Sitting with a cup of coffee. (coffee lovers)

[3goodeggs]

I Love my Buff Orpingtons. The lay large brown eggs. They are sweet and docile.
There is a Buff Orpington thread, I will find the link
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/495402/buff-orpington-thread/0_50

 

[ronott1]

I did not want to clutter by making a thread and I'm sure the folks here can help me out with this question of mine.

Does anyone have any suggestions for chickens that lay brown and dark brown eggs?

I have four coops and am looking to raise some old heritage chicken breeds.

Having decided on White Dorkings as my white egg layers, Araucanas for blue eggs, I am left trying to choose breeds for the other two egg colors I want.

I prefer breeds that were known to be kept in America prior to 1850, as my heritage farm is geared towards preserving those breeds that were eaten by our earlier ancestors.

While Araucana do not meet that standard, sometimes I make exceptions for things I want, like blue eggs.

While not quite making your criteria, Since you live in Texas, Penedesencas would do very well. They are Ultra Heat Hardy and I like mine a lot.

Wellsummer, Barnveldner and Marans lay Dark eggs too. Marans have been here less time though.

Langshans lay a brown to purple egg and were used to make(Foundation) a lot of other breeds, like Australorps.

We have started a Penedesenca club so contact someone on there(Check out the pictures--some of the Partridge Penes are mine!)

http://www.penedesencausa.com/

 

[Alaskan]

I did not want to clutter by making a thread and I'm sure the folks here can help me out with this question of mine.

Does anyone have any suggestions for chickens that lay brown and dark brown eggs?

I have four coops and am looking to raise some old heritage chicken breeds.

Having decided on White Dorkings as my white egg layers, Araucanas for blue eggs, I am left trying to choose breeds for the other two egg colors I want.

I prefer breeds that were known to be kept in America prior to 1850, as my heritage farm is geared towards preserving those breeds that were eaten by our earlier ancestors.

While Araucana do not meet that standard, sometimes I make exceptions for things I want, like blue eggs.

I would choose Ameraucana over Araucana, simply since the lethal gene grosses me out.

For a good heritage bird, for light brown eggs the Dominique can't be beat.

Super dark brown eggs simply wasn't found on any very old breed, I just looked it up.

So for a dark brown, you will have to decide which breed you fancy the most. Of all of the dark egg layers, I think the Welsummer has the best rate of lay, and the spots are a fun difference. If you get a good line of Welsummers then the eggs are very dark.

 

[Bluebonnet]

I have heard a lot of good things about the Dominique, but am concerned about their status. It is said that only 500 birds in America in the 1970's and they have been taken off the critical list from The Livestock Conservancy and have been placed on the Watch list instead.

Does that imply there are plenty of Dominique chickens abroad, or that they are still an endangered breed? I am trying to figure out which bird I am going to use as my primary meat bird.

I'm paranoid about buying Araucana, because I want to purchase wheaten colored ones that match the SOP and lay true blue eggs, without any brown tone. Needless to say, I might be chasing after mythical birds here, but if I can find them, I certainly do not want to eat them and I want to breed them, because separating Ameraucana from Araucana from Easter Eggers, seems to make it difficult to track down a good source of birds. I'm still looking and willing to pay a couple hundred dollars for each breeding stock bird of this quality, so if you happen to know of a reliable source for such birds, please let me know.

The lethal gene makes me sad, but it is for that very reason this bird needs dedicated breeders to keep it alive.

White Dorkings seem to be available and I am looking forward to white eggs that I can use for easter egg decorating. I also just wanted a good, classic white chicken. They are also an old breed, so I am pretty happy about these.

Regarding the dark eggs, I know that the truly dark, chocolate colored eggs come from the Maran, but I have heard that this color is not always the result and that some eggs come off as lighter than others. Their color pattern also reminds me of the Dominique and I like variety, so I am undecided if I should go with them, or pick a second chicken breed that lays white or brown eggs.

Maran are common though and I would still like one breed for some meat, but I am unsure of their table quality in relation to other birds. I have heard that Dorkings are the best table chicken, but I do not want to eat any birds off of the critical list.

Maybe what I really need is more coops.

 

[ronott1]

I have heard a lot of good things about the Dominique, but am concerned about their status. It is said that only 500 birds in America in the 1970's and they have been taken off the critical list from The Livestock Conservancy and have been placed on the Watch list instead.

Does that imply there are plenty of Dominique chickens abroad, or that they are still an endangered breed? I am trying to figure out which bird I am going to use as my primary meat bird.

I'm paranoid about buying Araucana, because I want to purchase wheaten colored ones that match the SOP and lay true blue eggs, without any brown tone. Needless to say, I might be chasing after mythical birds here, but if I can find them, I certainly do not want to eat them and I want to breed them, because separating Ameraucana from Araucana from Easter Eggers, seems to make it difficult to track down a good source of birds. I'm still looking and willing to pay a couple hundred dollars for each breeding stock bird of this quality, so if you happen to know of a reliable source for such birds, please let me know.

