fujcube Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Hi, Well, after our first full year as hen (and a duck) owners, we are well and truly hooked. With Spiring just around the corner, I am already thinking about increasing my flock. At the moment we have 9 hens, all different pure breed, selected for their egg colours. We have: Rohode Island Red Light Sussex Cream Legbar Maran Lavender Aracauna Jersey Giant (White) Buff Orpington Silver Appenzeller Wernlas Olive Ideally, we would like to turn our love of hens into a Cottage Industry and would like our next batch of hens to be something special that we could breed from. I would really appreciate your comments and advice on possible breed selection, especially rare breeds and/or good lookers! Would also like to know which breed produces very dark brown eggs. Although our Maran produces dark'ish brown eggs, I would like something that lays much darker. Regards, fujcube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 My Welsummer lays conker brown eggs & is a lovely hen with it - very pretty too. A white egg layer may be good too - maybe a Leghorn or a White Star? They lay the purest white huge eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 A Dorking for white eggs ? very old breed. Or a Faverolles for something a bit different? they have lovely natures as well. I always thought Marans laid the darkest brown eggs - though it may depend on the strain of the hen, my Welsummers' eggs aren't as dark as the Marans I've seen.Are you going to get cockerels as well and hatch your own eggs ? how are you planning to turn it into a cottage industry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fujcube Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 We're still working on the breeding side of it. We have enough noise with our Call Duck so a Cockerel or two is a bit of a risk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Just wondering how you will breed from them without a cockerel ? If you were thinking of buying in fertile eggs then you would either need an incubator or reliable broody to hatch them for you. If you are thinking of going down the broody route, then a Silkie would be a good bet, mine goes broody regular as clockwork.You'd also then have to deal with any boys you hatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fujcube Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 We maybe get a Cockerel or two but keep them on a friends farm. We tried hatching under a broody twice last year. First time, we put Call Duck eggs under our Buff Orpington, two hatched and unfortunately one died and we were left with Google! The second time we tried to hatch under a broody, we put 6 Silkie eggs under our Light Sussex. From the six eggs, only 1 was fertile and the chick didn't survive much past hatching. We will be getting more Silkies once the better weather arrives, to free range in our front garden. They are good fun, not as destructive as the larger hens and the school kids love them. Hopefully, we'll be able to get one of each colour this year. At the moment, I need to decide on the which breeds we are going to go for. Ideally, we would like to breed hens that are very rare or are in danger of dying out. Regards, fujcube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossco Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 i have a buff sussex cockerel and live in a terrace house he has a really low crow thats easy to live with and the neighbours have not said a word yet i have also just candled 4 eggs i have in my incubator and there all fertile and going well its my first time at this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I always thought Marans laid the darkest brown eggs - though it may depend on the strain of the hen, my Welsummers' eggs aren't as dark as the Marans I've seen. Could be,as my Maran was no where near as dark a layer as my Welsummer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 With Marans and Welsummers the important thing is the strain - you want a good strain that lays dark eggs so ask to see the eggs of the breeding stock when you go to buy Penedesencas also lay a dark egg and are pretty rare Bear in mind that with medium scale breeding comes a rush of cockerels and they need to be dealt with - some breeds will be old enough to crow before you can sex them so that also possibly needs to be a consideration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fujcube Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Thanks for all the replies so far. I think my initial post may be a little confusing Ideally, we would like to turn our love of hens into a Cottage Industry and would like our next batch of hens to be something special that we could breed from. I would really appreciate your comments and advice on possible breed selection, especially rare breeds and/or good lookers! I would like a hen that lays very dark brown eggs to add to my existing flock of pets, not to breed from. Regards, fujcube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
