Hello! I am getting some chicks from a local sorce tomorrow. He has Black Cooper Marans, Black Amerucanas, and RIRs. I'm looking for about five hardy chickens that are good layers. I've done some googling and the Black Coopers are very tempting, but the RIR sound pretty practical. Should I get a combo of both? Would they get along fine? Does anyone have these breeds and what do you think? Thanks!
hello and welcome to byc!! depending on your location, a hardy bird is the way to go! in my opinion. get both if you so desire!
i have all 3, my favorite for egg color is the bcms. my favorite chicken for personality is my ameraucana's, the rir are the egg layers but really no personality they just eat and lay, im actually going to replace them with australorps for my egg laying hens they are lots of fun really sweet not shy at all .....
Get the Black Copper Marans and Ameraucanas. Then you'll have eggs that look like my avatar! BC Marans are a quiet, large, calm breed that are very cold hardy and lay gorgeous dark eggs. Ameraucanas (real ones) are a very sweet, friendly, cold hardy breed that lay spectacular blue eggs, and I've never met a mean Ameraucana rooster! Also, the Ameraucanas and Marans not only lay pretty well, but will last longer[/i] than the Production Reds and they surely are more unique!
Quote:Ditto. Illia said it perfectly. I have all those breeds and a few more, and the three mentioned above would be good if you like friendly birds that are good layers. RIRs can be less personable (although my Rhoda is friendly).
Thanks for the info! I am so excited about getting chickens! I'll post come pics once I get them tomorrow! I think I will get a few amerucanas AND BCM. I do like chickens with personality ;-)
I probably wouldn't stop at 5, except maybe 5 of each. You can't go wrong with either breed. The RIR will probably lay sooner but otherwise not much difference except for shell color. Would make for a real pretty egg basket.
I love my rir's they lay a awesome brown egg that has a big rich yellow yolk, i highly recommend this breed.
Quote:LOVE your avatar. Was wondering about the dark ones. McMurray has cuckoo marans ... they'll give the chocolate eggs too, right? I'd love a source nearby (in Colorado, 1 hr SE of Denver) for chicks or pullets if any breeders are listening! Er, reading. I'm chick-addicted!
