Can you give me breed information on Welsummer, Marans, and/or Barnvelder birds as far as viability in colder climates(WI), disposition, and availability in the US(preferably the midwest) Thank You Craig S.

-- craig swanson (casinc@frontiernet.net), March 10, 2002

Answers

Hi, I had Maran`s, but all the ones I had were extremely agressive. So we had to butcher them. The tasted really good, some of the best Chicken we have ever had. Only problem they will gang up and try to kill anything that moves, doesn`t matter how big it is.

Barnvelders are nice, but lay like the Wyandottes do. But not as Hardy as the Wyandottes.

Wyandottes seem to do very well in cold weather, so do the French Faverolles and the Canadian bred Chanteclers. The Chanteclers were bred to with stand Canada`s extremely cold snowy winters. The Chantecler`s I have delt with have been very gentle and easy to deal with.

I the Welsummers I have had in the past, are better for cool wet climes.

Check out this web site.....

http://www.cyborganic.com/People/feathersite/Poultry/CGA/Chant/BRKChan ticler.html

Good luck on what ever breed you choose!!

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), March 10, 2002.

Craig, You've already had some good tips from Bergere. You can find out more by visiting www.poultryconnection.com. You will find a lot of specialists in some of these lovely breeds of chickens. After you visit Feathersite, check out more of the dozens of links at TPC. You might wind up getting more breeds of chickens than you planned! LOL Also on TPC , under LINKS is "The Picture of the Day", check that out also, there are some beautiful photos of poultry there every day. Have fun, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), March 10, 2002.

Hello, I don't know much about the breeds you mentioned but another breed that is almost immuned to the cold weather( Brahmas) because they have short combs they very seldomly get frostbite,and they are a feather legged breed .I know of some poeple the have them in Alaska Hope this helps Vince

-- Vince R. (Dove@epix.net), March 10, 2002.

Craig, another side of the coin on Marans... I have a rooster and three unrelated hens and they are just wonderful. They will let me pack them around, and the rooster tends to all his hens, not only the Marans ones. The three breeds you have mentioned are not readily available in the states, but you can check eggbay for eggs to incubate and sometimes they have chicks. The poultry connection is a very good site, but so is the poultry information exchange. Both have very well learned folks who can give you more insight to how each breed will do in your climate. Marans have been bred for marshy type areas, dont know much about the others yet. Good luck decicing on a breed to suit you! Toni

-- Toni (summersolstice55@yahoo.com), March 10, 2002.

Craig, here is a source for the chicks in Nebraska www.birdfarm.bravepages.com There are several breeders on the Dark Egg Layer board on Yahoo. I have some marans hatching right now, but none for sale yet. If you want to buy hatching eggs, they have some on eggbay. Best wishes!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail..com), March 10, 2002.

Marans

Barnevelders

Welsummers

Marans and Welsummer:

T&M Poultry Farm

Marans:
North American Marans Club
Cari Shafer
Cari@netdoor.com

Edd Bissell 

Marans in Maine:
Mick
pigeons@acadia.net

Harley H
Midascashflow@y-city.net

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), March 11, 2002.

Hi. We recently acquired three Isa Browns, which seem similar to the breeds you are considering. They are known to be great in the very cold weather. We live in Michigan and they are weathering just fine. They are also very friendly and docile hens who lay beautiful lightly- spotted brown eggs. I love them!

-- carla s. miller (carlasmiller@hotmail.com), March 14, 2002.