The Welsummer is the Dutch breed famous for dark, speckled chocolate-brown eggs. Beautiful partridge-pattern hens (the Cornflakes rooster), friendly disposition, calm temperament, and one of the best heritage egg layers for backyard flocks. FastPoultry takes free quote requests for Welsummer as hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and started pullets and matches each one with NPIP-certified breeders within 1 business day.
| Origin | Welsum, Netherlands - 1900s |
|---|---|
| APA recognized | 1991 |
| Conservation status | Watch |
| Adult weight | Roosters 7 lb, Hens 6 lb |
| Size class | Standard |
| Eggs per year | ~180 |
| Egg color | Speckled Chocolate Brown |
| Egg size | Large |
| Broodiness | Low |
| Cold hardiness | Good |
| Heat tolerance | Good |
| Noise level | Quiet |
| Flight tendency | Light flight |
| Beginner friendly | Yes |
Developed in the village of Welsum, Netherlands, in the early 1900s by crossing Partridge Leghorn, Barnevelder, Rhode Island Red, Cochin, and Welsum farm fowls. The goal: a hardy Dutch farmstead bird that laid distinctive dark eggs. The roosters appear on Kellogg's Cornflakes packaging (the iconic 'Cornelius the Rooster' is a Welsummer). APA recognized 1991. Available only in Partridge color in the US.
Best for: premium eggs, dual-purpose, foraging
Dark brown egg with darker speckles - second only to Marans for darkness.
| Indoor coop space | 4 sq ft per bird |
|---|---|
| Run space | 12 sq ft per bird |
| Roost bar | 10 in per bird |
Space: Excellent foragers - convert grass and bugs to eggs efficiently.
Feeding: Layer feed 16%. Free-ranged Welsummers produce visibly richer yolks.
Health: Sturdy heritage breed. Watch for ovarian issues in old hens (5+ yrs).
Climate: Zones 3-9. Hardy Dutch climate origin.
You can request Welsummer through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 3 request pages for hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and started pullets, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Welsummer are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
A Welsummer hen lays roughly 180 eggs a year, and the eggs are large and speckled chocolate brown. Dark brown egg with darker speckles - second only to Marans for darkness. Broodiness is rated low. Real production depends on strain, hen age, season, and daylight, so ask breeders about the laying record of their parent stock.
Yes. The Welsummer is rated beginner friendly. Temperament: friendly, calm, foraging, curious; cold hardiness: good; heat tolerance: good; noise level: quiet. It is best for premium eggs, dual-purpose, and foraging. Check local rules on roosters and flock size before you buy.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
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