Best friendly breeds for dark/light brown eggs and white eggs?

[MTopPA_18707]

I'd recommend Buff Orpingtons . . . very friendly

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[NewToFarming]

I love my Naked Necks! They are sweet, gentle and very laid back.

 

[bywaterdog]

Quote:
Same here, my B.O.'s are the calmest breed that I've ever had, they can be picked up with no problem.

BTW. I consider my chickens "stock" so they have never been held, named or interacted with other than feeding, watering, collecting their eggs, and then dispatching to freezer camp.

 

[Smokin Silkies]

I agree! I raised BO for awhile and they were friendly...but they flew over the 5ft fencing easily, then they didn't want to go back in lol. What about the "Penedesenca"? Says they are very flighty? Lays a very dark red brown egg...

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

I would get EE's for blue/green eggs, Marans for dark eggs (heavier than Penedenescas,) Orloffs just because they're so friendly and colorful, but they are late maturing, (varies, but will be some shade of brown,) and maybe a Polish for white eggs.

Also, I say Marans out of all the dark egg layers because I believe from a hatchery (which is totally fine for your purposes,) they will probably be the darkest eggs.

 

[Debbi]

If you want Marans, I'd advise you to avoid the hatcheries. Hatchery egg color is nowhere near what it should be! Buy from a breeder who is dedicated in improving the breed as a whole AND egg color. Please be aware, while the pullets and hens are pretty easy going, SOME of the roos can be extremely aggressive, ask me how I know!

That said, if you are just getting them for the eggs, you won't need a roo. Marans are also not a heavy egg layer like a Leghorn. They also seem to need a higher protein feed than other breeds, especially in the winter. Egg color on the Marans color charts range from a #4 - #9, 9 being the darkest and hard to acheive. A 4 is a tad darker than a regular brown egg layer, so you would want to see the color of eggs the hens are laying before buying eggs or chicks/birds. An egg color of 5-7 is most typical. The egg color also lightens over the laying period. Some start off light, then darken, then lighten again towards the end of the cycle. Do some reading and research, there are quite a few great Marans breeders here on BYC!

Here is a pic of my first pullet eggs. These are between 5-6 on the color chart. Also know, that it's best to see the egg color in person, as the true color is very hard to capture in pics! Oh, and did I mention, these eggs taste FABULOUS!!!

I will be improving my egg color as I get into selective breeding.

 

[newlyweds]

For large fowl and I have no bantams these would be my choices: And if you want an extremely colorful basket I am adding in a few of those choices as well.

Brown eggs: White Rocks, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, all extremely friendly and lay great.

Olive Eggers: my gals and roosters are very friendly and I just love the variety of olive greens you get.

Black Copper Marans: beautiful birds and very friendly not to mention the beautiful dark chocolate eggs. (not hatchery stock)

White layers: Ancona's or Black Minorca's both of my gals are smaller body type about 4lbs, but lay extremely well and are very friendly.

I personally love to hatch my own. Some of these could easily be purchased through hatcheries but I prefer non-hatchery stock, that way you "know" the birds you will buy from.

For some egg pictures and pics of my birds you can check out my blog:
http://www.newlyweds-blog.com/2010/08/07/chickens-for-sale/

Best of luck on your search!

 

[Smokin Silkies]

Thanks for the info on the Marans! I'll check them out a little more on here. I had just planned on hatching eggs, and am now considering a hathery only because I can order pullets..I don't need a single cockerel. I do remember seeing awhile back auctions for BCM's and they were very pricey. Beings that these eggs will only be eaten and I don't plan on working with the color, I don't want to spend a whole lot of money on them. Its just for the kids so they have lots of different colors. I've heard horror stories about hatcheries, but also some good ones. I don't really care if they are mutts are not, as long as they give me the colors I'm looking for. I'll more than likely just order eggs from here because the chicks will more than likely be much healthier. Some have contacted me with what they have available. I still have some time before I order....waiting for my baby to get here so I can't load the incubator at the moment

 

[Illia]

To me, the price for some good Black Copper or Wheaten or Blue Wheaten Marans eggs are WELL worth it.

As for a normal brown egg layer, I say go with just about anything. If cheap and from a hatchery, they're all commonly friendly.

As for white eggs, you can't go wrong with Polish. They come in beautiful colors, they have absolutely sweet, almost too sweet of temperaments if raised right, and lay very well. Some hatcheries do offer strains more friendly or skittish than others. I've purchased a Silver Laced Polish from Welp, and she was not only tiny and skinny but kind of skittish. VERY outgoing and smart though. Murray McMurray gave me some very, very friendly White Crested Black Polish though.