NY chicken lover!!!!

[Beer can]

Marans egg color seems to vary by breeder more so than breed. I've seen some Welsummer eggs just as dark chocolate as any Marans. Whitmore farms in Maryland has some.

 

[rancher hicks]

Here's my take on Marans. I had Cuckoos from a hatchery and they didn't lay quite as dark as the pictures.

Now I have Birchens and they don't all lay the same darkness of color.

I understand that egg color doesn't predict whether a hen will lay the same darkness of color. It's pretty much a crap shoot.

Personality wise they also are not the same.

I'm wearing a bandaid on my finger. One hen, when broody is a biter. You can't check her eggs without a fight. She hisses and bites. HARD!

Now others are not so determined to protect the eggs.

She has one egg as I took the others. They got knocked out while I tried to check them and there was no way I could get them back in. She drew blood.

Next time I'll have gloves and long sleeves.

I suspect Coppers lay such dark eggs because more folks have worked with them to develop darkness.

It all depends on the popularity of the breed color. Some breeds while very nice and beautiful are not as popular.

 

[rancher hicks]

Marans egg color seems to vary by breeder more so than breed. I've seen some Welsummer eggs just as dark chocolate as any Marans. Whitmore farms in Maryland has some.

Practical poultry has a write up on Welsummers. They're very nice. Egg color is nice too. However one has to have a lot of birds to work with and lots of money to feed those birds to bring them into lay.

I'm not rich enough.

 

[Beer can]

Practical poultry has a write up on Welsummers. They're very nice. Egg color is nice too. However one has to have a lot of birds to work with and lots of money to feed those birds to bring them into lay. 

I'm not rich enough. 

Everything I've read says welsummers out lay marans. I only ended up with one hatchery wellie, she laid beautiful spotted eggs all winter. Once it warmed up I haven't got a single egg since.... Its almost time for the soup pot...

 

[Metella]

Boskelli - Nope - most of mine are fine - now I don't make pets of my birds - but they "flock" around me and aren't skittish .... one gets crazy when she is broody - but when she is not- she is fine. None of my birds of any breed like to be held -because I don't do it often, but all are so used to me that after a token squawk - they settle down and let me handle them.

But my hens had a great head roo - and I credit him for a lot of them calmness .... Hoping little Trouble grows up to be a great head roo ..... We shall see - he is an old teen right now - showing some interest in the girls but no crow yet.

 

[boskelli1571]

Practical poultry has a write up on Welsummers. They're very nice. Egg color is nice too. However one has to have a lot of birds to work with and lots of money to feed those birds to bring them into lay.

I'm not rich enough.

I can't say that I have worked extra hard with my Wellies. As for feed, my personal observation is that they don't eat any more than the rest of the girls. My 2 oldest are 4 years now and produce an egg at least every other day.

 

[Eclipse390]

Just wanted to introduce myself - I'm from the Hudson Valley region in southern NY.

Here are some of my flock:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1006371/chickens-from-ny#post_15580517

 

[tao chick]

I love your birds! I dream of getting ducks someday. I am still working on building my flock. I'm in upstate/central NY.

 

[Pyxis]

Just wanted to introduce myself - I'm from the Hudson Valley region in southern NY. 

Here are some of my flock:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1006371/chickens-from-ny#post_15580517

Welcome! Pretty birds, and it looks like you'll have a colorful egg basket.

 

[Eclipse390]

I love your birds! I dream of getting ducks someday. I am still working on building my flock. I'm in upstate/central NY.

My mother wanted ducks - so ducks I bought! to be honest, they're funnier than the chickens to watch & have a much tighter flock mentality.

Welcome! Pretty birds, and it looks like you'll have a colorful egg basket.

Thanks!