Welsummer Chickens

Breed Rating (28 Reviews)

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Welsummer History

The Welsummer is named after the village of Welsum in Holland although the breed was originally developed in the area along the river Ysel to the north of Deventer, Holland at about the same time as the Barnevelders (1900-1913). The Dutch bred it from the partridge Cochin, partridge Wyandotte and partridge Leghorn, the Barnevelder and Rhode Island Red. It was first imported into this country in 1928 for its large brown egg. The Welsummer is a large, upright, active bird with a broad back, full breast and large full tail. They head has a single comb, medium wattles, almond shaped ear lobes and a strong, short beak. They have yellow legs which fade to pale yellow in summer and reddish bay eyes.

Welsummer Behaviour

Welsummers lay lovely large eggs and the dark brown pigment can actually be rubbed off as it is added at the end of the egg laying sequence. They do go broody but not usually until late Spring but are not particularly good mothers. Chicks are strong and are easily sexed as females have much darker head and back markings than males. They lay fewer eggs during the winter. They are friendly, easily handled birds which love to free range and forage for food but can also be kept in runs quite happily. They are productive for 3 years of their 9 year lifespan.

Welsummer Varieties

Silver Duckwing, gold and black-red partridge.

Welsummer Status

Fairly common

Welsummer Pictures

A welsummer chicken inside some chicken fencing.

Four brown and white chickens stood in a garden

My beautiful welsummer girl aged 19 weeks

Welsummer For Sale

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Latest Reviews For Welsummer (5 of 30)

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Based on 30 Verified Reviews

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- Melissa, 26 July 2024

Not very friendly - Sheldon, 3 July 2020

Not very friendly but lay lots of eggs

Fabulous Welsummers - Ralph, 20 January 2017

When we got our mixed flock 7 years ago no one could have told me that one of the two welsummer hens would last until only five weeks ago. She was a great great grandmother before she went and most of my flock have a little of her in them. She laid steadily for three years, 5 out of 7 days, with a winter break, then had a year off and then laid again for about 6 months before stopping. She raised chicks 4 times and on the fifth try she gave up halfway through. It had been the second time in a season so I can't blame her. The last 18 months I reckon she had earned just being able to enjoy life without responsibility. Unfortunately she must have eaten something bad because she became very poorly with mucky vent feathers. She bucked up for a couple days but I wasn't surprised to find her stiffened in the straw just before Christmas.

Good layer, no problem bird - Sarah, 16 August 2016

I added a welsummer bantam to my small flock about 6 months ago. I was a bit wary as I thought she would be more agressive and stand offish than the others (pekins with a shy RIR). But she is very sweet and shy, a good layer of (for her size) large brown eggs. She is not as tame as the others and the hardest to cacth, but no a good forager and sweet tempered. I would get another.

Nice chicken for a small flock, not too people oriented - Erica, 22 April 2016

We bought 5 chickens last spring, 1 silverlaced wyandotte, 2 golden sexlinks, and 2 welsummers. 1 gsl died after a couole month for lack of thriving. The other gsl was taken by a raccoon 2 weeks ago. She was our friendliest bird. So we have Peep, our slw and 2 Welsummers, Coco and Cute Chicken, left. They are both good layers, one egg every 1 to 2 days. Seems more like every day though! Their eggs are very dark brown, sometimes speckled! Our wyandotte seems to be more people friendly than our welsummers. The cats even get along with the birds. The welsummers really don't like to be held or even touched most times. One more so than the other. I think Coco, our more anti social bird, may even be showing signs of broodiness. Also these 2 girls will have crow offs with each other. It is so funny! They can get pretty loud. Our wyandotte is much quieter, her noises are like sweet soft coos compared to our welsummers. I'm glad we have all of them. They are all good birds. I personally don't think the welsummer hens are as pretty as some other chickens but in the sunlight their feathers show some green too.

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Breeder Clubs for Welsummer

Welsummer Club

Email: webmaster@welsummerclub.org

Telephone: 01952 460274