Maran chicken description of the breed, features of chickens of black and copper, wheat and cuckoo colors, owner reviews ⋆ 👨‍🌾 Farmer-online ⋆

The Maran chicken breed is considered quite common in farms around the world. Birds owe their popularity to the unusual chocolate coloring of eggs. In addition, they have a high level of strength. Products are not the only thing for which marans are so valued. These chickens have many unsurpassed qualities.

Origin and characteristics of the breed

Maran chickens were bred back in 1885 by French breeders. However, glory overtook the birds not immediately. Farmers started talking about her only in 1914, after the chickens made a splash at the La Rochelle exhibition. The name of the breed corresponds to the name of the city in which the birds were bred. It is worth noting that the climate in these places is very severe. Therefore, marans have adapted to any bad weather and easily endure the winter.

However, chickens are best kept in a warm place, so they can rush.

In Europe, marans are widespread. In Russia, it is quite difficult to find high-quality and thoroughbred poultry, since there are no large farms in the country specializing in this breed of chickens. Not so long ago, large farms began to significantly expand the range of poultry, and soon it will not cause any difficulties to purchase maran.

According to the description, outwardly maranas look very attractive. Their stately appearance stands out noticeably among the rest of the pack. They have a massive and large body, but even due to the size of the birds, they cannot be called clumsy.

Features of the Maran chicken breed are as follows.

Birds have contrasting plumage, and even molting does not spoil their appearance, but only changes the tone. The color scheme of the plumage of marans is quite diverse, it can be both dark and light tones, with different tints.
The plumage fits snugly to the body of the chicken. The birds are of medium size, the body is oblong, the shoulders are broad, and the chest is convex. The neck of marans is massive and long, the feathers on it are arranged in such a way that they create the effect of a collar.
Maranas have short wings, a long tail, their thick limbs are of medium size, the color can be white or yellow. The head of the bird is slightly flattened and has a medium size.
The comb of the bird is standard, red in color, rigid structure. Chickens of this breed have long earrings, painted red.
Metatarsals, like fingers, have light plumage.
The small eyes of chickens are golden in color.
The yellow beak of the bird has a curved shape.
The weight of a maran rooster can reach 4 kilograms. The weight of the female is 3 kilograms.
Tender maran meat is famous for its incredible taste. However, the main thing for which these chickens are so loved is their eggs. They are large in size, the maximum weight of the product is 80 grams.
A variety of maran is considered medium-late, this is due to the beginning of the egg-laying period. Birds become sexually mature when they reach 6 months. The first laying eggs can weigh up to 55 grams and are white in color. Over time, chickens begin to lay larger and darker eggs.
The average egg production rate can reach 140 eggs per year. The conditions of poultry keeping have a great influence on this factor.
Chickens can live up to 7 years. High productivity is observed at the age of 2-3 years. After that, a complete replacement of the livestock is carried out.
Among the birds of this breed, there are dwarf varieties, the weight of females reaches only 800 grams, and males – 1 kilogram.

Advantages and disadvantages

Marans practically do not have significant shortcomings. The only negative point is their strong shell. This feature often serves as a serious obstacle to the birth of chickens. It is very difficult for them to break through such a powerful shell.

If we talk about the pluses of the breed, then marans have a lot more of them than minuses.

High taste index of meat and eggs.
High level of adaptation. Thanks to this, breeding birds is possible in any conditions. This is because the strong shell prevents parasites from getting inside the egg.
High level of fertility and survival of chickens.
Chicken eggs are very large in size, the same can be said about bird carcasses.
Chocolate-colored eggs lend themselves to long-term storage and tolerate transportation well due to their strength.
Marans have good immunity and almost never get sick.
In the content of chickens will not cause much trouble. The reason is the calm nature of both hens and roosters.
Marana males have a high level of activity, which has a positive effect on offspring.
In care, such chickens are completely unpretentious and will not cause much trouble to the farmer.

Varieties of colors

In the course of long-term selection work, experts brought out a large number of representatives of the maran breed of various stripes. These birds have a rather diverse color, but from their ancestors they received the so-called birthmark in the form of specks on the plumage.

Types of maran colors are as follows.

wheaten. This variety is characterized by brown plumage in the tail of the mane and head. There are also representatives of a golden-red color. The back is characterized by a rich red color, and the wings are painted in a light red hue. Flight wings are black with a bright green tint. The black tail has an emerald sheen. Clush is characterized by a lighter color, most of the representatives have a golden-red color. The chest and abdomen area has a wheaten hue. Down is characterized by a milky color.

