WELSUMMERS HATCHING EGGS

ype: Standard
Origin: Holland (Continental Class)
Primary Purpose: Dual-purpose (eggs and meat)
Availability: Mid-January – End of October

🧬 Physical Characteristics

• Comb Type: Single

• Leg Style: Clean, yellow legs and feet

• Egg Color: Dark brown (noted for rich, terracotta-colored eggs, often speckled)

• Egg Size: Large

• Egg Production: ~208 eggs/year

• Broodiness: Yes

• Temperament: Active, independent, not particularly docile

• Heat Tolerance: Tolerates heat well

• Cold Tolerance: Hardy

⚖️ Weights

• Mature Male: ~6 lbs

• Mature Female: ~4.5 lbs

🎨 Coloration

Chicks:
Dark brown with light red streaks down the back; head, chest, and abdomen are light red.

Adult Males:

• Head, neck, and saddle: Rich golden-brown

• Back, wing fronts, wing bows: Reddish brown

• Wing coverts and main tail: Greenish-black (forming a wing bar when folded)

• Breast, body, fluff, thighs: Black with red mottling

Adult Females:

• Head: Golden-brown

• Hackles: Golden-brown

• Back and wing bows: Reddish-brown stippled with black

• Wing coverts: Chestnut brown

• Tail: Black with brown-edged coverts

• Thigh, breast, neck front: Chestnut red

• Body and fluff: Brown with gray shading

📜 History

Developed in the early 1900s in Welsum, Holland, by crossing Partridge Cochins, Partridge Wyandottes, and Partridge Leghorns, later refined with Barnevelder and Rhode Island Red bloodlines. The breed was named after its place of origin and became popular for its rich egg color and rustic good looks.