Author Topic: My Welsummer Chicks hatched today... (Read 6767 times)

pikilily · « **on:** February 24, 2009, 09:15:44 pm »

Wowowowowooo!

We have four new additions to the holding. 'Mother' is my broody Isa Brown hen -she does the job so well!! she hatched four chicks today all Wellsummers and all girls. (Last year I had one girl and seven boys!!!!) They are sooooo cute. Out of ten eggs, that sounds pretty poor hatch rate- mind you the time of year is a bit unusual, and the Welsummer Cockerals are only just 6mths old. I was doubtful there would be any successful hatchings!!!

Will try to get some photos up soon...Mum being very protective at the moment. Hey Johnmac Mr Green is an uncle!

a very happy Emma

Rosemary · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2009, 10:39:58 pm »

Congratulations! Spring is sprung!

littlebrownhen · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2009, 11:04:34 pm »

I didn't know you could sex Welsummers so soon. I was hoping to hatch some under a broody in the absence of finding a young cockerel - how do you sex them?

Hilarysmum · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2009, 07:23:32 am »

Congratulations its such a lovely time when they hatch successfully

juliag · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2009, 02:28:59 pm »

how exciting.....congratulations!

pikilily · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2009, 04:03:24 pm »

littlebrownhen/Jane,
Hiya....Gosh I wish you were closer you could have one of my welsummer boys...they are so handsome...and I have too many.

Anyway, one can usually tell the sex from hatching by the colouring. The girls have more distinct markings- stripped like a chipmunk- down their heads and backs. Whereas the boys are blurry/fuzzily marked. If you google welsummer chicks you will find some photos. HTH!

Emma

PS I got eggs from ebay last year and hatched them both in the incubator and under 'mother' who went broody just as i received the eggs. The one girl who hatched had slate grey legs. She is by far the most beautiful hen i have ever seen. All her other markings and feather colourings are like a welsummer, althoug somehow brighter, more golden, technically she just has the wrong colour legs. Shame!! I have kept her because I have worked out how to identify her eggs, ie i will not use them for hatching!
Ems