The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Charlie1234 on February 25, 2017, 03:35:30 pm
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Hi all
I have just been offered some large fowl welsummers as there seems to be a rise in the amount of people I know packing up keeping birds due to the avian flu.
The cock bird is big and weighs around 3.5kg the hens are roughly 2.5kg
Wondering if crossed with my indian game cock would they make a good meat bird ?
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Following with interest
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Also if anyone had bred this cross can you add any pictures ?
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I love welsummers, love there eggs and bred them for many years, also crossed them with Cuckoo Marans for a sex linked cross, the eggs from this cross were fantastic.
Anyway never used them in my meat bird project because they are a light breed and I think you have to stick with the heavy breeds to save disappointment.
Having said that Hugh from river cottage had one in his IG cross taste test and said it was delicious.
Although very slight.
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I kept a few many years ago but I found them to be bad feather peckers,seen these offered me 100`s of times and never really took much notice to be honest.
Mate has told me they came of a guy in Bristol called Steve Barker,a big breeder down them ways for 30 + years.
Anyone heard of him or his birds ?
I have until Wednesday to make my mind up on them.
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I, too found the Welsummer temperament not the best, although the cockerels are magnificent.
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I`ve given in and agreed to take them on as my mrs wants a few birds to call her own.
I will put my I.G. to them late in the season and try some as my last hatch just to see what they come out like,as Dave C says you can eat your mistakes :thumbsup:
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I agree with Marches Farmer about the temperament of the welsummer. I have a hen from an indian game cockerel and a sussex hen. Really big hen lays well even now at 4 yrs old and lovely friendly temperament. Fantastic broody will look after anything, ducklings as well. Have found the Indian Game to be really good mothers and mine go broody every year. Have tried Welsummer twice and both times not impressed. The cockerels are good meat birds but seem to like fighting each other, pretty though.
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Just been told they have been rehomed as I was too slow :innocent: