artic 595 Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 I was reading about the 2 types above. Has anyone got these birds, or know who has? Are they as good as they say they are. Are they a regular egg layer? I keep Leghorns, they are superb. I do like the look of Marans and Welsumers and i would like to add some to my collection if they are good layers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,859 Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Both good layers and the marans i have had in the past were grand mothers,well worth getting a few of each. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
landytom 0 Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 I was reading about the 2 types above. Has anyone got these birds, or know who has? Are they as good as they say they are. Are they a regular egg layer? I keep Leghorns, they are superb. I do like the look of Marans and Welsumers and i would like to add some to my collection if they are good layers. stick to the leghorns mate no where near as good Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neal 1,854 Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 I currently have a welsummer bantam. She's been the most "wild" of all my bantams, by this I don't mean unfriendly but rather that she's far more self sufficient. She hardly ever eats any layers pellets and lives almost entirely off of what she gets while free-ranging in the garden. As a result she's extremely cheap to keep. She's also been the best flyer and can manage the 6' garden fence unless clipped. The yolks of her eggs are also more orangey than the others, presumably due to the more varied diet. I'm considering getting a maran and barnevelder bantam soon but read on the internet that marans tend to be picked on by other breeds so need to be bought in pairs. I'm not sure how true this is though and it could simply be a sales pitch! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sorley x 32 Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 I keep mainly french copper black marans and welsummers. The Marans lay the darkest shelled large eggs. Can't be beaten. Nice hens too, fairly tame. I have a big old soft spot for my welsummers though, lovely bird, won't lay as many eggs as most of the hybrids BUT I'll tell you something for nothing the welsummers don't need half the feed. They are much better at scratching around the yard etc for food than most breeds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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