Welsummer chicken
The Welsummer is a Dutch dual-purpose breed famous for its rich red-brown, often speckled eggs.
The Welsummer is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Soft Feather Light class. Its origin is given as Welsum, Netherlands.
It is kept in large and bantam forms. Recognised colours: Red-Partridge, Silver Duckwing, Silver, Golden (both rare, only exist in Germany). Typical adult weights: cock about 3.2 kg, hen about 2.7 kg, bantam cock about 1.02 kg and bantam hen about 790 g.
Expect roughly 200–250 eggs a year, with dark brown (speckled) shells. It is mainly kept as a dual-purpose bird, for eggs and for the table.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, poultrykeeper.com, en.wikipedia.org. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Soft Feather Light
- Origin
- Welsum, Netherlands
- Kept for
- Dual purpose, Eggs, Table
History
It was developed from about 1880 around the village of Welsum, near Deventer, from mixed farm fowl including Rhode Island Red, Barnevelder, Partridge Leghorn, Cochin and Wyandotte. True-breeding birds were launched at the 1921 World Poultry Congress, and the breed entered the British standard in 1930. Eggs were originally exported for the egg trade.
Appearance
Red-Partridge and Silver Duckwing are standardised in the UK. Silver and Golden are rare and German-only. Bantams exist.
Recognised colours
Red-Partridge, Silver Duckwing, Silver, Golden (both rare, only exist in Germany)
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large, Bantam
- Cock
- 3.2 kg
- Hen
- 2.7 kg
- Bantam cock
- 1.02 kg
- Bantam hen
- 790 g
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 200–250
- Egg colour
- Dark brown (speckled)
- Notes
- Poultrykeeper gives 200–250 red-brown eggs.
Temperament
Not recorded yet.
Hardiness
Not recorded yet.
Broodiness
Not recorded yet.
Flying
Not recorded yet.
Suitability
- Good to know
- The UK standard has not been revised since 1932. The crele version is standardised as the Welbar.
Conservation status (RBST)
Not on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's priority list.
Breed club
- The Welsummer Club, breed-specific · Website
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
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