Marans Chicken breed is one of the most famous and ancient chicken breed and is famous for its Dual Purpose nature. An amiable bird that will make you love chickens even if you are a beginner. Now, let’s dive into the complete Marans Chicken Breed information. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Marans, including their history, egg colors, temperament and much more.
History & Origin of Marans Chicken Breed
Marans Chickens breed are known to have originated in the mid-1800s in the Maran region of France, about 240 miles southwest of Paris, and that’s why they were given the name “Marans”. According to the American Poultry Association, the evolution of the Marans chicken is believed to have begun in the early 13th century.
However, this chicken breed gained popularity worldwide in the 1930s due to its ability to lay dark brown colored eggs. Even today, Marans chickens are famous for their colored eggs, which is also known to be the primary reason for their backyard popularity. According to French rules, make sure to keep the” s” silent while pronouncing “Marans”.
Color Varieties of Marans Chicken Breed
Marans chickens have many varieties. Each country has its own approved varieties but the most popular varieties are the Cuckoo Marans and Black Copper Marans. Some varieties are recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA). However, the 9 recognized varieties in the French Marans Standard are given below,
- Cuckoo Marans
- Golden Cuckoo
- Black Copper Marans
- Birchen Marans
- White Marans
- Black Marans
- Black Tailed Buff
- Columbian Marans
- Wheaten Marans
Some other popular varieties like Blue Copper Marans and Splash Marans also exist but they are not recognized yet by the APA and French Marans Standard.
Characteristics
A few varieties of Marans Chickens have some unique characteristics, but most of them share common traits. They are very comfortable with cold weather and can bear a decent amount of heat.
This chicken breed is known for its egg and meat production, and that’s why it is known as a dual-purpose bird which means they not only lay beautiful eggs but also produces tender and flavorful meat.
Marans Chicken Breed- Overview
| Breed Name | Marans (Pronounced: MUH-RAN) |
| Breed Type | Continental |
| Size | Medium |
| Temperament | Friendly |
| Egg Color | Chocolate/Dark brown to russet brown |
| Egg Size: | Large |
| Eggs Per annum | 150-200 |
| Lifespan | About Seven Years |
| Noise Level | Moderate |
| Time To Maturity | 5-6 months |
Appearance
Marans Chicken is a robust breed with a lot of muscle on its breasts and thighs. As you might have seen, all varieties of Maran chicken have a single comb, red earlobes and red earlobes. Marans mostly have orange eyes. Additionally, they have thick black feathers (white in the case of white marans), which help them to keep their bodies warm even in extreme cold conditions.
Weight
Maran Chickens are a medium-sized breed and just like all chickens, the roosters of this breed are a bit larger and heavier as compared to the hens.
- Marans Roosters can reach an average weight of about 8 pounds
- Marans Hens can weigh between 6 to 7 pounds on average.
However, their weight can also vary among different individuals and can depend upon the feed and care provided to them
The Personality of Marans Chicken Breed
Temperament
A polite and gentle breed, Marans Chicken don’t like to be handled too much but have a friendly and docile nature. They can also eat their feed from your hand and follow you around the yard.
These chickens can quickly get along with other birds of a mixed flock. They don’t get aggressive towards new chickens in your backyard. Maran roosters are cautious and give alerts about any nearby predators, but they don’t show aggression.
Noise Level
Marans is a polite and quiet chicken breed. They don’t make much noise and stay calm most of the time. You can only hear roosters crowing or the chuckling of hens while foraging. That’s why they are best suited for places with noise restrictions or urban areas.
Lifespan
The Lifespan of any chicken is not fixed and it depends on some factors like feed, diet and living environment. However, we can tell you about the average lifespan of a marans chicken which is about 7 years. It may increase or decrease depend upon the chickens health and factors mentioned above.
Marans Chicken Breed Eggs Color and Production
Egg production and the color are one of the primary reasons behind the popularity of Marans chickens across the globe, so a brief about their eggs is given below.
