and grubs with gusto.
Scratch grains make excellent treats but should comprise only about 10 percent of their diet, since they’re low in protein.
Each bird needs constant access to fresh, clean water. A hen will drink about a pint of water daily, more in hot weather or when laying. Welsummers don’t have unique dietary requirements beyond standard chicken nutrition. Just avoid feeding them avocado, chocolate, dried beans, or anything moldy or salty.
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Appearance And Colors
Welsummers have gorgeous partridge coloring that everyone notices. The hens sport lovely, intricate plumage with a golden-brown base, beautifully penciled with black stippling. Their feathers have delicate barring and complex patterns. Their neck hackles have a rich, reddish-gold glow.
Roosters are even more dramatic. Their breast and body feathers show deep mahogany red. Their neck hackles shimmer with orange and gold. Their tail feathers gleam with iridescent beetle-green that flashes in the sunlight.
Both sexes have bright red single combs with five to seven points, red wattles, and red earlobes (though some white is tolerated). Their legs are clean and yellow. Their eyes are reddish-brown.
The breed standard recognizes only the partridge color pattern in most countries, though a silver duckwing variety exists in some European flocks.
Welsummers are notoriously challenging to breed to standard. Getting that perfect partridge pattern with the right amount of stippling takes skill and patience. The color often runs too light or too dark. Males frequently show too much black in their breast feathers. Hens may lack sufficient penciling or show the wrong shade of brown. (But if you want to keep them for backyard flocks, breeding them is way easier. No worries there.)
Read More – Our 10 Best Tips For Raising Happy Chickens, Hens, And Roosters!
Our Epic Ballad To The Welsummer Chicken Breed
In Holland’s farms by rivers’ flow, the Welsummer’s beauty starts to grow. With feathers rich in bronze and gold, they tell a story centuries old.
Like autumn leaves, they grace the ground where bugs and treasures can be found. Not just for eggs of chocolate brown, but hearts that never let you down.
Behold! Their plumage is dark and fine, with partridge patterns so divine. Each feather etched with nature’s hand, the finest fowl in all the land.
This noble breed leads the flock when sunrise paints the weathered rock. Their cheerful song and active ways bring joy to all our farming days.
The Welsummer chicken, bold and bright. Brings us Dutch heritage and pure delight. Their legacy grows strong with every lay, as cherished companions here to stay.
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Conclusion
The Welsummer chicken breed offers many benefits. Homesteaders get gorgeous dark-brown, speckled eggs. These aren’t just any eggs. Nope. Welsummer eggs make your egg basket look like a work of art. You also get stunning partridge plumage that turns heads and starts conversations.
The Welsummer breed also delivers friendly, intelligent birds that enjoy interacting with their keepers. And you get all of this wrapped up in a hardy, low-maintenance package that thrives in almost any climate.
Thanks for reading.
Have a great day!
