Cube Mark One Run

[captaincollins]

Hi, when our ex batts have settled, we plan to increase the size of the WIR

 

I am really wanting some different coloured eggs can anyone help advise on hens who lay blue, green, speackeldy and really dark eggs?

 

Thanks

Sharon

 

Chickens are so additive!!

[sjp]

Cream legbars for blue eggs. Barnbars should lay dark brown eggs, mine did untill last week now there only just darker than shop eggs. marans are suppost to lay the darkest but not sure which ones

[Redwing]

Cream Legbar, Araucana for blue eggs

Leghorn, Appenzeller, Hamburghs for white eggs

French copper black marans, cuckoo marans, Speckeldys (hybrid) for speckled eggs

Croad Langshan for plum coloured eggs

Welsummers and Barnvelders for dark eggs

Wheaten or French Copper Blue marans for very dark eggs

 

The Wernlas Collection website has a nice egg colour indicator against each breed

[Space Chick]

Just to say, my Barnebar lays standard brown eggs, she didn't read her breed rule book

[captaincollins]

Hi, thanks for the info I have copied it down for when I extend.........after convicing the hubby................then again maybe I will just wait unitl he goes to sea (he is a submariner in the Navy) with no contact he isnt going to know! LOL I am BAD

[l_ouise]

I wanted different coloured eggs too but found finding breeders with POL hens at the same time really hard.

 

I went for hybrids in the end and although it might turn out to be a bit hit and miss, as long as they aren't the typical Tesco freerange egg colour i don't mind

 

It was much easier to find breeders with a variety of egg colour hens at POL.

 

I got a Copper Black and a Crested from Merrydale for dark brown and blue/green eggs and i got a White Star from Moorlands Poultry for white eggs.

 

Not had any major issues with any of them since i got them a week ago, they all have such personalities - not had any eggs either though yet

[ajayb]

Hi, Was in exactly the same position as you. Started off with hybrids then thought some variety of egg colour would be nice. My advice would be to take your time choosing and to be prepared to wait until you can introduce your new 'batch' of ladies in one go, if possible. (You mustn't attempt to introduce a lone chook, as she will have a really hard time.)

By far our most admired eggs are the blues produced by our Cream Legbar, closely followed by khaki green eggs laid by our Welsummer (who must actually be a Welsummer/ Legbar cross, despite appearances!) and then the very dark, glossy eggs from our Cuckoo Marans (although one isn't laying that colour at the moment, which I don't understand, so I'll be posting a question of my own!).

Depending on where you live, it can be difficult to source the breeds you want - I couldn't find any Croad Langshans (pinky purple eggs) in Scotland at all, for example.

Good luck!

[ajayb]

PS Forgot to mention that another consideration is whether you want eggs all year round or not? The hybrids lay consistently and never appear to get broody whereas the pure breeds (who give the coloured eggs) go 'off-lay' for the winter months (and that can be Sept-March in Scotland!) and have broody spells. A compromise might be to get Speckeldys - which are hybrids - to give speckled eggs for variety. I think there's a major breeder in Ayrshire who supplies these.

[captaincollins]

thanks for your advice, some good things to think about