The lethal gene makes me sad, but it is for that very reason this bird needs dedicated breeders to keep it alive.

White Dorkings seem to be available and I am looking forward to white eggs that I can use for easter egg decorating. I also just wanted a good, classic white chicken. They are also an old breed, so I am pretty happy about these.

Regarding the dark eggs, I know that the truly dark, chocolate colored eggs come from the Maran, but I have heard that this color is not always the result and that some eggs come off as lighter than others. Their color pattern also reminds me of the Dominique and I like variety, so I am undecided if I should go with them, or pick a second chicken breed that lays white or brown eggs.

Maran are common though and I would still like one breed for some meat, but I am unsure of their table quality in relation to other birds. I have heard that Dorkings are the best table chicken, but I do not want to eat any birds off of the critical list.

My Penedesencas:

 

[Alaskan]

Well, in a good breeding program you have to eat a bunch of birds.

Even if you start off with very good stock, the best method is to hatch at least 50, if not 200 every single year, and eat all of the ones that don't meet your standards.

If you don't cull like crazy, then the quality of the stock goes down. That is why hatchery stock is always so poor. Even if they started with good quality, they just toss it all in one pen and let them go at it.

Most very good breeders have at least two breeding pairs, trios, or quads, and then at least one grow out pen.


As to the Dominique, they are not critical any longer. However, it is still difficult to find good stock, and it is rare to find a very good example.

 

[Alaskan]

Oh, and Marans come in lots of colors......

Not saying you need to buy Marans....... Just thought you should know.


Marans and Ameraucana both come in Wheaten. But then, the Penedescas come in Wheaten too.


Ron does have wonderful birds.

 

[Bluebonnet]

Well, in a good breeding program you have to eat a bunch of birds.

Even if you start off with very good stock, the best method is to hatch at least 50, if not 200 every single year, and eat all of the ones that don't meet your standards.

If you don't cull like crazy, then the quality of the stock goes down. That is why hatchery stock is always so poor. Even if they started with good quality, they just toss it all in one pen and let them go at it.

Most very good breeders have at least two breeding pairs, trios, or quads, and then at least one grow out pen.


As to the Dominique, they are not critical any longer. However, it is still difficult to find good stock, and it is rare to find a very good example.

Those Penedesencas in the other post are pretty birds!

I know I need to get a lot of birds. I have four coops to start with and I intend to build more as I go along.

I simply could not eat that much chicken.

I figure a flock consists of 12 birds. I plan on paying $300 or more per chicken. I figure I can build additional coops to keep the chickens separate while not breeding and have a breeding pen for the ones I want to mate together, as well as building additional pens to keep the hatched chickens.

I plan to keep the a few and give the rest to those who love the breed and want to keep it going. I have no intentions of making money from such a venture, I can find a way to use or donate the eggs but if at all possible, I would like to take care in finding prearranged homes for any chickens I hatch. I realize that some are going to die, others are going to be eaten and others are going to be for breeding and that it is necessary in the cycle of life.

However, I want to minimize the number of extra birds, if at all possible. I know that you can mass breed and hatch if you want to, but I am concerned about finding homes for all of the birds that would entail, or even others that would eat them.

Making sure that nothing goes to waste is important to me.

 

[ronott1]

Those Penedesencas in the other post are pretty birds!

I know I need to get a lot of birds. I have four coops to start with and I intend to build more as I go along.

I simply could not eat that much chicken.

I figure a flock consists of 12 birds. I plan on paying $300 or more per chicken. I figure I can build additional coops to keep the chickens separate while not breeding and have a breeding pen for the ones I want to mate together, as well as building additional pens to keep the hatched chickens.

I plan to keep the a few and give the rest to those who love the breed and want to keep it going. I have no intentions of making money from such a venture, I can find a way to use or donate the eggs but if at all possible, I would like to take care in finding prearranged homes for any chickens I hatch. I realize that some are going to die, others are going to be eaten and others are going to be for breeding and that it is necessary in the cycle of life.

However, I want to minimize the number of extra birds, if at all possible. I know that you can mass breed and hatch if you want to, but I am concerned about finding homes for all of the birds that would entail, or even others that would eat them.

Making sure that nothing goes to waste is important to me.

A lot of places have animal auctions so you do not have to process all or you extra cockerels. It is very easy to sell of pullets as culls.

I keep wanting too many breeds so my goal it to try and narrow them down. I want a good Dual purpose for meat and eggs, a Blue Egg laying breed, a Dark laying Breed and an Olive Egg laying group. It is nice to help with the Penedesenca project too.

 

[Bluebonnet]

Quote:

Quote:
I want to make sure I sell my chickens to folks that are not going to place them in factory conditions. I would be concerned by the auction method for that reason. I would love to keep a mixed flock of European chickens, but I am not sure how well different chickens would behave with one another. Reading up on the Penedesenca, I think they are quite an interesting breed.