Welsummer? Barnevelder? Maran? How to choose?

[pawtraitart]

I want to get some dark egg layers next spring to fill a section of a new coop I'll be building. I'll have enough room for around 12 birds in that pen. Any suggestions on breed? I'll be ordering chicks from a hatchery so I know they will be pet quality. Even so, I'd like healthy birds that produce nice dark eggs. Which breed is my best bet? Best Hatchery?

 

[horsewishr]

I've read, in more than one place, that the Barnevelders in the US don't lay very dark eggs. Don't know if it's true or not.

I'm considering all three breeds, myself, so I'll be interested in the responses.

 

[mdbucks]

You may want to check hatchery websites I would recomend Meyer, but know that they are sold out of Marans till 2008

 

[pawtraitart]

I'll be ordering in 2008 in the spring sometime. I'm just doing my research early.

 

[Buckguy20]

I have Marans and Welsummers. I love both. My Marans eggs are darker but my Welsummers are better layers. IMO I think the Welsummers are prettier too. I don't think you can go wrong with either. It will be hard to find pure Barnvelders in the US. Plus I had also heard that the eggs aren't all that dark.

 

[pawtraitart]

Is it true that Welsummers are better at foraging and more economical with their feed? How many eggs per week could I expect?

 

[EweSheep]

Had some Barnvelders and I agree with some of the members here, their eggs are not as dark...pretty much like a Barred Rock egg color. Beautiful birds tho.

Had Cuckoo and Black Maran birds, their eggs are dark but not as dark as the Penedscendas which I would NOT recommend those high strung birds for those who want friendly birds....

Above all, I love my Welsummers and they are good egg layers and dark terra cotta colors and they do lay well in this heat too. Laid me an egg everyday with a day off every six days or seventh day...a Sunday off for her LOL. My Welsummer gal is talkative and so laid back in personality and not a bit flighty. So Welsummers win me down hands down always LOL on the dark egg laying breeds.....

 

[pawtraitart]

Well....looks like Welsummers are the winner! Are hatchery birds any good? I was thinking about ordering from Ideal next spring.

 

[ChrystalGail]

I was thinking about getting some dark layers also, but I think I'm going to hatch some welsummers from eggs. Like a few others on here (I won't mention any names) I am becoming addicted to hatching! I really enjoy it and my kids love it, too.

 

[EweSheep]

I would stay away from hatchery birds.....unless you are certain of their egg colors. There are plenty of Welsummer breeders in here like mothergoose which I love the color of her eggs.....Get them from her, and you will be pleased with the quality and beauty of those birds....