Welsummer Bantam

The Welsummer Bantam is characterized by its long, cylindrical body shape, often compared to an elongated barrel. It has a broad, deep chest that protrudes slightly, giving it a strong and capable appearance. The back is long and carried horizontally, with a broad shoulder area that tapers smoothly into the tail. Roosters typically weigh between 2.4-2.6 lbs (1.1-1.2kg), while hens weigh around 2.0-2.2 lbs (0.9-1.0kg).

• Head: Small in proportion to the body with a low, single comb that follows the curve of the neck.
• Earlobes: Red and small.
• Eyes: Fiery orange-red.
• Legs: Clean (unfeathered) and bright yellow.

The breed is known for its vitality and active nature. They are energetic foragers but generally maintain a friendly and calm disposition toward their keepers, making them excellent choices for backyard enthusiasts.

One of the most remarkable features of the Welsummer Bantam is its egg production. Despite being a bantam, the hens lay eggs that are disproportionately large for their body size, often averaging 1.76 oz (50g), which is close to the weight of an egg from a large fowl breed.

Egg Characteristics:

• Color: Famous for their deep, matte reddish-brown or terra-cotta color.
• Quantity: They are reliable layers, producing approximately 160 eggs per year.
• Longevity: They are known for maintaining good laying strength over several years.

Hens are generally non-sitters, meaning they rarely go broody. This makes them ideal for keepers who want a steady supply of eggs without the interruption of a hen trying to hatch them.

There is a distinct sexual dimorphism in the Red Partridge color variety of the Welsummer Bantam. The rooster is quite flashy, while the hen is camouflaged in earthy tones.

The Rooster

The male features a glistening golden-brown hackle and saddle with minimal black striping. His breast is unique, featuring three-colored feathers: grey-black at the base, matte brown in the middle, and ending in a solid black tip. His tail is large, broad, and decorated with medium-length, beetle-green black sickles.

The Hen

The female has a more subtle rust-brown base color. Her feathers are marked with fine black peppering (stippling). She features a salmon-colored breast and a golden-yellow hackle. Unlike many other breeds, the Welsummer hen's back line is notably long and horizontal, ending in a tail carried at an obtuse angle.

Welsummer Bantams are very hardy birds, owing to their development in the varied climate of Northwestern Europe. They are well-equipped to handle colder temperatures, provided they have a dry, draft-free coop. Their single combs are relatively small and low, which offers some natural resistance to frostbite compared to breeds with larger, more upright combs.

They thrive in environments where they can free-range, as they are active and enjoy foraging for insects and greens. However, they also adapt well to confined runs, as long as they are given enough space to remain active and avoid boredom-related behaviors.

The primary and most recognized color variety is the Red Partridge (Roodpatrijs). In this variety, the focus is on the rich, warm tones of the gold and brown against the sharp black markings. Other varieties include:

• Silver Partridge: Where the red/gold tones are replaced by a crisp silver-white.
• Yellow Partridge: A lighter, more pastel version of the standard partridge, though this variety is less common and not recognized in all countries.

In the Netherlands, the Yellow Partridge is specifically noted as not being an officially recognized variety, with the Red Partridge being the definitive standard for the breed.