A new star has emerged: the Mystic Marans Chicken, a cross between the Copper Marans and the Barred Rock breeds of chicken. Having a flock of gorgeous hens that lay an abundance of eggs is a delightful addition to any yard. The abundance of huge eggs laid by these beautiful birds has contributed to their meteoric rise in popularity among suburbanites.
Are you thinking of expanding your flock with some new hens? All the information you could ever want or need regarding the Mystic Marans chicken breed is here in this comprehensive book.
Mystic Marans Chicken Breed Overview
| Weight | 6-8 lbs |
| Feather Color | Deep brown or copper with speckles |
| Disposition | Docile, quiet, and active |
| Beginner Friendliness | High |
| Maturation | 18-24 weeks old |
| Broodiness | Low |
| Hardiness | Cold hardy |
| Egg Production | 200-250 eggs per year |
| Egg Color and Size | Large, dark brown eggs |
History
By mating Black Copper Marans hens with Barred Rock roosters, the Czech Republic produced the Mystic Marans. Producing large eggs with the deep chocolate hues of the regular Maran, a breed known for its poor egg production rates despite its robust appetite, was the driving force for the creation of this combination. Among the many names given to the Mystic Marans are the Dominant Copper, Noir Marans, Midnight Majesty Marans, and Rustic Rambler.
They lack the longevity of heritage breeds due to their hybrid status. Additionally, the American Poultry Association does not acknowledge hybrid chickens.
Because of this, there are no set criteria for determining how to classify these birds based on their featheriness.
Appearance
Despite their lack of an aesthetic pedigree, Marans are a beautiful breed. As is typical of game birds, their plumage is quite dense. Tight feathering is characterised by short, stiff feathers that lack fluff.
Additionally, Marans often have a single comb that is medium to enormous in size. As a rule, these combs remain upright. You may see certain girls with mostly flipped combs. Red earlobes and medium-sized wattles are other characteristics.
It has previously been suggested that the French Maran has feathers on its legs. It’s going to be feathery thin. The eggs laid by English marans do not have any feathers. Birds kept for exhibition purposes must have plumage.
The American Psychological Association does not accept the vast majority of the Marans that exist today. In the United States, two of the most beloved maran varieties are cuckoo marans and black copper marans.
Personality
Mystic Marans are known for their amiability and placidity. They may not be aggressive bullies, but they will not tolerate it when other birds treat them badly. Despite this, they’re fairly manageable. A sociable hen will follow you in search of food.
They aren’t very affectionate, so don’t expect them to become lap chickens. Because of their gamecock genes, Marans roosters are a pain at times.
Particularly during mating season, it is not wise to leave them unattended in areas with young children. When given the chance, the vast majority of Maran chicken breeds will gladly roam free and mix in with their natural habitat.
It’s not a good idea to keep white varieties in predatory areas because they stick out like a sore thumb. Mystic Maran roosters are also quite friendly.
Mystic Maran Egg Production
A Mystic Maran hen will lay an egg almost every day. The average number of eggs laid by a single Mystic Maran each year is 200–250. On the other hand, others say that in ideal circumstances, these hens can lay more than 300 eggs. Large or extra-large, their eggs are a chocolate brown colour.
The most appealing aspect of these hens is their increased production of the odd brown eggs compared to their ordinary Marans parents. This means that you may stock up on these eggs and sell them in cartons, capitalizing on their novelty value.
The occurrence of broody in Mystic Marans chickens is extremely rare. They will not wait around for their eggs to hatch.
When talking about Mystic Maran eggs, it’s important to remember that they don’t breed true. Chicks hatched from Mystic Marans eggs will look more like Black Copper Marans or Barred Plymouth Rocks. This makes them a bit of a pain to track down.
Feeding
In the first two weeks after receiving Mystic Marans chickens, make sure to feed them a diet high in protein (18% to 24%). Before you can transition to a pellet mash (containing approximately 16% protein), your chicks will require a mash until they are approximately 6 weeks old. Your pullets will be at maturity or about there by the time they reach 18 to 20 weeks of age. The day will come when egg production begins.
In order to keep laying eggs for you, these birds require a steady supply of protein and calcium. Mystic Marans hybrid chickens are less picky eaters than regular Marans chickens.
Allowing them some time to forage for their own food is another option. These birds can acquire all the nutrition they need to produce eggs and maintain their meatiness by eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
Your Mystic Marans, like other chickens, require an abundance of clean water. You can keep up to 25 chicks in a one-gallon chick waterer. You should never water baby chicks in an open pan or dish. Make sure the water level is high enough so that the adult hens can’t walk right into it and create a mud puddle if you can. To keep droppings and other pollutants from growing bacteria, change the water frequently.
Mystic Marans Chicken Coop Setup
A coop is essential for the protection of all chicken breeds from predators and bad weather. Mystic Marans Chicken requires a more spacious coop due to their greater stature. Every fully developed chicken needs at least four square feet in the coop.
You should provide a perch for them to rest on and several nesting boxes in the coop. The maran’s preferred roosting height is two to four feet. Pick a pole that’s roughly 1.5 inches thick for maximum comfort. Chickens need a clean, dry place to lay their eggs, with plenty of bedding and space in their nesting boxes.
Bedding
Every chicken enclosure needs bedding. To promote egg laying, make sure the bedding is easy and dry. For the English chickens, you can use straw, hay, or even old newspapers as bedding.
For the sake of preventing frostbite, it could be prudent to surround French Marans with sand, which is both warm and dry. Hay is a suitable bedding option for French Marans in warmer or drier regions. Keep your coop dry during the winter.
Temperature
A common belief is that French Marans are resilient birds. Short bursts of very hot or very cold weather are manageable. But a more temperate environment is ideal for them. Unless it resides in a very cold or very hot region, a coop does not require heating or cooling.
Lighting
The effects of illumination Maran chickens’ capacity to lay eggs. Make sure the coop has enough light. In the absence of natural light, supplement with artificial illumination; nonetheless, take all necessary measures to prevent the spread of fire.
Outdoor Enclosure
A maran’s coop is only complete with an outside enclosure. Among the Maran’s daily routines is foraging. Give them plenty of room to go around and hunt. Thankfully, high fences aren’t a problem because the ladies fly quite seldom.
Health Issues
The chicken breed known as Mystic Marans is strong and hardy. A slew of parasites is the sole problem with their health. Using chicken dust is a simple method for controlling ticks and lice. Most individuals use lice-prevention dust twice a year, although some only use it when absolutely required.
Another option is to deworm on a regular basis or only when absolutely necessary. The best course of action is to change dewormers frequently because certain worms develop resistance over time.
Conclusion
Even though Marans chicken has been through a lot, it is still a fan favourite. Their Maran population is exceptionally diversified due to the depth of their genetic pool. The overall number of variations exceeds nine.
The American Poultry Association does not recognize them despite the fact that many of them are being fine tuned. A small number of exceptionally unusual variations of this breed exist. Rare breeds, especially high-quality stock, can be rather pricey.
Because of its resilience and sturdiness, this breed will serve you well in your yard for many years. Giving the chickens the freedom to roam will make them happy. Being active is something they were born to do and love.