Ok, so much hype about Marans and Welsummers..pick one

[tfpets]

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Oh, you do make sense, and we do get off on Marans tangents, it's such a passion!
You hit the nail right on the head! I completely agree about the fad pricing, and established breeders should be paid for the birds they have spent years developing! Its expensive!
"Personally,I would not pay top dollar for eggs from a breeder who ordered eggs last year and now that the hens are laying they want $75/doz." It is ridiculous, they arent even their own line of birds, it seems like they should send a % to the original breeder!
And the food eating reputation, Its just how you explain it, it's like a spurt, and they grow so fast, it's not a forever thing? Both breeds lay pretty dark eggs, Welsummer and Marans, it depends on what tone or how deep a color you desire. Welsummers are currently a more reasonably priced bird to own (unless you want to incubate eggs, several people can hook you up for a reasonable price, just PM) Tina

 

[common coop]

Have both -- love both -- sweet, social girls --( give you what for if you don't show up with sunflower seeds ) -- but my Mae Maran goes broody - seems every other month. The Wellies seem less susceptible to setting, but I also let one brood a neighbors clutch of eggs - and she did great - start to finish. I think the Barnevelders are a little less hardy for cold winters. Better be safe -- and get both.

 

[CA Bean]

Well thanks for all your opinions..we will see tomorrow what I can get. Who knows for sure what age, or how many they are willing to let go of etc. I really only want 3 of each..so I'll let you all know.

 

[drom]

I agree with what everyone said about their Marans. My Black Coppers are 10 weeks old now and have the most wonderful temperament. I bought them as pets really (I am not super interested in breeding them) and if anything other than straight run chicks or eggs had been available, I only would have gotten pullets. But I got the straight run chicks and three of them ended up being cockerels. They are so cute. They love hanging out with me and always come running up to me when they see me walking up to the coop. They also let me pick them up without any fuss. They're really sweet, docile birds-all of them-and I am glad I chose them.

One thing I disagree with some people on is the cost of them.
They don't seem expensive to me.

I bred small animals (Bengal cats) and also horses for years. I also have a Macaw and have had other parrots as pets over the years. So, spending $80 on a few chicks for me was the cheapest, most guilt-free purchase I have ever made for any animals in my entire life. So much fun for so little money. And you the get free eggs too.

 

[CA Bean]

Ok now that I decided that I need to have both...what about biosecurity? I just read an awful thread on someone who had to cull their entire flock because she intoduced 2 really sick (almost adult ?) birds. I plan already to seperate them for 30days but what is the age cut off? I want chickies and will say no to the adults ( as I hear that is a no no) but up to what age are they considered young and less disease?

 

[Buster]

I have 4 Marans pullets that haven't started laying yet. They are cuckoo. We like them. I have twelve Welsummer eggs in the bator right now and can't wait to go candle them. Get both. I did.

 

[tfpets]

Quote:
You may want advice from someone else, but I have integrated adults into my flock with the same waiting period, adults are not necessarily excluded, and chicks can be carriers of disease as well. Biosecurity should be practiced between properties even, when you go from the place you purchase the birds, to your home, you may very well be spreading something, if there is something to spread.
I went to a ladies home once to pick up some birds. I was very impressed when she had me put booties on my shoes before I entered her house. She had her hens indoors, and knowing I have poultry at my home, I was a potential carrier of disease into her home. She was protecting her birds.
If you get birds from somewhere, young or old, quarantine them from the rest of your birds. You should take care when feeding and watering that you are not exposing your old birds to the new ones (wash hands/change shoes)...Sounds like a hassle? This is a brief version of how you can protect your flock from contagious disease.
Or, throw them together and take your chances. Or read more post's about how to cull a whole flock when stricken because of illness (I believe some of that Posts birds were ultimately saved, or did they all end up being culled?).....It's best to err on the side of caution, there is no magic age, one day old to ten years old. Quarantine.

 

[CA Bean]

Ok just read my old thread. I never did get to get those birds! Darn! I have finally succumb to buying an egg bator as I cannot find rare breeds easily in CA.