View source for Welsummer

{{Short description|Breed of chicken}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2016}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{use list-defined references|date=September 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{infobox poultry breed
| name          = Welsummer
| image         = Welsummer hen.jpg
| image_size    =
| alt           =
| image_caption = A Welsummer hen
| status        =
| altname       = Welsumer
| country       = Netherlands
| distribution  =
| standard      = 
| use           = dual-purpose
| nickname      =
| apa           = continental{{r|apa}}
| aba           = single comb, clean-legged
| ee            = yes{{r|ee}}
| pcgb          = soft feather: light{{r|pcgb}}
| maleweight    = Standard: 2.75–3.25 kg{{r|bdrg}}<br>Bantam: to 1300 g{{r|bdrg2}}
| femaleweight  = Standard: 2.0–2.5 kg{{r|bdrg}}<br>Bantam: to 1000 g{{r|bdrg2}}
| skincolour     = cream
| eggcolour      = dark brown
| comb          = single
| type          = [[Chicken]]
| latin         = Gallus gallus domesticus
}}
[[File:Welsummer Bantam Cockerel.jpg|thumb|Bantam cock]]
[[File:Zwerg-Welsumer SPZ 02.jpg|thumb|Bantam hen]]
The '''Welsummer''' or '''Welsumer''' is a Dutch [[list of chicken breeds|breed]] of domestic [[chicken]]. It originates in the small village of [[Welsum, Olst-Wijhe|Welsum]], in the eastern [[Netherlands]]. It was bred at the beginning of the twentieth century from local fowls of mixed origin: [[Rhode Island Red]]s, [[Barnevelder]]s, [[Leghorn (chicken)|Partridge Leghorns]], [[Cochin (chicken)|Cochins]], and [[Wyandotte (chicken)|Wyandottes]]. In 1922–23, steps were taken to fix a standard after the birds began to show a good deal of uniformity. The eggs were originally exported for the commercial egg trade. Some stock was exported to the United Kingdom, and the breed was added to the British Standard in 1930.{{cn|date=May 2018}}

In 2001, a number of farms culled their flocks in connection with the outbreak of [[foot-and-mouth disease]].

== Characteristics ==

Three plumage colours are listed for the Welsumer by the [[Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture]], of which only one, Red Partridge, is recognised in the Netherlands.{{r|ee}}

The Welsummer is a true utility bird, being a great layer as well as great eating. They are very hardy birds often surviving illness and hard winters and are known to live 8-10 years. Due to this the Welsummer was chosen to accompany [[The First Fleet]] to Sydney Cove Australia in 1788. 
Evolving from the Asian Red Jungle fowl, Wellsummers are an autosexing breed. [[Autosexing]] chicken breeds are purebreds where male and female chicks have distinct color/pattern differences at hatch, allowing for easy sexing without vent sexing. In terms of the Welsummer, day old females appear with a dark line from their eye to the back of their head. Males possess a light brown head and back with an absence of that dark eye line.

== Use ==

Welsumer hens lay about 160 eggs per year; the eggs are dark brown and weigh about {{nobreak|65 grams}}.{{r|bdrg}} Bantam Welsumers lay about 180 dark brown eggs per year, with an average weight of {{nobreak|47 g.}}{{r|bdrg2}}

==References==
<references>

<ref name=apa>[https://web.archive.org/web/20171104135004/http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/PDF%20Forms/APA%20Recognized%20Breeds%20and%20Varieties%20Sept2012.pdf APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012]. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.</ref>

<ref name=bdrg>[http://www.bdrg.de/mediaarchiv/grab_pic.php?id=105194 Rassetafeln: Welsumer] (in German). Bund Deutscher Rassegeflügelzüchter. Accessed September 2014.</ref>

<ref name=bdrg2>[http://www.bdrg.de/mediaarchiv/grab_pic.php?id=105195 Rassetafeln: Zwerg-Welsumer] (in German). Bund Deutscher Rassegeflügelzüchter. Accessed September 2014.</ref>

<ref name=ee>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130616062803/http://www.entente-ee.com/deutsch/sparten/gefluegel/dateien/2013/Verzeichnis%20R%20F%2028042013.xls Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013)]. Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.</ref>

<ref name=pcgb>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143235/http://www.poultryclub.org/img/Breed%20Classification.pdf Breed Classification]. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.</ref>

</references>

{{Commons category}}

{{Chicken breeds of the Netherlands}}

[[Category:Chicken breeds]]
[[Category:Chicken breeds originating in the Netherlands]]