Barnevelder, Maran or Welsummer

[sunnie7]

I’m wanting more dark egg layers and I’d also like to start more breeding. Tell me about your experience with any of these! I know Marans will lay the darkest, which one the largest? Any specific qualities you like or dislike about any of the breeds?

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

My Welsummer laid a much bigger egg than my Barnevelders do, but they're 6-7lb and my Welly was 9lb, so that may be the difference (I'm not sure if the 9lb is normal or not haha, but she was a big gal!) My Welsummers eggs and my Barnes eggs are around the same shade of brown (welsummer had speckles)

I've owned 1 Welsummer and 2 Barnevelders so my experience is fairly limited, but our Barnes have been fairly nice, not super super friendly despite being hand raised. Gorgeous lacing pattern however. Welsummer have more of a standard chicken color (partridge i believe) but I honestly love the look since everything else we have is different! She was very friendly (she was also hand raised) and wasn't a bully any more than any other chicken was.

 

[Araucana Nest]

I love all three and have Welsummers and Barnies. My Welsummers are more artistic with their egg canvas. The Barnies eggs are a little darker brown. I cant choose between them so didn’t vote.

 

[sunnie7]

I love all three and have Welsummers and Barnies. My Welsummers are more artistic with their egg canvas. The Barnies eggs are a little darker brown. I cant choose between them so didn’t vote.

Do you have any pictures of yours? Eggs?

 

[Silexian]

I had a flock of Welsummers for about ten years. They laid plenty of large eggs year round. Keeping my egg customers happy. The eggs were darker than the average brown egg. With most having some speckling. They were easy keepers and didn’t have many health problems. They were a good fit for our little homestead. Wanting to add new genetics to my flock. I purchased some eggs from another breeder. Her newly hired help mixed up the eggs. So upon hatching I discovered that I had gotten Barnevelder eggs instead of Welsummer eggs. I liked the looks of them and eventually replaced my Welsummer flock with them. My Barnevelders lay large evenly shaded terra cotta colored eggs. The only Marans that I have had. Were just hatchery grade birds. So I cannot give a good opinion on them.

 

[Araucana Nest]

Do you have any pictures of yours? Eggs?

The brown ones are Welsummer. The other two are Silverudd’s Blue. The colors and depth of speckling changes as the season progresses. One of my

Welsummers lays eggs that are the same color as my Barnie eggs with no speckling. I encourage heavy speckling in my Welsummer and Silverudd’s Blue flocks

 

[Chicalina]

I have got a clutch of Barnevelders and Welsummers under a broody hen and due to hatch this week! I am super excited

 

[AusHen]

I own all three breeds. Egg colour really depends on who/where you get the birds from. In my flock the loudest goes Welsummer, Barnevelder then Marans. Friendliest is Welsummer, Marans then Barnevelder. Best egg layer is my Welsummer, Barnevelder then Marans. Looks wise it depends on personal preferance.
Im not sure if my eggs would be helpful as I'm in Australia but the speckled are Barnevelder, medium brown Welsummer and darker brown Marans.