The color standard for all maranos of this variety is the same, the plumage should be cream, wheaten and dark red.

Silver cuckoo. Marana roosters have a lighter color than hens. This condition is mandatory for the variety. The variegated plumage has a pale red tint, decorated with specks along the body.

Due to their genetic characteristics, the offspring of such birds may have black plumage.

golden cuckoo. Such chickens in places have a bright yellow tint. The shoulders are characterized by red plumage. The main part is painted in silver-cuckoo color. Females of this species have yellow plumage only on the head and neck.

Black and copper. The body and tail of representatives of this species of birds have black plumage. The lumbar region, mane and head are painted in copper color. The intensity of such a color can be different, the main condition is the presence of a similar color. Males may have black plumage on their backs and loins.

The hen, like the rooster, is the owner of only two colors of plumage.

White. These chickens have plumage of rich white color. In some places on the body, roosters may have yellowish tints. The metatarsus of white marans is pink.

Mottled. This variety of chickens is characterized by a white plumage, on which there are small round spots of brown or red.

Lavender. Plumage color is based on black and red pigments. A special gene of birds makes it lighter, and then their feathers become blue or milky. The offspring of lavender chickens may have red or black plumage.

Silver black. The plumage color is similar to the copper-black suit of birds. The only difference is the absence of red feathers on the tail and neck. Instead, these zones have silver plumage.

Colombian. The body of these chickens is covered with white feathers and down of the same color. The plumage in the mane area is black, it is decorated with a white edging. The upper part of the flight feathers is painted snow-white, and the lower part is black. Hocks have a pale pink tint.

Content Rules

Before you start marans, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with all the nuances of keeping individuals of this breed. A distinctive feature of marans is their calm and docile nature. In the case of a mixed type of content in a flock, you can keep up to 3 roosters for 30 hens.

Such birds fight very rarely and coexist perfectly.

Coop

The room for chickens should be warm and dry. The chicken coop should be protected from drafts. It also needs to be provided with enough light. It is recommended to illuminate the room for at least 12 hours, especially in the winter season. The temperature in the chicken coop all year round should be at least 15 degrees Celsius. In winter, farmers install a heater in the chicken coop as an additional source of heat. The floor should be covered with sawdust or straw, which should preferably be changed at least 2 times a month.

Increased moisture levels can harm the condition of chickens, so you need to regularly air the shed in which they are kept.

Food

The rules for feeding marans are not much different from other birds of this species. A balanced diet must be provided for high egg production rates, as well as for normal weight gain in birds. It is strongly not recommended to overfeed hens. Underfeeding also has a bad effect on the condition of the maran. Such nutrition can reduce the productivity of laying hens. For chickens and adult chickens, you need to make the right diet.

To ensure the young growth with normal development and growth, it is necessary to feed the birds according to a certain scheme.

From 1 to 3 days. The nutrition of newborn chickens in this period is based on boiled eggs and low-fat cottage cheese. Birds should be given food every 2 hours.
From 3 to 6 days. These days, the diet of young animals must be filled with products such as ground wheat grains and corn grits.
From 6 to 9 days. Shell rock and crushed eggshells are added to the diet. Food is given 5-6 times a day.
From 10 days. The number of meals is reduced to 4 times a day.
From 14 days. Plant products are introduced into the diet.

To prevent stomach diseases, it is recommended to give chickens a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This procedure should be carried out no more than once a week. Upon reaching 4 months, the chickens switch to a diet that is intended for adult birds. One adult chicken consumes about 75 grams of feed per day, if this product is the basis of nutrition.

It is better to divide the food into several meals, otherwise if you pour out the entire norm at a time, the birds will eat everything, after which they will remain hungry.

Be sure to include vegetables and herbs in your diet.. In summer, birds eat grass, they can also be given chopped vegetables and cabbage. Laying hens need to be fed. They should be fed several times a day. In order for the products to be of good quality, a normal amount of greens must be added to the diet.

The chicken diet consists of proteins and carbon feed (70% of the total mass). From an early age, chickens should receive vitamins and all useful substances. Some feeds already contain the necessary elements to keep birds healthy. Many farmers prefer food based on the amaranth variety. They note that this additive, which is used for feed, is eaten by birds with pleasure. Additional meals are provided separately. So the bird itself will be able to decide what exactly to eat and in what quantity.

Place for walking

Birds weigh a little, so they are not able to fly. Due to this feature, farmers never enclose a walking area with a high fence. So that the birds can lead an active lifestyle, a large area is organized for their walking. If the birds do not move much, then this will lead to problems with being overweight. Along the perimeter should be small vessels filled with sand and ash. Such baths protect chickens from parasites that can provoke various diseases and reduce productivity.

