marans vs welsummers

[mamdoe]

So I want to get a few "chocolate eggers"
I would love to get Black Copper Marans...but can't find any.
So now I am debating on waiting until I can get the Marans...who knows how long that would be OR
getting a couple of Welsummers.
Can anyone tell me which breed they prefer and why???? Pictures would be awesome too!
Thanks

 

[jennh]

I have both. If you want REALLY dark chocolate colored eggs, go for the Marans. The welsummers (at least mine) lay eggs more like terracotta. Both of mine have the same personalities. Wendy Welsummer is a bit bigger than Maizie Mae Marans.
I'm sure you could find some hatching eggs on BYC, maybe even chicks? Where do you live? You could go to the NE Regional Chickenstock this month!

Jen

 

[outback hatcher]

I have both. My fbcm's are friendlier by far they practically follow me and my wife all over the yard, but i think my welsummers are much prettier and more vocal.

marans

wlesummers

 

[jeb251]

the only advice I could give is this, its hard to find Marans that are of any quality at all they have been inbreed so bad over the past few years that buying eggs or chicks is a real crap shoot, it took me several try's to get some nice marans, I had given up on them and I ordered some lavender orpington eggs from green fire farms, they sent me some bcm eggs for free, I hatched them out and all I can say is wow these are all I had ever hoped for, so if you want some good quality, that are hardy and beautiful with extremely dark eggs these guys are top notch #1 in my book, so I would suggest you go with good quality to start off with or you might end with with chicks like I got the first four times I tried most of which didnt even make it out of the brooder. I think the people who are responcable for this should be ashaimed. good luck and I hope you get some nice birds

 

[Illia]

Marans have the darkest eggs of both, BUT the key is to get actual quality Black Coppers. . . There are a LOT of people out there who just get some random flock, and sell them for the same price someone would sell quality bloodlines for. . . They're getting to be a "dangerous" popularity to get into.

Always ask for egg color on the scale, always ask for a picture of both parent stock and of course EGGS. The eggs must rate 4 or better on the scale, but to me a true, good Marans should have eggs darker than a 6.

 

[houndit]

There are a lot of poor Marans. I purchased some black Marans. I was pretty excited until they laid eggs the color of an Australorp. I wonder if they are hatchery Australorps.

 

[Illia]

Quote:

. . . Wow. But hey - I've seen a lot of people sell "Cuckoo Marans" that are actually Barred Rocks. But then again, most Cuckoos lay just as dark as Barred Rocks.

 

[Yessur Ebob]

Here are some websites (I'm not sure how to put up a link yet) to breeders/hatcheries that carry black copper marans

http://freestepfarm.com/sale.htm

http://www.chickenscratchpoultry.com/black_copper_marans

http://www.highhopesacres.com/maran_chicken.htm

http://www.fitzfarmandpoultry.net/poultry.htm

http://purelypoultry.com/marans-chickens-p-341.html


that's all i can find for now.

good luck.

 

[Illia]

Marans breeders I actually know to be good are Cree Farms, Wynette on BYC, Green Acres Poultry Farm, and of course the best of all - Bev Davis herself.

 

[KKatknap]

Do you ever sell hatching eggs, Illia? Your eggs are beautiful!