Welsummer Chickens: The New Zealand Keeper's Guide
~180 dark brown eggs a year · Medium-heavy (2.7-3.2 kg) · prized for deep terracotta eggs
The Welsummer is kept above all for its eggs, which are a deep, glossy terracotta brown often speckled with darker spots. It is a handsome, calm Dutch breed and a favourite for anyone who wants colour in the egg basket.
Eggs and laying
Around 180 to 200 of those striking dark eggs a year. The colour can fade through a heavy laying run and returns after a rest, so it is richest early in the season.
Temperament
Calm, intelligent and friendly without being needy. The classic partridge-coloured hen is also strikingly attractive in the garden.
New Zealand climate fit
Hardy across most New Zealand conditions, handling cold reasonably and tolerating warmth well. A practical all-round bird as well as a pretty one.
Care notes
Easy to keep and a good forager. People often run a Welsummer or two purely for the dark eggs alongside more productive layers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Welsummer eggs so dark?
It is a breed trait. Welsummers lay a deep terracotta egg, often speckled, prized for its colour. The shade is darkest early in a laying cycle and lightens as the season goes on.
How many eggs do Welsummers lay?
Around 180 to 200 a year. They are kept more for the remarkable egg colour than for sheer numbers.
Are Welsummers friendly?
Yes, they are calm and intelligent, friendly without being demanding, and the partridge plumage makes them one of the better-looking garden hens.