To prevent rain from harming the birds, it is recommended to cover half of the walking area with a roof.

Possible problems

It happens that for some reason in a flock of birds begin to peck the tails of its weaker representatives. Such behavior for representatives of the species is considered pathological. It manifests itself in the form of aggression by eating the feather of a fallen chicken. Birds can also damage the cloaca and skin of their neighbors. There are 3 main reasons for cannibalism among chickens: features of the breed of chickens and their socialization, conditions of detention, nutrition.

For the affected bird, a separate cage is made and it is separated from the flock. The damaged area must be treated with hydrogen peroxide. After that, the treated wound is lubricated with oily disinfectants:

ichthyol ointment;
iodine;
glycerol;
tar ointment.

In this case, you should find out the cause of pecking among chickens and try to eliminate it. It is best to improve the conditions of the birds, as well as make changes to their diet. A sick and weak bird is removed from the common chicken coop.

Breeding

Before you start the process of breeding and growing maran, you need to choose a hen for breeding new offspring. A chicken with a high level of egg production is suitable for this role. You should also pay attention to the appearance of the bird and its compliance with the breed standard. The chicken should be of a calm nature, of medium size, and be at least 2 years old.

The optimal age of the hen is 2-3 years.

It is recommended to use fresh eggs for the breeding process. They should be large in size and characteristically dark in color. As mentioned earlier, the biggest problem when breeding a breed is a thick and durable shell. It happens that the embryos cannot destroy it and later die. There is a way that can save most embryos. Eggs should be placed on the side and well ventilated. Thus, a large amount of oxygen will enter the egg.

To prevent the embryo from drying out, the eggs should be turned over to the inside of the shell once every 1 days.

Maran eggs are quite large, so you can put no more than 10 of them under the chicken. In the room where the chicken will incubate eggs, there should be a normal temperature, the heat is considered unacceptable. The humidity level should reach 75%. The incubation period continues for 20 days. When the chicks begin to hatch, it is advisable to be nearby in case any difficulties arise.

It is recommended to leave no more than 3 chickens under the hen, so the hen can get used to them faster. After that, the rest of the offspring are placed with the mother.

Diseases and their prevention

By adhering to certain rules, you can avoid the appearance of diseases among chickens. The main preventive points include maintaining cleanliness in the room where the birds live and a balanced diet. Chickens should be vaccinated at an early age.

The most common diseases of Maran chickens are as follows.

Bird flu. This disease belongs to the category of infectious diseases. During bird flu, chickens lose coordination and have a significant increase in body temperature. The plumage has a disheveled appearance, and the bird often rotates its head. Another sign of illness is discharge in the form of mucus from the beak. A sick chicken must be isolated. Usually it is immediately slaughtered to prevent infection.
Ascaridosis. In this case, the bird may appear worms. At the first detection of signs of the disease in the chicken coop, it is necessary to carry out sanitization with boiling water. To cure the disease, it is recommended to buy special preparations for chickens, designed to combat helminths.
Knemidocoptosis. On the paws of birds, growths appear in the form of small tubercles, they can also be covered with scales. The cause of the disease is the scabies mite. To cure a bird, it is necessary to apply aversictin or novertin ointment.
Abdominal dropsy. Symptoms of the disease can be a sluggish appearance of the bird, a tense gait, an increase in the abdominal cavity. In this case, it is necessary to get rid of excess fluid in the stomach. To do this, it is recommended to add a diuretic based on herbs to the water. For this purpose, bearberry decoction can perfectly cope.

Reviews

On the Internet, you can find many positive reviews about maran chickens. The high quality of large eggs and the unique taste of meat have conquered more than one poultry farmer. Many novice chicken breeders prefer to start marans in their farm first. They do not require special care, you just need to follow the basic rules for their maintenance.

The owners of this unusual breed of chickens are pleased with their quiet and calm nature. Such birds rarely provoke conflicts in the flock. The chicken coop should be well heated and clean, in such an environment the laying hen will produce more eggs. If you add a balanced diet to this list, you will also be able to avoid various diseases among birds.

Breeding such chickens is not particularly difficult. The high survival rate of embryos contributes to the release of large and healthy offspring. But you will have to pay attention to the pecking process itself in order to help the chickens hatch in which case. Maran chickens are a very popular breed in small and large farms. The demand for these birds continues to grow. Delicious products and ease of maintenance are exactly what many owners of this breed of birds like so much.