4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[sugarspice]

im thinking of getting 2 plymouth rocks, black rocks or marans do many people have this breed. im open to other breeds if reccomended. i currently have a pepperpot and gingernut ranger

[Scottie]

Hi there

 

I've got a black rock who is a great layer and a very friendly bird. I have one remaining Marans (Cuckoo) who is a daft bird, but who also lays very well - dark brown eggs. She is not so friendly and would run a mile rather than be touched. I did have a beautiful Splash Marans who laid really really dark eggs and she was friendly.

 

I would recommend both types - Black Rocks and Marans.

 

Sheila

[Snowy]

The black rock is the same hybrid as the pepperpot, just from a different breeder. Marans and plymouth rocks are pure breeds so you won't get quite as many eggs but they should live a bit longer and lay for more years. I think both plymouth rocks and marans are classed as good layers for pure breeds though. Can't comment on their personalities though sorry

[judith67]

I have a maran and she is probably the best layer, smallish very dark brown eggs. She is also least likely to feed from my hand and i can never pick her up, not as friendly or docile as the bluebelle or sussex.

I have a black maran, she is a lovely colour, like a raven, green and shiny in a certain light.

[Henhathnofury]

I have an Amber Star, as well as the Gingernut and Pepperpot. She has the sweetest nature and is tamer than both of the others. I think the temperament is affected by the place in which they grew up - for example a small friendly farm will generally produce friendly chickens who do not fight and bully.

 

I wonder what anyone else's opinion is on this?

 

Good luck though...it's exciting choosing!

[quickcluck]

My Amber is just lovely, and lays MASSIVE EGGS

[Henhathnofury]

Now my little Amber has obviously not read her chicken guide and lays small white eggs. They are the smoothest eggs ever, just like porcelain. Most people say that their Ambers lay those big brown eggs. What kind of chicken have I got! (She's still beautiful and even if she laid sprouts, I would still keep her!)

[chelsea]

My cuckoo maran is my most reliable layer. She laid all 2007-2008 without a winter break and lays lovely dark brown eggs.

 

She's very much what I call a "traditional chicken", she's not that friendly, hates being picked up and always busy/on the go. But as we have the rest of the "freeloader" fancy breeds the maran is very much welcomed in our little flock for her eggs!

[Snowy]

Now my little Amber has obviously not read her chicken guide and lays small white eggs. They are the smoothest eggs ever, just like porcelain. Most people say that their Ambers lay those big brown eggs. What kind of chicken have I got! (She's still beautiful and even if she laid sprouts, I would still keep her!)

I think some breeders get their white chickens mixed up sometimes! I bought a white chicken, supposedly a whitestar, but she lays cream eggs and doesn't have the large comb or upright tail of the whitestar. She's more like a coral nick. Ambers are usually big dumpy things. If yours is small, and particularly if she lays white eggs, I'd say you have a whitestar there!

[sugarspice]

ive been advised that blackrocks dont like being coped up in a run with other chickens and that i should go for the star breed. i ve looked and liked the look of speckled star and amber star

[One_Box]

I have a French Maran called Coco who is a lovely bird. She lays really large dark brown eggs very regularly and is very tame. I would definitely recommend this pure breed

[feemcg]

I have a Wheaten and Silver Wheaten French Marans.......very friendly birds and one has laid all winter and the other only stopped for a few weeks...lovely dark eggs too

 

[adeandsu]

Hi there

 

We have an Amber Star - Hedwig - who is lovely. She's very calm and good-natured and happy to be picked up. She is also kind to the ears - generally making a pleasant coo-ing noise (rather than the shrieks and squawks of my Gingernut) She also lays large brown eggs.

 

All-in-all, I'd say if you're new to chicken keeping you can't go wrong with an Amber Star.

 

Ade