Question for breeders of Welsummer, Marans, and other dark eggers

[andham]

Those eggs are fantastic. I am not looking for show quality birds. My problem is that I have not found the dark eggers, specifically marans, at the feed store. If I order from the hatchery I generally have to order far more birds than I need (or could take, my wife would leave me). Ideally I would like to have around four more birds. This seems to be just too few for a hatchery order. Also, I would love to be able to skip the brooder box portion of chicken raising. After reading a few posts about disasters for folks ordering hatchery birds that lay nice dark eggs but do not conform to a standard (this is often called "quality") I thought, these guys are complaining about having to cull laying hens that I would love to have. I am just hoping to find such a person in the Northwest.

I have also considered contacting the local 4-H and perhaps sponsoring some child's project and getting mature hens out of the deal. Really I am just trying to find good options for next spring.

 

[dretd]

Those eggs are fantastic. I am not looking for show quality birds. My problem is that I have not found the dark eggers, specifically marans, at the feed store. If I order from the hatchery I generally have to order far more birds than I need (or could take, my wife would leave me). Ideally I would like to have around four more birds. This seems to be just too few for a hatchery order. Also, I would love to be able to skip the brooder box portion of chicken raising. After reading a few posts about disasters for folks ordering hatchery birds that lay nice dark eggs but do not conform to a standard (this is often called "quality") I thought, these guys are complaining about having to cull laying hens that I would love to have. I am just hoping to find such a person in the Northwest.

I have also considered contacting the local 4-H and perhaps sponsoring some child's project and getting mature hens out of the deal. Really I am just trying to find good options for next spring.

I see. I have gotten chicks from 4 different feed stores and there are at least twice that many within easy drive. So ideas for you:
1) call around to feed stores and find out what chicks they have on order which weeks so you can reserve them (and ask which hatchery if you care, there is one feed store that orders from 5 different hatcheries per week)
2)If your breed is not amongst the list, ask if you can have them order some for you. I had a feed store order Speckled Sussex for me. They said a minimum order was 5 chicks but they let me get only 2 since they ordered 25
3) Put an ad on Craigslist in the Farm and Garden Classified section asking for started pullets of what you want or ask if anyone wants to go in on an order of chicks with you--they may be in the same boat as you and not have enough to do a full order.
4)watch Craigslist and put search parameters in for what you are look for 'POL Pullets' or 'dark egg layers' or 'started pullets' that sort of thing. I searched my Craigslist and I got many hits for pullets and one as a wanted: dark egg layers which was only up once. Usually folks re-post if they don't get what the want with the first ad so that looks good for them
5) good idea to contact the 4H folks as they may know of someone that's culling the non-SQ or DQ hens. Same for contacting breed clubs for Wellie or Barnvelders, Penedesenca, Marans etc

I hope you can find something that will work for you. I love the Welsummers and will always have one or two in my flock.

 

[KaysKoop]

I was able to get some Welsummer hens just started laying from Craigslist. Try that and good luck. Oh Love my Welsummer and Australorp.