Looking for Missourians

[Gary H]

Hi Gary and Labmum! How is your summer! Do you know of a good source where we can get some quality French Marans that lay the truly dark chocolate brown eggs? We got a cuckoo Marans this spring as a chick and brought her up but found out she lays pretty average brown eggs. Looking for dark layers. Any advice would be welcome or if you know of a source, we'd be very grateful! Thanks!

Unfortunately, no. We are in the initial stages and don't have any laying just yet. The first bunch we got were ALL roos, The current batch in only about 2 months old.

 

[Labmum2]

Hi Gary and Labmum! How is your summer! Do you know of a good source where we can get some quality French Marans that lay the truly dark chocolate brown eggs? We got a cuckoo Marans this spring as a chick and brought her up but found out she lays pretty average brown eggs. Looking for dark layers. Any advice would be welcome or if you know of a source, we'd be very grateful! Thanks!

Hi Chicka, unfortunately, I don't know where you can buy dark layers. Hopefully me next year. Have you looked for hatching eggs on ebay?

 

[Chickadude]

Hey there! Thanks!

 

[Labmum2]

Also, I personally recommend staying away from hatcheries and swaps if you want quality birds. I will only buy my birds/hatching eggs from REPUTABLE breeders who take pride in their flocks from here on out. Just my opinion.

 

[Chickadude]

Hey Nicole,
Winchester's out by Ballwin, right? When I first moved to STL, I stayed with some friends out in Ballwin. Love the area. Was reading about your hatch. Sorry about your eggs. BUT, I'm looking for some quality French Black Copper Marans, as well (preferably feather legged). I can't have more than one or two since I'm in the city, but if you come across some, PLEASE, let me know. One of my girls just started laying, but her eggs are terribly light (for a Marans). Also looking for a pure Ameraucana, not an Easter Egger. I'm learning about the differences between breeder and hatchery stock by trial and error LOL

 

[hillbilly annie]

Just seen this post and I`m live in Missouri as well. I`m close to branson about an hour away.....
I have bantam cochins and standard mix of welsummers, buffs, one maran roo, and a bunch of mixed and Muscovy ducks

 

[Chickadude]

Hi Labmum,
I'm learning about those differences the hard way lol I still enjoy my chickies, but am disappointed that they aren't laying what I was told they would, or that they aren't the breed they were supposed to be (my "Ameraucana" aka Easter Egger). I am not advanced enough or confident enough to try my hand at hatching eggs... I was stressed enough with little puffballs, I can't imagine adding another 21 days where I am completely responsible for the correct temp, humidity, yadda yadda, for them to even hatch!!!

Makes me sweat just thinking about it. If you end up with some chickies from dark brown eggs (7+ on the Marans color scale) I would definitely buy a couple from you! Keep me posted

 

[Chickadude]

THanks for letting me know Gary. Sorry about having ALL roos! That is quite a bit of bad luck if you were expecting 50% pullets LOL Better luck next time and keep us posted!

 

[nicole63021]

Hey Nicole,
Winchester's out by Ballwin, right? When I first moved to STL, I stayed with some friends out in Ballwin. Love the area. Was reading about your hatch. Sorry about your eggs. BUT, I'm looking for some quality French Black Copper Marans, as well (preferably feather legged). I can't have more than one or two since I'm in the city, but if you come across some, PLEASE, let me know. One of my girls just started laying, but her eggs are terribly light (for a Marans). Also looking for a pure Ameraucana, not an Easter Egger. I'm learning about the differences between breeder and hatchery stock by trial and error LOL

Yep, I'm on the border of Ballwin. We will be getting some chicks and hatching eggs from the same source (had some nice eggs and body type) of French Black Copper, maybe some French Blue (French are a little more robust and have the feathered shanks), if we have a good hatch on them will let you know. We just hatched a Lav Am (not APA color yet) tonight, and are getting some Lav and Black Split Lav Ams. Again, if we have really good hatches coming up, we can work something out! I have 2 EE's, but they are quite obvious (both have a weird looking partridge and columbian mish mash look to the feathers, one gold, one more silver). We also have 13 Swedish Flower Hen eggs in the bator right now that are only a few days in, and the Lav Orps and mutts in the same batch that the Ameracauna just hatched from. There are other dark egg layer, Welsummers I believe (I don't like their look personally) and other blue layers (I have one Crested Cream Legbar hen growing up and want some more!). Great to see someone so close! Good luck!

 

[Chickadude]

Awesome! Good luck on all your upcoming hatches! Please keep me in mind and let me know about any super dark brown egg layers or blue egg layers you are going to be having here in the next month or so...