Monty, have you (or anyone else on here) had much experience with any of the dark egg layers? It was good to hear that you liked the Welsummers. I don't know anyone that has any, so don't have experience with them, not even vicariously! I've heard from the people on a chicken Yahoo group that Marans tend to be more difficult to get the dark eggs from. I don't know anything about the Barnevelders, but they sure are pretty birds from the pics I've seen on the internet.
I can't wait to move and get back to "chickening" again. I went over to the new place yesterday to get ideas in my head for converting an old storage barn into a coop. It's gonna be a challenge, but a fun one!
~~>Ann
Annlee, I have had Marans and I still have Welsummers. My Marans laid a darker egg than the Welsummers but my Welsummers were/are better layers. In all f my studies on the dark egg laying breeds ( I am a member of Marans, Welsummers and DarkEgglayers boards among others) I would have to say that the Marans, at least the ones with the good genetics will lay the darkest eggs. Welsummers are probably second, Penedesencas third and Barnvelders fourth,
From what I have read, there is not a good genetic pool of Barnvelders in the U.S. At least one for the dark egg characteristic.
There are Marans available that lay a very dark chocolate colored egg but they go at a high price.
Monty
Edited by Buckguy20 - 1/16/08 at 4:30pm
I had Naked Necks when Naked Necks weren't cool!
Lundy Wildcat Blues, Black RoundHeads, Black Mcraes, Black Shufflers, Black Bonanzas, Clarets
Brown Reds, Spangled RoundHeads, Blueface Hatch, Malays, Shamos and BBS Naked Necks!
I had Naked Necks when Naked Necks weren't cool!
Lundy Wildcat Blues, Black RoundHeads, Black Mcraes, Black Shufflers, Black Bonanzas, Clarets
Brown Reds, Spangled RoundHeads, Blueface Hatch, Malays, Shamos and BBS Naked Necks!
