Welsummer chicken is a breed that comes from Holland, from the village of Welsum, hence the origin of its name. In that country, this race was created from the crossing of different races. Among them are the Rhode Island Red, the Wyandotte Partridge, the Livorno Partridge, the Cochinchina partridge and the Barnevelder.
The first time this race was exported was in England. And this was carried out by the characteristics of the eggs produced by this breed, I call attention for being big and brown. Today this is a very popular breed in Australia.
Characteristics of the Welsummer Chicken
Welsummer chicken is a tough and attractive breed that usually goes free. It is a large breed, and very alert, has an upright posture. The eyes of this breed are reddish in color. It also has some yellow legs but these tend to be more opaque when summer comes.
It is normal to have a colorful pattern with a black and reddish, while the chest is a deep reddish-brown. In addition to the coloration mentioned above. There is the black variety, blue and white. The color of the plumage varies greatly between the color of the male and the color of the female.
There are several places of the body of the male such as the head, chest, and wings, which have a bright reddish hue. While the females have a lighter reddish color, and on the back, they have reddish-brown feathers. This breed also exists a miniature variety. You may also like to read Orpington Chicken.
Some chickens are bred for their plumage, others for their size and others for the color of their eggs. The feathers of the Welsummer chicken ruff have a beautiful iridescent sheen and show a striped pattern that does not appear in the males.
The crest is small and firmly seated, the lobes of the ears are red and the tarsi are yellow. They are docile birds and in a good mood. The Welsummer was created by crossing many different breeds. This resulted in a very similar terracotta-colored egg. The Welsummer also has very attractive coloring feathers.
It is a very popular hen that lives happily in a back garden, which originated in the village of Welsum, in Holland. This breed puts about 200 eggs per year. The Welsummer is especially appreciated for their dark blond eggs, which are sometimes said to have a pot-like color. Eggs can have a variety of spots, and sometimes they seem to have texture.
Food
Welsummer chicken is fed with 2 or 3 types of feed, the first feed is initiation until 6 or weeks. Then they are fed a second growth feed until 16 weeks. The third feed proposing from the 16 weeks completed. You may also like to read Cochin Chicken.
When it is in the breeding period, the feed is low in fat, in any case, the fundamental thing is that the chicken maintains a weight according to its breed. The proposed feed increases the calcium content to 2.0 or 2.5%, this favors the formation of the necessary bone reserves.
This is to avoid that no type of phenomenon appears in the bones because of weakness or the shell of the egg.
Usage
This breed is produced mainly because it has a high annual egg-laying. It has unique eggs, and large sizes, which makes these eggs are appreciated.
Special Feature
Welsummer chicken is a laying breed. They usually put up until the end of spring. But in winter they put fewer eggs than the rest of the year. One of the qualities of this breed is that they have a calm character, besides being friendly. That is why the females of this breed are excellent mothers.
The chicks are easily sexed, and this is because the females have spots on the back that are darker than that of the males. Another characteristic to differentiate them is that the head of the females is darker in color than that of the males. You may also like to read Dominique Chicken.
In addition, this breed is strong from small and very resistant. It is a breed that likes to be outdoors, and thus be able to look for its food. However, they can also be raised in small, enclosed places, as long as they can be outdoors from time to time.
In general, this breed has a life expectancy of at least 9 years. But only the first 3 years of life is when this breed is productive. The pigmentation of the eggs can be removed. If they rub hard and this is because the color of the pigment is added at the end of the laying of the hens.
FAQ
What is a Welsummer chicken?
Welsummer chickens are a breed of chicken originating in the Netherlands. They are an attractive, dual-purpose bird that is known for their reddish-brown plumage and speckled eggs. The Welsummer Chickens were first developed in the early 20th century by Dutch farmer Jan Reesink, who started with a local landrace of birds.
How big do Welsummer chickens get?
Welsummer chickens are a breed of medium-sized chickens that originated in the Netherlands. They are best known for their large brown eggs with speckles, and they are also popular amongst backyard gardeners due to their hardy nature.
What do Welsummer chickens eat?
Welsummer chickens are an excellent choice for homesteaders and small-scale farmers who are looking for a rare, heirloom breed of chicken that is both easy to care for and produces delicious eggs. While the elegant Welsummer is known particularly for its beautiful mahogany-brown eggs with dark speckles, it’s important to ensure you feed them properly in order to keep them healthy and productive.
Conclusion
The Welsummer or Welsumer is a Dutch breed of domestic chicken. It originates in the small village of Welsum, in the eastern Netherlands. It was bred at the beginning of the twentieth century from local fowls of mixed origin: Rhode Island Reds, Barnevelders, Partridge Leghorns, Cochins, and Wyandottes. Hope this guide has helped you! Good luck
As a reference: Wikipedia
