Wheaton Marans?

[msrma7670]

I may be able to get my hands on some wheaton maran eggs from a pretty good line off of ron presleys line.
The question i have is it worth investing 50.00 for the 12 eggs.
Do people really want this breed hence is it popular or forseen as popular.
I love the colors and personaly enjoy the dark eggs
but could get them from my other marans. What do you all think.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I have the Wheatens and though they are pretty and very good birds, I have never had much luck selling the eggs. They do not lay as well as my other Marans though the egg color is just as wonderful. My DH loves the Wheatens and that is the first reason I got them but I sure am feeding some chickens that aren't giving much back.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

My wheatons were poor layers and took a long time to mature, them they hardly layed. Ate a lot too. I think the wheatons need someone to work on them to improve them.

 

[blackdotte]

On the other side of the world, my Wheatens lay well, good dark eggs, mature early, POL about 5-6 months,& never go broody.
But a question, why do you want them? If it is only to make money?
If so you would be better off getting rubbish BCs and selling every egg or bird and perpetrating the rubbish, their would be more money in it.
David

 

[Byrdj]

Quote:
David is correct. If you're wanting to buy them mainly because you want to be able to sell them, then you're better off with Black Coppers. It seems that most people want to buy that variety of marans because they generally lay the darkest eggs, but that's not always the case. I have black coppers but I'm in it more for the fun of trying to get them consistantly as close to the French standard as possible while improving the egg color. One reason that I'm developing a line of black marans is because they aren't in demand now so there aren't a lot of junk blacks out there muddying up the waters. When I get them right I 'll feel a sense of accomplishment. If you're wanting wheatons because you would like to add a different color variety to your Marans flock, that price wouldn't be unreasonable for good quality wheatens and Ron Presley has good quality birds.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

What good is buying chickens and feeding them and taking care of them if you can not sell any extras that they produce?
We would never have any projects to work on if no one ever bred them except for the few people that want to keep them for themselves. If I can't sell the extra eggs I don't hatch then I can't very well afford to keep them around.
Pretty is as pretty does and that means a working farm has to produce. Pretty chickens sell because others want them to be pretty in their yard as well.
I love all the pretty chickens and would love to produce many more than I do but if they don't sell then they go in the stew pot which is ridiculous since others may like what I don't in the breed. Standards can only go so far. Some breeders have a keener eye than others and know what could improve a line of birds.

 

[greathorse]

If you find Ron Presley eggs for fifty dollars and they are not shipped it is a good deal.

Whether or not they are worth it has everything to do with what your goal is. I have a number of his hens, they are beautiful, they lay poorly and lay a medium dark eggs. They need work on their combs and they need work on consistency in type.

They are very much a work in progress. I am seriously considering selling mine an focusing on a breed that needs less culling sorting and in general management. I wouldnt consider selling eggs until I feel like I have more consistency in the line I am breeding. I have a real hard time with the egg production in mine. They are all in prime laying age, getting good feed and a lot of light and nine females produce two to three eggs a day. Maybe in the spring we shall see.

 

[msrma7670]

thank you all for your answeres yall have given me much to thunk about.