Marans Chicken Egg Production
Marans Chicken is a great egg producer and can lay medium-sized eggs. Maran hens begin laying at around 5-6 months of age and can lay about 2-4 eggs per week. Overall, they can lay up to 200 eggs per year. However, egg production decreases as the chicken gets older.
Egg color
Maran chicken eggs are famous for their unique colors. but egg color can vary from hen to hen and across different varieties. Maran Hens mostly lay dark brown or chocolate-colored eggs. Moreover, some varieties of them lay beautiful russet-colored eggs.
Marans Chicken Breed Care Guide
Health Issues
Marans chickens are a powerful chicken breed. They usually don’t have any notable health issues, but parasites and licks are always a problem for chickens. However, these issues can be controlled by using simple poultry dust. If worms are also creating issues to your birds, you must do worming to keep them healthy. Wormers are essential to destroy parasitic worms in the chickens..
Coop Set up
Maran chickens need a comfortable and secure environment, so you must keep each Maran chicken in a 4-square-foot coop. That means if you are keeping 5 Marans, your coop must be 20 square feet. More extra spaces are always recommended to avoid brawls between your chickens, especially roosters.
Install windows in the coop for proper ventilation, and don’t forget to provide them with good nesting boxes, as Marans are good producers. A standard 12×12 inch nesting box is sufficient for at least 3 hens; they will lay their beautiful dark brown eggs in them.
Feed
Always use good and premium quality feed for your chickens. In the beginning, Maran chicks must be given 20–25% pure protein chick crumble. The chicks need high protein as they grow very quickly. You can provide them with this same feed until they reach around 4 months old.
When they become 16 weeks old, you can gradually add 15% layer feed. For keeping your flock in good condition, give them at least 15 to 16% protein and when they start to molt, increase their protein level to 20 percent. Hence, it will help them to improve their metabolism and grow their feathers quickly.
PROS AND CONS Of Marans Chicken Breed
While Maran Chickens lay beautiful eggs, they also have a few drawbacks. So, here is the list of some pros and cons of Marans:
PROS
- Friendly and Docile
- Excellent foragers
- Good Egg producers
- Good Meat Production
- Unique Dark Brown egg color
- Tasty Meat
CONS
- Very Expensive
- Frostbite prone
- Don’t like too much handling
- Fewer Eggs per annum than Production Breeds
Conclusion
To sum up, the Marans chicken is an exceptional chicken breed that can survive through harsh conditions and increase the charm of your backyard.
They are delightful dual-purpose birds, and their friendly and lovable nature makes them easy to handle, even if you are a beginner. Marans Chicken holds an extraordinary place in the world of poultry due to their dark chocolate-colored eggs and a number of different varieties. You can definitely bring this bird to your flock and enjoy the company of a beautiful and unique breed chuckling and foraging in your backyard.
FAQs related to Marans Chicken Breed
Are Marans chicken good egg layers?
Marans Chicken is a great egg producer and can lay medium-sized eggs. Maran hens begin laying at around 5-6 months of age and can produce about 2-4 eggs per week. Overall, they can lay up to 200 eggs per year.
Do all Marans lay dark eggs?
Maran chicken eggs are famous for their unique colors. but egg color can vary from hen to hen and across different varieties. Maran Hens mostly lay dark brown or chocolate-colored eggs. Moreover, some varieties of them lay beautiful russet-colored eggs.
What are Marans Chicken known for?
Marans are popular for their egg production and especially for their unique dark brown eggs
Are Maran Chickens Friendly?
A polite and gentle breed, Marans Chicken don’t like to be handled too much but have a friendly and docile nature. They can eat their feed from your hand and follow you around the yard.
At what age Marans Chickens starts laying eggs?
Maran hens begin laying at around 5-6 months of age and can lay about 2-4 eggs per week.
Why Marans Chicken Breed is popular?
Marans Chicken Breed is popular because of its distinctive dark brown egg color and dual-purpose nature