Here is a picture of my 7 week old brood. The bottom shows the hackle feathers of the Welsummer.
The whole gang
A very nice looking flock! Next year I want to add a couple different dark egg layers. You have to let me know what size eggs you get!
how sweet!
everyone looks liek a pullet to me, except the welsummer in the background... the one in front just looks partridge, not like hackle faethers...
Hi TamaraFaye--I didn't mean hackles like "boy bird" I just meant hackles like neck feathers;0). The one with the beautiful gold-tip feathers (looks much better in person in the sunlight) is a pullet (I think). You can't really see the other one. It lacks the pretty feathers--which the cockerels do lack. Still not sure yet. My old roos gave me such a nasty surprise at 4 months. Two of them looked just like hens until one crowed and the other sprouted tail feathers. Suddenly it all became clear......
Thanks, LoraK. I will be very boring describing all the details of their egg laying. I can't seem to get the beautiful chicken portraits you all get. If I stand up all I get is their backs. If I lie down they all run up and stare at my face and peck the camera---I don't get any respect.
LOL
Catscan how do you like the Welsummer? I was reading about them and thought I'd like to add some next spring. By then I'll know which of the breeds I'm getting now I want to keep and which I won't.
Thanks!
MollyD
Hi MollyD. The Welsummers seem placid and quiet, but not as friendly as the Orpington or as curious as the Delaware. They are very good foragers. They are definitely more mellow than the RIR I got. I think they will be very nice dual purpose--they are noticably larger than any of the others. I'll let you know how the egg laying goes. I'm hoping for dark brown--there is a big market for them around here. Very Berkeley.
Great looking flock! It's amazing how fast they go from fuzzy little chicks to fully feathered young ladies!
Thanks Catscan. I just want my girls to be mellow and not inclined to panic at every little thing. I want to be able to walk into their enclosure without them banging into fences and walls trying to get away from me! I've seen some hens like that!!
MollyD