mccroft Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 (edited) What are they like, friendly? Are they too similar to the the Bovan nera (miss pepperpot I think) Edited January 8, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I think they are quite similar - the bovan nera/black rock is an RIR/plymouth rock cross, whereas the maran cuivre is an RIR/maran cross. Similar looks, similar eggs (although in theory they are meant to lay a dark maran brown egg, mine lay normal brown eggs - lighter than the pepperpots ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccroft Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 I think they are quite similar - the bovan nera/black rock is an RIR/plymouth rock cross, whereas the maran cuivre is an RIR/maran cross. Similar looks, similar eggs (although in theory they are meant to lay a dark maran brown egg, mine lay normal brown eggs - lighter than the pepperpots ) Oh thanks - looking at your list of hens you might also be able to help me on white stars. I like the idea of having a white egg,chestnut, brown and cream. However on the breeders info the advice is that the white star is not a good idea if you have children due to them being flighty. Is this likely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I love my maran cuivre - yes they are supposed to lay dark brown eggs - mine doesn't but lays beautiful speckled eggs (unlike my speckledy ). She is a bit less enthusiastic about being caught than the others but the most curious - she was the first to come out of the run and brave the snow whilst the others stayed in the doorway for half an hour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I love my maran cuivre - yes they are supposed to lay dark brown eggs - mine doesn't but lays beautiful speckled eggs (unlike my speckledy ). She is a bit less enthusiastic about being caught than the others but the most curious - she was the first to come out of the run and brave the snow whilst the others stayed in the doorway for half an hour Isn't that funny, one of my maran cuivre is incredibly curious too - she just can't resist being first to examine anything and she was like that from the first day: she was the first up the cube ladder, first down, first to free range and first to explore the garden... mind you my other maran cuivre is the first (and only ) hen I've had to go broody! beautiful eggs though - dark brown speckled from one and dark-ish brown from the other (when she isn't too busy hatching invisibles). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Isn't that funny, one of my maran cuivre is incredibly curious too - she just can't resist being first to examine anything and she was like that from the first day: she was the first up the cube ladder, first down, first to free range and first to explore the garden...mind you my other maran cuivre is the first (and only ) hen I've had to go broody! beautiful eggs though - dark brown speckled from one and dark-ish brown from the other (when she isn't too busy hatching invisibles). Aaagh your broody one sounds like my speckeldy - (maran coucou) she has been broody off and on for the last 6 months - has a rest for a month and then goes for it again. she has only just come out of the nest again in the last week - broody in this weather I ask! Going to give her some real eggs next year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccroft Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Isn't that funny, one of my maran cuivre is incredibly curious too - she just can't resist being first to examine anything and she was like that from the first day: she was the first up the cube ladder, first down, first to free range and first to explore the garden...mind you my other maran cuivre is the first (and only ) hen I've had to go broody! beautiful eggs though - dark brown speckled from one and dark-ish brown from the other (when she isn't too busy hatching invisibles). Aaagh your broody one sounds like my speckeldy - (maran coucou) she has been broody off and on for the last 6 months - has a rest for a month and then goes for it again. she has only just come out of the nest again in the last week - broody in this weather I ask! Going to give her some real eggs next year Speckeldy is also on my list. One farm lists them as speckeldy and the other poultry farm has cou cou maran Incase you can give me any pointers, i need want a white layer but everyone I know keeps saying they are too much work and not great for children. Might be able to get a sky line but it will only be if the farmer can get hold of some more. looking for 6 in total. goldline amber star maran cuivree bluebelle spekledy bovans Nera Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 My maran cuivre is a pig, to put it bluntly Yes she is very friendly, but only as long as food is involved, and will take my finger off given half a chance The white stars are flighty, but only in as much as you won't find them as close under your feet as the rest of them, and if there is a low fence, they will take a chance at it. I've only been able to catch mine a couple of times and if I startle her, she leaps straight up in the air and away But she sticks with the others, lays lovely white eggs, regular as clockwork, and is just as happy, chatty and inquisitive as the others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 The breeder I bought my girls from warned us off the white stars (and black rocks and skylines) as she was worried that they might put us off being beginners. In the end we just had what we wanted. My white star is great, no regrets getting her. She is not as easy to catch as the Bovans amber but then none of my others are either My 6 year old can catch the white star easily and has no worries with them - in fact she is better at catching all of the girls than I ma. Definately get a white star. Interestingly and would love to know if others find this, my white hens seem to pick on my maran girls (speckledy and maran cuivre), especially the speckeldy - seems to be a colour thing! So make sure with that mix that you have enough room for them to escape each other Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 My maran Cuivre is nice enough but a bit lacking in personality! She lays lovely speckled dark brown eggs but they always have brown spots inside which can be a bit off putting! This is my girl http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=301255&l=cd95c&id=663092293 Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccroft Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 My maran Cuivre is nice enough but a bit lacking in personality! She lays lovely speckled dark brown eggs but they always have brown spots inside which can be a bit off putting! This is my girl http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=301255&l=cd95c&id=663092293 Jo I notice from your sig that you have a coral? I notice from edens website they have a coral nera is that what you have? To get me more frustrated on merrydales website they have 'snowball' and they say she is a prolific layer of pure white eggs. The snowbell is one of the smaller hybrids making it a little bit easier for children to handle. might phone up to find out what she is. Are there any pure breeds that lay a white egg that would be suitable for the back garden with children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I notice from your sig that you have a coral? I notice from edens website they have a coral nera is that what you have? She was sold to me as a 'Coral' - I don't know if it's the same as the one on the Edens website. I think all the breeders/agents call their version of hybrids with a very similar recipe different names The Coral has a lot of Leghorn in her - she has a very upright tail and lays very large light pink eggs. Mine is not at all flighty. The White Star is smaller and has a slightly different tail. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 The Merrydale Snowbell is a whitestar. For some reason, all white and blue egg layers are classed as being more flighty than brown egg layers. Something to do with the genes. But individual personality has a lot to do with it as well, some are better than others. Go for a whitestar/snowbell - they are lovely and you won't regret it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 My Splash Leghorn Pearl is more flighty than Marigold my Buff Mottled Leghorn but that might be because we think Marigold was the girlie to lay our very first white egg today - yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
