Barnevelders and Welsummers

[college town chick]

Pros/cons of each of these two breeds?


We've decided on a flock of primarily Barred Rock, Speckled Sussex, and Brahmas, with some Buff Orps and Aussies for variety, but also wondering about these two breeds as well -- picking chickens turned into too much of a candy store option for me after all.

Other question: can any of these breeds not be mixed together? I've heard that Orps and Brahmas, due to their gentle natures, can be picked on -- would this be a problem?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

My Orps and Brahma are more picked on than some of the other breeds but no one is hurt anyone yet. They are just not high on the pecking order.
The Wellies are nice birds but I haven't had them long enough to tell you as much about them. I just started my flock this spring and I am about to buy some Barnies so can't help you as much with those either.
I just know I adore the egg color and plan on keeping them in separate tractors and coops to build the flocks up.
Oh, my Barred Rocks at this point are only as high in the pecking order as the Orps. It could change though.

 

[drom]

Hello,
I don't keep either breed but a few months back when I decided I wanted some dark brown egg layers, I posted a question on this site to find out which dark brown egg layer was everyone's favorite and why. I listed the Welsummer, Barnvelder, Marans and Langshan.
So, I didn't get much response on the Langshan but did on the other three.
Everyone seems to love their Welsummers and said they were good layers.
Lots of people commented on the Barnvelder and the comments most people made about them were that they are really beautiful birds-everyone seemed to agree on that but that they are not very prolific layers.

In the end, I decided on the Marans- I bought some Black Copper chicks and I love them. They have great temperaments- so friendly and sweet. The problem with this breed is of course that they lay beautiful eggs which are generally darker apparently then the Welsummer in the beginning of their laying cycle but the eggs tend to lighten later in the cycle. Something that doesn't occur with the Welsummers I guess.

Anyway, from everything people said it seems to me the two most popular dark egg layers are the Welsummer and the Marans

 

[denahli]

my barnevelder chickies are SO friendly!

 

[herechickchick]

Mother Goose breeds beautiful Welsumers, I would contact her for more info on the breed.

 

[Katy]

I like my welsummers. They lay a nice dark brown egg and I've never had one go broody in the 6 years I've had them....unlike my Marans which seem to like to set more than lay!!