Dark Brn Egg Layer- Favorites?

[drom]

I want to add a dark brown egg layer to my new back yard flock. I am interested in what everyone's favorite breed is and why.
I can easily get a Maran or Welsummer where I live and can probably order a Barnevelder or Langshan.

Any opinions?

 

[s6bee]

I don't know much about the dark egg layers but really you should pick something that is suitable to your area.
I personally like the look of the Welsummers

 

[Chickndaddy]

I thought Langshans layed a creamy tinted egg. Not a dark one.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Australorps are beautiful birds! And I hear pretty darn gentle too. I just got four

 

[EweSheep]

Welsummers win me down every time!

Had Cuckoo and Black Marans, didnt like their personality and their egg colors were not as dark as it was todays Marans...it was roughly about five years ago when I had them. They were out of good breeders, no Hatchery bred ones.

 

[Oblio13]

Marans (always with an "s", by the way) lay the darkest eggs. The lines we have here in America, though, still aren't as good as the European lines. I have Black Coppers and Wheatens, the former lay the darkest eggs, and the latter are the most attractive birds.

 

[drom]

Thank for the correction on the name! You know, I was wondering if I would be disappointed in the eggs with the Marans because all the pictures I see on line show these beautiful super dark eggs, but they are mainly pictures of prize winning eggs from Belgium and other european countries. I am wondering what kind of eggs I would get if my bird comes from one of the commercial American hatcheries? Did your Marans lay well and throughout the year?

Thanks!

 

[drom]

Quote:
Do you think the Welsummers are little more reliable with the dark color? Do they lay pretty well throughout the year? Did you get yours from one of the big hatcheries or a breeder?

Thanks!

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
The commercial hatcheries tend to sell only Cuckoo Marans, which look a lot like Barred Rocks and seem to lay eggs only about as dark as Barred Rocks. Hmmmmm...

Mine just started to lay eggs late last summer and a neighbor's dog killed them all. I got more from Bev Davis, they hatched in mid February, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for eggs before too much longer.

 

[Katy]

I like my Marans for their calm nature. My welsummers are a little bit flighty at times when they're young, but not too bad. After their first year of laying my Marans are constantly going broody, but I've never had a Welsummer go broody. The Welsummers are much more consistant layers.