Dark Egg Breeds Thread

[pinkchick]

Kansas~

I don't know why the Buff crosses didn't have a problem with egg laying, I suspect that it is because they have may have a similar build to the Marans. Bigger bodied so to speak and maybe because the Buff's lay a larger egg to begin with than the Barred Rocks.
The one Buff gal that I kept is from a Blue Marans roo or Splash Roo can't remember now but she came out looking like a Marans in type but her feather color, a very light blueish with lots and lots of buff colored leakage. Her egg is similar to the color of the Rock crossed bird. She is in molt right now and not laying.

I will search for egg photos for you in hopes that I can find one.

 

[drom]

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Wow-beautiful pictures-that is amazing.
It reminds me of the family farm on my father's side of the family. He grew up on a big working farm that has been in the family since the beginning of the 19th century. His family came to the US in the mid 18th century- Anyway, the farm had a huge barn that I remember from when I was growing up. It was built in 1876 without one nail. It was finally dismantled and taken down about 10 years ago. I wish they had restored it.

Here's a couple eggies

 

[berkeleysprings]

great eggs ,, i wish my wheaten were as dark, mmm my first generation went from growing up to layer age and to being on strike so i am not sure exactly the egg color
i think the wheaten stock i have must stop laying completly like the ee eggers i have wile molting ....great eggs !.....drom do u get many spotted marans eggs?


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Wow-beautiful pictures-that is amazing.
It reminds me of the family farm on my father's side of the family. He grew up on a big working farm that has been in the family since the beginning of the 19th century. His family came to the US in the mid 18th century- Anyway, the farm had a huge barn that I remember from when I was growing up. It was built in 1876 without one nail. It was finally dismantled and taken down about 10 years ago. I wish they had restored it.

Here's a couple eggies

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/11818_februaryeggs2010_018.jpg

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Hi all,

I've been craving a dark egg breed since I decided to start raising chickens. Actually they were the driving force! The problem arose when I researched egg production.....150 eggs per year from a dark egg chicken just was'nt enough eggs.

So my question for all you is have you found a dark laying breed that lays better than average? What's the best laying dark egg breed you've come across?

Looking forward to your input

 

[pinkchick]

Egghead!

I don't have an answer to your question but hope someone comes along and helps you out soon.

drom~

Lovely Eggs as always!!!!!!! That is too bad about that barn drom, I would have loved to see it. Without one nail? They used to build things to stand the test of time back then. Some of the most beautiful craftsmenship I have ever seen is over 100 years old. Far better than todays IMHO!

Berk~

I just love those old houses.........wouldn't that be fun to get our hands on!

 

[Kansaseq]

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That's my one complaint with the dark egg layers as well; not enough eggs to justify keeping very many of the chickens that lay them.
I've got some Marans x BR due to hatch out Saturday, but Pinkchick made that same cross and reports they are NOT good layers.
There is someone on here that had Wesummer x something, and said that the offspring laid almost as dark as the Welsummer, and laid every day. Of course, when I was ready for eggs, I couldn't find her

I've seen some red sex-link eggs that were fairly dark;no where near as dark as a Marans, but still very pretty.

 

[pinkchick]

I suspect that they are not very good layers because the Marans or Welsummers were not bred for or are not bred for egg production as the BR, RIR, Leghorn and sexlinks and others were/are. When mixing a bird that is not as productive of a layer as another this could/may be the issue causing the decrease in production.
My Welsummers and my Marans do not even come close to keeping up with my laying flock of Black Sex-links, Buff Orps and Barred Rocks.......those types of birds are egg laying machines.

Just my 2 cents!

Kansas~ I am still trying to locate photos that may have an egg from one of those girls.

 

[Kansaseq]

 

[geebs]

Okay... Guys let me help you out.. you want better production... Here is the trick... This breed is solitary as far as mothering skills... THey need lots of dark and privacy for egg laying... THey also NNNNEEEEED to freerange to be happy... happy hen equals more eggs... If I pen my chickens and don't free range them... I get chicken squat so to speak... If I free range them I can expect 4 to 7 eggs a week per hen depending on weather etc... Just so you know... Try making a change and let me know how that works for ya.

 

[berkeleysprings]

love the old house in albion ny but the winters would be bad , much worse than west virginia , my girlfriend wants to retire there and
homes are very cheep compared to the dc metro area that i am close to . i think i could handle the winters ... but back to chicken eggs ,,,,,, i am on the same thought as u pink(i think u said u never candle ) . i never candle and never explode a egg or ever had one smell,,,, but who knows because i have only hatched 100 or so ever ..... with the small incubator i have
it is set and forget , with the most accurate digital hydrometer built in digital temp for me there is no reason to candle . i turn it on shove it into a corner and check on it in 21 days
sin randy



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