Starting a new flock. Marans or Welsummers?

[Egghead_Jr]

Why not get a heat tolerant Mediterranean bird that lays dark eggs. Yes, the Penedesenca does exist, white ear bird that lays very dark eggs. Kinda like the unicorn of poultry- magical.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

@ChickenCanoe breeds the Black variety.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-penedesenca.1140342/

 

[Cntry1958]

I went and got Wellies and my eggs are light tan with a few specks. Not like I expected at all. Wellies are nice mannered birds.

 

[sbhkma]

My Wellies are close to lay. One was singing the egg song today for practice. I totally don't care what color the eggs are. I just don't want huge eggs due to the stress on the hens. My main goal for birds is pest control-for which they are wonderful-and for pure enjoyment of watching them. I've never had birds FLY to me before. Took a little getting used to! First time they did it I thought they were gonna crash into me.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I went and got Wellies and my eggs are light tan with a few specks. Not like I expected at all. Wellies are nice mannered birds.

To get Wellie lines that lay darker you almost always have to go to a breeder.

Of the 2, my French Black Copper Marans lay the darkest by far.

However, my Wellies laid the best. (It likely has to do with how long the eggs take in the egg tract to get the brown wash...the longer they stay the darker brown the become).

So I've had both, and I like both.

Put FBCM on your wish list for a future year. Until then, enjoy your Wellies.

Hope everyone made it through the storms okay
LofMc

 

[Cntry1958]

To get Wellie lines that lay darker you almost always have to go to a breeder.

Of the 2, my French Black Copper Marans lay the darkest by far.

However, my Wellies laid the best. (It likely has to do with how long the eggs take in the egg tract to get the brown wash...the longer they stay the darker brown the become).

So I've had both, and I like both.

Put FBCM on your wish list for a future year. Until then, enjoy your Wellies.

Hope everyone made it through the storms okay
LofMc

I sure will thanks for the info to on them. I want a dark egg I think they are so cool looking. So they will be definitely added to my wish list.

 

[AUChickenGal]

Wellies are nice mannered birds.

I had a Welsummer in my initial flock. She was my favorite chick until she reached point of lay, after which she became extremely aggressive towards people. Despite how attached I was to her as a chick, I was not at all sad to see her leave after I sold her. She laid eggs that were somewhat darker than average but not as dark as I expected.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I had a Welsummer in my initial flock. She was my favorite chick until she reached point of lay, after which she became extremely aggressive towards people. Despite how attached I was to her as a chick, I was not at all sad to see her leave after I sold her. She laid eggs that were somewhat darker than average but not as dark as I expected.

Well, any time you get a bird from a hatchery, you're probably not going to get the darkest eggers. Breeders, however, usually focus on quality rather than quantity.
Sorry to hear about your chick. Sounds like you didn't have a roo in the flock, and she took on the role.