The Poultry Keeper

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Folkestone, Kent

I would like to add to the flock (surprise surprise!) with a range of different egg colours and interesting looking chickens. What breeds do you lovely poultry keeper peeps suggest? Also any recommendations as to where to purchase. I live in Kent near Folkestone but don't mind travelling a good distance.

nigel · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 6:13 am Post subject:

you're not alone Squidge, lot's of people pick breeds to add colours to their egg basket. My suggestions would be;

Dark Brown - Welsummer
Sky Blue - Cream Legbar
green/Blue - Araucana
White - Dorking

but I admit these are my [very] personal preferences.

I have also heard of a strain of Croad Langshan that lays an egg with a plum blush, though I have never seen the eggs to confirm this.

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 635 Location: Nottinghamshire

If you're into hybrids, Merrydale Farm (in Leicestershire) has a nice selection of pretty hens laying different coloured eggs. (I've not ventured into the pure breeds............. yet) Wink

Sedgewort Bramble · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 409

I once had some Croad Langshan, and can confirm the eggs do indeed have a plum hue...........very pleasing colour.

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1129 Location: Carmarthenshire

Bluebelles also lay eggs with a plum hue, a couple of mine also speckle their eggs - lovely Very Happy

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Hen-Gen · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

We all love questions like yours, Squidge, because it gives us a chance to promote our favourite breeds. But I'll try to resist! Very Happy

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The main question to ask is-' Are you planning to hatch any eggs under broodies'.
If not, then choose breeds that do not go broody (generally). For the chicken keeper who enjoys keeping hens and producing their own eggs broodiness results in loss of production and is a pain to deal with.
In every egg colour (brown, biscuit, white) there are broody breeds and non broody breeds though the blue eggers are non broody. (Apart from a new strain of blue egg laying Silver Grey Dorking).

CP · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 11:56 am Post subject:

My Welsummers aren't generally very broody birds but the Wyandottes are!
We also have various X-breeds (our own hatchings)& quite a few of those are inclined to be broody.

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Folkestone, Kent

Thanks everyone for your great input, very helpful. I haven't considered hatching yet as I'm afraid of the excess cockerel problem, don't want to have to do horrible things. I do have an adopted beautiful White Leghorn cockerel, very gentle boy. Adopted because neighbours were complaining because he was in competition with another cockerel. He is very quiet here and is a real gentleman.

mojo · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 2:27 pm Post subject:

dont forget Marans for an egg the colour of dark chocolate

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Folkestone, Kent

Excuse my ignorance but is that any Marans or one of the types, I know Cuckoo Marans but don't know any other type?

Hen-Gen · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject:

http://marans-club.club.fr/varieang.htm#varietes

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Folkestone, Kent

WOW !

mojo · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 4:44 pm Post subject:

a lady in our aviculture club is 3 times champion of europe with her maran egg colour..choccy brown with darker speckles.....all from copper neck blacks...............3.50 euros a egg and 6.50 euros DO chicks......and she sold out within 2 hours of putting them on sale

Squidge · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Folkestone, Kent

I can see my flock ever increasing !!!

mojo · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:27 pm Post subject:

of course