In the world of chicken poultry, Birchen Marans holds a special place in the heart of chicken keepers and backyard farmers because of its beautiful and unique birchen plumage. Birchen is a rare variety of the popular Marans breed. This breed is famous to produce large russet brown-colored eggs.
This is a rare breed of chicken but it also has some further color variations like the blue and black birchen marans. So, lets will explore the captivating world of Birchen Marans to get to know everything about them.
History and Origin
The Birchen Marans are believed to have originated in a small town called “Marans” in southern France in the 1800s. This town is located about 240 miles southwest of Paris, which is why these chickens were named Marans.
According to the American Poultry Association, these chickens evolved in the early 13th century. Still, they were established in the early 1920s when sailors traded them to different parts of Europe for trade. They became very famous in a short period, and people loved to keep them in their backyard due to their dual-purpose nature and stunning plumage.
Appearance Of Birchen Marans
The Birchen Marans also have two more common varieties: the blue birchen marans and the black birchen marans.
Blue Birchen Marans have distinctive blue plumage with birchen patterns and contrasting markings of silver, white, or black. Their sturdy legs provide stability and help them move. Moreover, the silver, white, or black coloration on their feathers is arranged in a definite pattern that gives these birds an appealing look.
The Black Birchen are also quite similar in look, but their black color dominates more along the contrasting birchen pattern and a lot of white and silver lacing on the edges of their feathers.
These chickens are typically medium-sized with an upright posture. Their comb, wattles, and earlobes can vary in color but are mostly red or red-white. They have a unique and beautiful appearance and can increase the charm of your flock to a next level.
Features:
- Moderate comb and wattles
- Red or red-white earlobes
- Distinctive Birchen Pattern
- Bright eyes
- Sturdy legs
- Medium-sized build
Weight of Birchen Marans
Birchen Marans are a medium-sized breed of chickens, and their weight can vary depending upon different individuals and the diet you provide to them. Normally, an average mature birchen maran rooster weighs about 6 lbs, while the hen weighs about 4 lbs.
Breed Standard
The Birchen Marans is recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA). The American Poultry Association is an organization in the poultry world that only recognizes breeds with superior appearance, genetics, and attributes as compared to other common chicken breeds.
These Chickens belong to the Marans chicken breed, which is among the most famous chicken breeds in the world. Marans have a lot of varieties, but following are some famous breeds of Maran chickens:
- Cuckoo Marans
- Black Copper Marans
- Golden Cuckoo Marans
- Wheaten Marans
- White Marans
- Brown Marans
- Columbian
- Blue Copper Marans
- Black-Tailed Buff
The Personality of Birchen Marans
The following factors describes the Personality of Birchen Marans:
Temperament
Birchen Marans are very friendly and polite, and this trait is common among almost all varieties of Marans. They normally behave well with all other breeds in a flock. This quality makes them excellent for backyard farming where you want to keep chickens of different breeds. They always display calm and docile behavior and normally they also like handling a bit.
Noise Level
Birchen Marans are polite birds and have a very moderate noise level. They don’t make much noise and enjoy roaming around in open places. Additionally, these chickens will not disturb your mental health with unnecessary loud noises like some other breeds of chickens.
Lifespan
The lifespan of these chickens normally ranges between 5 and 8 years, but it will definitely depend on various factors such as diet, environment and care, and vaccination. If you provide very good care and feed to them, these chickens can live more than their average lifespan but they can also even die early due to health issues.
Characteristics Of Birchen Marans
| Breed | Marans Chicken |
| Beginner Friendly | Yes |
| Color | Black & Blue (with birchen pattern + silver and white lacing) |
| Lifespan | 5-8 Years |
| Weight | Hen (4lb) and Rooster (6lb). |
| Noise Level | Moderate level |
| Eggs Color | Reddish or Dark Brown |
| Egg Production | 3-4 per week (200 per year) |
| Meat Production | Good |
| Rare Breed | Yes |
Birchen Marans Eggs
These Chickens lay beautiful large size eggs and you can find the details about their egg color and egg production below,
Egg Color
Birchen Marans lay beautiful dark brown or reddish-brown eggs. However, the darkness of these eggs can vary from individual to individual and can also depend upon the feed and environment you provide to them. Their large chocolate-colored eggs are also very flavorful.
Egg Production
They also have an excellent egg production rate. An average Birchen Maran hen can lay 3 to 4 eggs per week and around 170 to 200 eggs per year, which is a good number. However, egg production can increase by giving them a better diet and a comfortable coop. Beautiful eggs with a good production rate make them the favorites of backyard chicken keepers who value both productivity and beauty in their flocks.
Conclusion – Are they Right For You?
Birchen Marans have almost all the qualities that a chicken farmer can ask for. These beautiful birds have shiny birchen-pattern plumage, are very docile and polite, lay big dark brown eggs, and can also be used for meat purposes. So, what else would you want from your backyard chicken?
In short, these are best for you if you are a chicken lover and want to add them to your flock or are thinking of starting your chicken farming journey with them. We hope you have received complete information about Birchen marans in this article. If you still have any questions, you can comment below.
FAQS
What is a Birchen Marans?
Birchen Marans is a recognized but rare variety of Marans breed. This breed is famous to produce large russet brown-colored eggs.
What color eggs do Birchen Marans lay?
Birchen Marans lay beautiful dark brown or reddish-brown eggs. However, the darkness of these eggs can vary from individual to individual and can also depend upon the feed and environment you provide to them.
Are Birchen Marans chickens friendly?
Birchen Marans are very friendly and polite, and this trait is common among almost all varieties of Marans. They normally behave well with all other breeds in a flock. They always display calm and docile behavior and normally they also like handling a bit.