Wheaten Marans chicken is a great, robust and docile variety of Marans Chickens. Wheaten Marans are also famous for their dual purpose nature but these chickens are very rare as compared to other Marans varieties. Since chickens come into a lot of different types and variations, they make chicken farmers or keepers curious and want to try to raise different types of chickens.
If you are looking for a chicken breed that has friendly temperament, lay beautiful dark brown eggs and also produce flavorful meat, Wheaten Marans should be the one for you.
Wheaten Marans Chicken – Overview
| Breed | Marans Chicken |
| Origin | France |
| Colors | Wheaten |
| Primary Uses | Egg and Meat Production |
| Egg Color | Dark Brown or Chocolate |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Production | 170 – 200 eggs per year |
| Weight | Hen 7 lbs & Rooster 8.5 lbs |
| Lifespan | 7+ years |
| Temperament | Docile and Polite |
| Broody | Occasionally |
| Laying Maturity | 20-24 weeks |
| Foragers | Yes |
Origin and History of Wheaten Marans Chicken
The Marans Chicken breed originated in the Marans Town of France, near La Rochelle region around the early 1900s. Marans is a small town located in western France and this is the reason these chickens were named as Marans.
Marans chickens were developed by the crossbreed of a variety of chicken breeds such as: Plymouth Rock, Coucou de Malines etc, but according to some studies Croad Langshans and Brahmas chicken breeds were probably also used in their origin.
Firstly, chicken breeders paid more attention to the dark brown egg production than to the chickens’ appearance, so, as a result different varieties of these chickens emerged. The chickens with feathered legs are called “French Marans” while the chicken breeds without feathered legs are known as “English Marans” or just “Marans”.
Color Varieties of Wheaten Marans Chicken
French Marans chickens became popular and gained more attention from chicken raisers due to the standardization by the American Poultry Association (APA). 9 color varieties of French Marans are so far recognized. So, apart from the Wheaten Marans, the Marans chicken breed comes in eight more which are given below:
- Cuckoo Marans
- Golden Cuckoo Marans
- Black-tailed Buff
- Birchen Marans
- Black Marans
- Black Copper Marans
- Columbian Marans
- White Marans chickens.
Appearance
Wheaten Marans are a robust and large breed of chicken. These chickens have medium sized heads with single red combs. Besides, their earlobes and wattles are also red in color.
Wheaten Marans have a unique wheaten color. However, the Roosters are darker in color and have golden feathers. They are huge in size and their rich and warm color gives these roosters an elegant look. The wheaten marans roosters have a strong but curved beak which is naturally designed for foraging and feeding
On the Other hand, Wheaten Marans Hen looks quite different from the rooster as they are lighter in color but their tail has black color at the end. Their light wheaten color gives them a stunning look and these chickens can add charm to your flock.
Features:
- Single red comb
- Red earlobes and wattles
- Wheaten Color
- Feathered legs
- Pinkish White Leg color
- White Skin Color
- 4 Toes
Weight
The weight of Wheaten Marans chickens can vary among different individuals. However, an average-sized wheaten marans rooster weighs about 8 to 8.5 lbs, while the hen can weigh about 6.5 to 7 lbs.
The Personality Of Wheaten Marans Chicken
Temperament & Behavior
Wheaten Marans chickens are mostly docile and friendly. They have a polite and calm temperament. Even the roosters of this breed are also friendly and don’t show aggression towards others. Their roosters like to stay politely most of the time. These chickens can interact with people well but most importantly they get along with other chicken breeds. That’s why chicken keepers like to raise them and pair them up with other breeds of chickens to create a mixed flock.
Wheaten Marans are a very active chicken breed and, they loves to roam around in free range. If you constantly keep them in the coop, these chickens can become lazy, so make sure to allow them to roam freely as much as possible.
Lifespan
The lifespan of any chicken can depend on a lot of factors such as feed, care, environment, the place where they live and diet. However, the average lifespan of wheaten marans chickens is about 7 years.
Hardiness
This chicken breed is quite hardy in nature. They can survive the extreme cold of winter without the need of any heater or other electric appliance. Their thick feathers and strong disease resistance helps them to bear the cold weather with ease. These chickens can also live in areas with a bit of a hot climate.
