Welsummer — Day-Old Chicks
Welsummer — Day-Old Chicks
NPIP Certified Hatchery - License #51-770
- 160–200 Eggs/Year
- Large Brown Eggs
- 20–24 Weeks to Lay
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📦 Learn how we carefully pack and ship your chicks →
If you love a basket of richly colored eggs, the Welsummer deserves a place in your flock. This Dutch breed is known for its terracotta-brown eggs, often dotted with darker speckles, and its beautiful, earthy plumage. Picture these curious birds exploring your yard, then adding a little extra color to your morning egg collection.
Why backyard keepers love them:
- 🥚 Approximately 160–200 large brown eggs per year — prized for their rich terracotta tones and occasional darker speckles
- 🪶 Warm brown partridge plumage with golden neck feathers — hens have a classic rustic appearance, while roosters display rich red and black coloring
- ☀️ Hardy and adaptable — well suited to backyard flocks with shelter, shade, and protection from weather extremes
- 🌿 Active, curious foragers — enjoy exploring and finding supplemental food when given room to roam
- ⚡ A rewarding heritage layer — valued for distinctive eggs rather than maximum commercial egg production
What to expect from Chesapeake Hatchery chicks:
Welsummers bring attractive plumage, an alert personality, and richly colored eggs to your backyard flock. Marek's Disease vaccination is optional and is not included in the chick price. Select the vaccination add-on when ordering if you would like your chicks vaccinated. Chicks are backed by our live arrival guarantee. Note: egg color and speckling vary by hen and throughout the laying season; not every egg will be dark or speckled.
Weeks to first egg: Approximately 20–24 weeks
Egg size: Large
Egg color: Terracotta brown, sometimes speckled
Bring heritage charm and colorful eggs to your flock — reserve your Welsummer chicks for the next hatch.
Breed specifications
Breed specifications
Production
Hens lay approximately 160–200 large brown eggs per year. Actual output varies.
Maturity
Typically begins laying at 20–24 weeks. Timing varies by individual bird and growing conditions.
Temperament
Alert, curious, and active.
Appearance
Warm brown partridge plumage with golden neck feathers; roosters show red and black.
Adaptability
Hardy and adaptable with shelter, shade, and protection from weather extremes.
Chick care overview
Chick care overview
Brooder temperature: Start at 95°F for the first week, reducing by 5°F each week until fully feathered.
Food & water: Offer chick starter feed and fresh water immediately. Dip each chick's beak gently into the water on arrival to encourage drinking.
Hydration boost: We include hydration supplements in your shipment — add to water for the first 24–48 hours to help chicks recover from transit.
Space: Allow at least 0.5 sq ft per chick in the brooder for the first few weeks.
Watch for: Huddling under the heat source (too cold), panting or moving away from heat (too warm). Active, spread-out chicks are happy chicks.
For detailed care guides, visit our FAQs.
Shipping
Shipping
Your chicks ship in a USPS-approved live animal box designed specifically for safe poultry transport, complete with soft bedding, temperature control packing, and hydration supplements for the journey.
We take immeasurable care in every shipment — each box is packed with your flock's safe arrival as our top priority.
We ship USPS Priority Express only — the fastest available service, with live animal handling and typically overnight delivery.
LIVE CHICK SHIPPING
6–14 chicks — $44.95
15–25 chicks — $39.95 — BEST VALUE
26–50 chicks — $79.95
51–100 chicks — $99.95
Minimum shipped order: 6 chicks • Mix & match breeds
Order 15–25 chicks and receive our lowest live-chick shipping rate.
Local Pickup — Wednesdays in Maryland
No shipping fee · No minimum order
Live Arrival Guarantee
We stand behind every shipment. In the rare event that any chicks do not survive transit, you will receive a full refund for those chicks.
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