Welsummer Chickens*

Day Old Welsummer Baby Chicks

• Dual Purpose
• 160 Dark brown eggs annually
• not particularly docile, but intellegent and friendly
• Cockerel 6 lbs, Pullet 5 lbs
• APA Continental
• Conservation status not applicable newer breed in U.S.

When someone says the word “rooster,” there’s a good possibility that you picture a Welsummer. The rooster on the Kellog’s Cornflakes box - whose name is Cornelius - is a Welsummer.   Females are a lovely partridge color, and males have an intricate and beautiful coloring which includes a dark red across the saddle and bright green in the wings, as well as beautiful, black tail feathers. The comb, wattle, and earlobes are bright red.

This breed was first imported into the US in the early 20th century, and was accepted into the British standards in 1930. The wait was longer here; the American Poultry Association did not include the Welsummer in its Standard of Perfection until 1991.

The name Welsummer is derived from the village where this breed was developed. It is a Dutch name, and the village of Welsum is located in the Netherlands. This practical and beautiful breed was quickly exported to England and other parts of Europe in the early 1900s.

Welsummers lay beautiful dark brown eggs that are a terra cotta color, which is one of the many reasons they are quite popular. They are heavy enough to be used for meat, as well. Their skin is yellow, as are their legs.

Photo courtesy of Brenda Eldridge