Calling welsh harlequin experts

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

P.S. BabyGotQuack, sorry if I hijacked, but it helps me to write out complete sentences from the mush in my brain cell. Thanks, and cheers and best wishes to everyone!

 

[BabyGotQuack]

P.S. BabyGotQuack, sorry if I hijacked, but it helps me to write out complete sentences from the mush in my brain cell. Thanks, and cheers and best wishes to everyone!

Oh no not at all!

 

[BabyGotQuack]

What do y'all think of mine? To my eyes my drakes look very similar (and quite handsome, if I do say so myself) and my hens have noticeable variation. They definitely look different in their juvenile vs adult plumage, but this is the first I've read about silver and gold phases.

My understanding is hens should have black bills, period, but there is a range of acceptable shading from light fawn to light brown, and in the silver variety the black harlequin/diamond pattern should be distinct. My starter stock were from Metzer and Cackle, which were clearly darker and lighter respectively.

In writing this, I've realized it's past time to shell out the $60 for a copy of the actual SOP, because I've just been going with the "I know what I like" approach. This is fine for my primary goal of selling eggs at farmers markets. But there seems to be a demand for Welsh Harlequins and if I will ever be a supplier, I should separate the most show-quality birds from genpop, where "if it lays, it stays".

View attachment 3083286View attachment 3083298View attachment 3083316


Top pic is from yesterday with a fresh block of alfalfa for them to pick at. Middle pic is juveniles from the BYC New Years Hatch-A-Long, where you can see the yellow bill (from 100% black-billed parents) and lighter plumage. Bottom pic is what I consider an ideal hen, if not an ideal photo.

I was really hoping some of the “experts” would chime in on this, obviously I’m not an expert. But I would agree your hen looks ideal to me and I would be super happy if mine turned out like that. I have no clue what drakes are “supposed” to look like but I think yours look similar to any I've seen and are super handsome.

I would also agree with you that if you were to become a supplier it would be a good idea to separate the show quality ones from some that wouldn’t be considered the standard welsh harlequin.

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

I was really hoping some of the “experts” would chime in on this, obviously I’m not an expert. But I would agree your hen looks ideal to me and I would be super happy if mine turned out like that. I have no clue what drakes are “supposed” to look like but I think yours look similar to any I've seen and are super handsome.

I would also agree with you that if you were to become a supplier it would be a good idea to separate the show quality ones from some that wouldn’t be considered the standard welsh harlequin.

I am not an expert. But idk anyone on here that has welsh harlequins directly. I am trying to think.