Great booth Karen, wow! Ahhhh memories of girl scouts. I had some fun times with my little Daisy/Brownie. I tried the cookie manager job, that memory is not as fun lol.
Marans--Cynthia, why not? That is kind of how I am with Orps and Wyandottes, not sure why though, just not really interested. Is it just a personality thing or plumage thing? I love my Marans hens disposition--they are as docile as can be--, not as fancy in the coloring as some other breeds for sure. I think my favorite thing about them though besides the obvious dark eggs, is the egg size. They seem to lay the biggest eggs. However, not very many. They take plenty of breaks, more than I would like. So I like to keep a few, but not too many, I think the feed conversion ratio on them must be horrendous due to them being bigger birds, and holding out on eggs so frequently. Funny to me how much better the Olive eggers lay, the ones that come from Marans and true Ameraucanas, neither of which are great layers....? go figure. Other than their little broody fits, the OE's seem to end up my better layers.
Kimmy--the Marans I have gotten at feed stores (7 so far, all cuckoo) have not laid dark eggs at all. About the same as a GSL. I did get a FBCM from chicken stock, the free chicks (I think he gets them at cackle?) and it did not lay dark at all either. So I concluded I better stick with the privately bred ones.
ETA--Cynthia, I see your answer there! Typed mine at the same time. Makes sense

Leghorns--never had one, but the SBEL's from the leghorns are sure always sweet. Won't get out of my way when I a m walking, I have stepped on them a few times, they just hang around my feet !