Considering Marans? Here are the 10 things you must know about Marans Chicken.
For those, who are in search of an ornamental and a productive chicken breed at the same time? First let me introduce you to a breed that is famous not only for its rich brown feathers but also for laying dark brown color eggs – the Marans chicken.
The Marans is very popular for its good temperament, docile nature as well as its ability to lay eggs frequently. These qualities makes them suitable for both backyard poultry keeping as well as small scale farmers. In this article you will learn why many people love Marans chickens across the globe.
How do you pronounce “Marans?”
The name of the breed is Marans and its pronunciation is Mah-RAHN. The ‘s’ at the end of the last letter is not sounded because the breed is named after the town of Marans in France. The stress is on the second syllable, “RAHN”. This sort of pronunciation is due to the French origin of this breed.
What are Marans chicken?
Marans chickens are one of the bright legends of France, famous for their delicious and dark brown eggs. These birds have been developed from the town of Marans in France. They are of medium to large size with the variety having feathered legs. They exist in several color variations, with Black Copper Marans being perhaps the most popular.
Marans chickens lay eggs in a very different shade of brown. These are relatively tough birds that are expert to living outdoors and have a calm disposition. They are also dual purpose birds because this breeds are useful for both egg and meat production.
Why are they called “Marans” and where do they come from?
Marans chickens are named after the small coastal town of Marans in western France. The creation of this breed begin in the 19th century by selective breeding between local French fowls and imported game birds in an attempt to increase the birds’ resistance and egg production.
Today, Marans are famous for their dark brown eggs and their versatility for backyard & small farm use across the world.
What do Marans chicken look like?
The Marans chickens are medium to large birds that are very colorful and can have different patterns on their feathers. They are of several beautiful colorations with the most common one being the Black Copper Marans reputed for its black sleek plumage with copper spangle at the neck.
Some of the Marans have feather on legs making them even more unique and intriguing birds. Their body is strong and they have red comb and red wattles. Marans raise their chicks with almost military-like erect carriage, which makes these birds rather stately and heavy-boned.
These birds have a good look about them together with their very dark Brown Shelled Eggs, they are amongst the most preferred by poultry farmers.
Are Marans good egg layers?
Yes indeed Marans chickens are good laying chickens especially famous for producing dark brown eggs. In one year healthy Marans then reach the period of production of about 150-200 eggs. Despite the fact that they do not lay as often as some other breeds of chickens they are quite popular with chicken farmers because of the distinct color of the eggs.
Marans hens are late developers, and in some cases do not begin laying until 6 to 8 months of age, however when they start laying they produce jumbo size eggs with deep rich brown shells.
What are Marans chicken Famous for?
Marans chicken’s eggs are perhaps their most famous feature having an obsidian black color, which makes them tremendously popular among poultry breeders. The eggs are also larger and have a rich color as compared to those of other breeds of birds.
However, Marans are most famous for their appearance and the black copper Marans’s feathers are all black with copper sheen.
Due to their docile nature people prefer them for homestead farming and would provide beautification, egg production, and low maintenance.
Why are Marans so expensive?
Marans chickens are expensive than the other breeds of chickens because they are rare and have high demand in market due to their special features compare to other chicken breeds. However, One of the main reasons behind their expensive rate is that these chickens lay dark brown eggs which are rare. These dark brown eggs have high demand in the market by chicken lovers as well as collectors.
Further, specific types like black copper Marans are more difficult to source hence raising their price even higher. Breeding Marans to retain certain definitive characteristics such as the color of eggs which may be red or brown is a delicate process that calls for selection and may be very time consuming hence the high cost.
It is also important to note that they possess finer features, calm disposition and are dual purpose hence they are pricier than the others.
Are Marans chicken rare?
Yes, nowadays Marans chickens are rare especially breeds such as the Black Copper Marans have high value for their looks and brown shelled eggs. Today, Marans’ popularity is on the rise amongst home poultry farmers and small scale producers are not as widespread as let’s say Rhode Island Reds or Leghorns.
Hard to find true high quality Marans, especially those that produce naturally dark eggs. This feature adds to the birds charm and uniqueness which in turn raises their price and makes them exclusive breeds.
Which Marans lays the most eggs?
The most common variety of Maran which is famous to lay more eggs is the Black Copper Marans. Compared to other Marans types, Black Copper Marans is a better layer; apart from producing dark brown, almost chocolate colored egg.
An average pair can lay between 150 – 200 eggs in a year. As you might know that all the Marans are popular for their egg color but the Black Copper Marans are the most popular among all those who are not only looking for the fascinating looks of eggs but also for the massive egg-laying activity.
Are Marans chicken aggressive?
Marans chickens are nearly not aggressive but are friendly chickens that one would actually love to be around. The roosters may be slightly territorial especially in the period of reproduction, but they are not as aggressive as other breeds.
These hens for example do not exhibit much hostility and are generally friendly and can even interact with other chickens. However, it should be pointed out that every chicken is unique therefore different breeds may possess differing temperaments.
Handle Marans from a young age to minimize aggressiveness and make them friendly. This will help you to control them easily, especially when raising them with other poultry breeds.