Noise Level
As we mentioned earlier, the wheaten marans are quite calm and polite so they don’t make loud noises. They have a very moderate noise level and people even keep them as pets to play with children.
Wheaten Marans Chicken Eggs
These chickens lay beautiful eggs and you can read the detail about their egg color and egg production below,
Egg Color
Wheaten Marans, like the other breeds of Marans chickens, are famous for their unique egg color. They lay beautiful dark brown or chocolate-colored eggs. However, the egg color will become lighter as the chicken will get older.
Egg Production
An average Wheaten Marans hen can lay 4-5 eggs per week. So, you expect 170-200 eggs per year from these chickens. Due to their dual-purpose nature, they don’t lay a large quantity of eggs and are not considered among the best egg-layer chickens. The hen of the chicken breed normally starts laying eggs at the age of 20-24 weeks (5 to 6 months).
Dual-Purpose Bird:
Wheaten Marans chickens are known as a dual-purpose chicken breed. It means they are used for both egg and meat production. They are famous for their egg color but meat production is an additional quality of these wonderful chickens. Their meat is also considered flavorful and tasty.
How to Raise the Wheaten Marans Chicken?
Basic Requirements
Like any other chicken breed, Wheaten Marans also need some basic requirements to grow properly. These requirements include a clean living area, healthy environment, sufficient feed, freshwater resources and free space. Hence, they will grow and develop more healthily if you take good care of them and it will benefit you the most at the end.
Dietary feed
Wheaten Marans chickens need a balanced diet to help them grow quickly. Their feed must contain a sufficient combination of protein, fiber, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals. However, their hens demand a higher calcium content to support their egg laying process. Oyster shells or limestone grit are also one of the best calcium sources that you can have for your chickens.
Caring of newborn Wheaten Marans chicks
Baby chicks of any breed always need more attention and special caring. You do not need to take the newly hatched chicks into brooders and feed them right away because they naturally absorb enough nutrition from the egg yolk to survive at least for the first 48 hours.
Baby chicks mostly prefer to sleep after hatching but you should dry them properly by leaving them in the incubators for about 10 – 12 hours to make them healthier and stronger. Try to keep them at a moderate level temperature and keep an eye on them for the first few days.
Vaccination
Wheaten Marans chickens are normally disease resistant but it is always recommended to have some preventative methods like vaccination. Vaccination is the popular way to protect your chickens from diseases.
Giving enough required vaccination to your chickens can help to prevent parasite appearance and save them from a lot of health problems. Always consult your veterinary doctor before giving vaccine to your chickens
Pros and Cons of Wheaten Marans Chicken
The pros and cons of this unique chicken breed are given below
Pros
- Dual-purpose breed.
- Docile temperament
- Unique Dark Brown egg color
- Cold hardy breed
- Friendly with Children
Cons
- Slow to mature
- Egg color gets lighter over the time
- Less Economical
- Less prolific egg layer
Conclusion – Are they right for you?
Wheaten Marans is a wonderful chicken breed and its dual-purpose nature and friendly temperament makes this breed even more special. But like every other chicken breed, these chickens also have their pros and cons. If you want a polite chicken that can lay beautiful dark brown eggs, don’t harm your children, dual-purpose in nature and get along with other chicken breeds than wheaten marans should be the ideal choice for you.
Hence, we have learned about all the basic and necessary things about the Wheaten Marans and hopefully it has helped you to decide whether these chickens are right for you or not.
FAQs
What color eggs do Wheaten Marans chicken lay?
Wheaten Marans, like the other breeds of Marans chickens, are famous for their unique egg color. They lay beautiful dark brown or chocolate-colored eggs. However, the egg color will become lighter as the chicken will get older.
Are Wheaten Marans chicken friendly?
Wheaten Marans chickens are mostly docile and friendly. They have a polite and calm temperament. Even the roosters of this breed are not very aggressive and like to stay politely most of the time.
Are French Wheaten Marans good layers?
An average Wheaten Marans hen can lay 4-5 eggs per week. So, you expect 170-200 eggs per year from these chickens. Due to their dual-purpose nature, they don’t lay a large quantity of eggs and are not considered among the best egg-layer chickens
At what age do Marans start laying?
The hen of the chicken breed normally starts laying eggs at the age of 20-24 weeks (5 to 6 months).