So I have a large coop and a lot of land but don't free range much. Only for 2-4 hours a day when I'm doing chores outside, and some days not at all. I also live where it gets both cold and hot/humid, but I'm willing to cater to a breed's needs so I definitely own some hens that aren't optimized for my climate. But my needs are different from some. I've been able to invest in quite a few "experiment" breeds, and keep a list of ones I want to try. I usually add to my flock once or twice a year and get a few birds from each breed I want for variety, but my sample sizes are still small (3-10 individuals) so take what I say with a grain of salt.
Out of the 16 breeds I've owned so far I'll second the Ameraucanuas and Marans. I've had both before and am growing a set out now and I love them. The Ameraucanuas I have are incredibly friendly, jumping up into my lap and falling asleep. Much like the easter eggers, they look cool when they grow up with their beards and muffs, and the blue eggs are interesting. None of the ones I've had had ever been aggressive towards other chickens, and they don't seem to get bullied as easily as some other breeds. They jam happily in the middle of the flock and are sweet to everyone. They are strong fliers, and I've had a couple of escape artists, but they've always run to me whenever I come down to the coop and allow me to catch them and put them back. A word of caution, however; I've always bought mine from breeders who focus on temperament and the SOP. I know several people who have bought them through hatcheries and complain about how wild they are, so just a heads up.
When it comes to dark egg layers I personally prefer my Marans to my Welsummers, but I think it depends on your situation. I really didn't want Marans originally because "everyone has them" and they seemed like a fad. I ended up trying them though, and I'm glad I did. In general, I've found my Marans to be more laid back, and mellow than my Welsummers.
My current two roosters are a Welsummer and a Marans. I've had both in with my hens separately at different times. The Welsummer is younger, and so I'm trying to reserve my judgment until he grows up more, but at 8 months old he's still jumpy, skittish, and afraid of his own shadow. Alarms at butterflies (no joke). I'm pretty sure if a hawk came he'd abandon his hens and dive for cover, but I'm still hoping he'll grow out of it. When he's not freaking out he'll lie down and nap in the sun while my hens are off foraging in the tall grass. He's pretty, however, and so far not mean, so that's a bonus. Meanwhile, my Marans (1YR 8MO) is sharper than a hawk and smart. He's helped me corner hens in the coop before so I could pick them up and when I call everyone back inside he'll round up stragglers. He's aware of everything that happens, and actively keeps then hens close to him. Nothing really ruffles him, and though as a youngster he was a little rough with the girls he seems to have grown out of it and now dances for them like a gentleman. He's super easy with me too, I can pick him up and carry him around like a loaf of bread and he just chills. Since my Welsummer rooster is in with my layer hens my Marans is in with my chicks teaching them some manners. He's been wonderful with them, though he appreciates escaping the "kindergarten playground" environment for snuggles and snacks at times.
The four Wellie hens I have are incredibly active, good fliers, and love to escape their coop. Once loose they're often destructive and don't love me enough to let me catch them unless there are mealworms in the deal.
I think Welsummers are great if you free range a lot, but I have far too many predators and so only have them out when I'm literally standing watching them. But don't get me wrong, I like my Welsummers and I would recommend them, especially to people who free range all day. Personally, I'd just choose to add more Marans to my flock first. (And I'm eying some breeders who have the birchen varietal closely for next spring, LOL.)
The Marans I own are much more zen, and while they aren't necessarily cuddly, they seem calmer and less high-energy. Even the ones that don't necessarily want to be held are easier to catch than my Welsummers. They aren't nearly as focused on flying over pen walls, but they aren't unaware of their surroundings to the point of being easy prey. Out of my newest batch, I have two Marans hens that are 6 weeks old right now and one actually seems like she could turn into a cuddler, so I think even with that it really just depends on the hen. Much like the Ameraucanua's they don't seem to be chicken aggressive, and generally don't get bullied either. The dark eggs are almost more impressive in person than in photographs, and while they certainly aren't a production breed the rate of lay of the hens I've had was decent. So far I've only owned the black copper and blue copper varietals. The black coppers are my favorite; they are pretty in the same sort of understated manner Australorps are with dark, feminine faces, rich hackles, and shiny beetle black bodies. Again, if you want really dark eggs I'd avoid hatchery stock; they generally are less selective about their breeding flocks and so have a lighter average, but you aren't going to get sexed chicks any place but a hatchery, so it depends on your needs.
If anyone wants to contest my opinion of Welsummers by all means please do. And tell me where you got yours because I'd love to find some that were friendlier for my flock!
