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Marans Reviews

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Marans
May 16, 2012 at 8:03 am
smilot
Reviewed by smilot
Pros: Chocolate colored eggs
Cons: Rare hard to find localy

would love to have some chocolate colored eggs to our collection of pink, brown, cream, and green, and blue eggs.

May 7, 2012 at 7:22 pm
1876 Farm
Reviewed by 1876 Farm
Pros: Beautiful rooster, likes to crow

Our rooster is a beautiful bird. He loves being the head of the chicken coop and is a wonderul crower (he crows a lot, all day long).

January 12, 2012 at 11:57 pm
SunnyDawn
Reviewed by SunnyDawn
Pros: Stunning egg color and taste
Cons: Expensive

I love my marans.  The marans are a regal bird with the most beautiful eggs I've ever seen!   I am just entranced by these gorgeous eggs!  Plus the eggs are better tasting than any other egg I've ever tried!  Creamier.  I scoffed at this statement before I tried them but I am a believer now (my husband can't taste the difference, however he can't tell a store egg from a fresh one).

 

About half my hens do go broody (not at the same time luckily) but I like that and they are not the best choice if you want a hen that is a heavy egg producer (I  average 3 a week from ea hen).  I do get eggs in the winter but it definitely does slow down.  Their coop is insulated (gets below zero here) and I do provide some supplemental light in winter.

January 11, 2012 at 12:17 pm
ChickenWisperer
Reviewed by ChickenWisperer
Pros: Decent layers, nice personality, cold hardy
Cons: Very large

I loved my Marans. While they didn't lay as much as my Australorps, they did have good personalities and were very nice to look at.

 

A roo I handraised and hatched myself was  the best rooster I've ever owned. I still miss my Ashi and regret selling him, but he was simply too big for some of my little hens.

 

Ashi, cuckoo marans

 

 

I don't currently have any Marans, but  I want some again!

January 11, 2012 at 3:17 pm
jadasmommy7
Reviewed by jadasmommy7
Pros: Good hens
Cons: Wasnt showable.

Bought assorted chicks from tractor supply in 2010. One of them was a Maran hen. Beautiful bird! Great layer but at the time you really coudlnt do anything with them except eat the eggs. So I had to sell her.

January 11, 2012 at 3:44 pm
BarnGoddess01
Reviewed by BarnGoddess01
Pros: Dark eggs
Cons: Not necessarily the easiest birds to keep

I have Black and Blue Coppers. I love these guys but they are not necessarily the easiest birds to raise/keep. I had rapid growth issues with my first hatch (leg problems) but yet they wait until 31 weeks plus to start laying. Plus, because the breed is so new - LOTS of variation in what comes out of the egg. But I am going to stick with them.

January 11, 2012 at 5:03 pm
WoofMeowCluck
Reviewed by WoofMeowCluck
Pros: beautiful egg color
Cons: not prolific layers (mine anyway)

Beautiful dark eggs! Calm, friendly. Wish they laid more than 3 eggs a week!

January 11, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Lbrad7
Reviewed by Lbrad7
Pros: Hens are happy go lucky and lay beautiful dark brown eggs
Cons: Hard to find good examples of the breed.

My birds are FBCM and lay beautiful dark brown eggs. They don't lay like my production breeds in that they don't lay very often during the winter months but when those eggs start rolling in they are absolutely beautiful and customers LOVE THEM!

 

As far as personalities go, they seem a little curious and really don't cause any kind of a ruckus. They mind their own business most all of the time and are really quite. Now when I say that, i am referring to the hens. My roo was straight from the pits of hell.He was VERY aggressive..flogged my wife at every given chance and crowed constantly. Since I live in a rural area, the crowing wasnt a problem..the flogging was! Note that I said "was".

January 11, 2012 at 8:30 pm
ReiMiraa
Reviewed by ReiMiraa
Pros: Friendly, Eggs, Large, Hardy
Cons: Frostbite, Need more eggs, hard to find good ones.

I was finally able to obtain Marans this past year. The chocolate eggs are amazing. The roosters are Gentle Giants. They come in many colors. The large combs can be a problem for frostbite. There are some with leg feathering and some without. It is frustrating that there are different versions of standards. For me as long as they keep laying darker and darker eggs I don't see how looks matter as much if the color of the egg is what originally defined the breed.

The roosters are gentle with the hens and the hens are dedicated layers. Haven't had a problem with any going broody (yet).

 

Buddy the Birchen Marans says Hello.   (he currently lost his tail in a coyote attack he escaped from, 3 other birds were not as lucky)

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January 12, 2012 at 5:36 pm
TaylorHobbyFarms
Reviewed by TaylorHobbyFarms
Pros: Quiet, Beautiful Eggs
Cons: Keeping Feathered Feet Clean

We couldn't ask for more from our Marans.  Some began laying as early as 5 1/2 months and they lay beautiful chocolate colored eggs.  They are also one of the quietest chickens we own.

 

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January 12, 2012 at 7:53 pm
juststruttin
Reviewed by juststruttin
Pros: Dark Eggs
Cons: Broody, poor winter layer, eggs hard to hatch

I am not a huge Marans fan.  I tried them  because I was entranced by the egg color but am not impressed.  Yes, the eggs are super dark and gorgeous by my birds are often broody and I have not seen an egg since end of Oct and its now the middle of Jan.  I  will not be getting any more.   When I compare them to my Welsummers, 

January 15, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Casey1
Reviewed by Casey1

i own 2 cuckoo marans, nice big birds, eggs are a nice dark brown colour

 

January 15, 2012 at 3:15 am
SanctusPullus
Reviewed by SanctusPullus

Very happy with our Cuckoo Marans.  Showed very motherly instincts from two weeks old, letting newborns crawl under her for warmth.  Content with company or by herself doing her own thing.  Began laying nearly every day at 25 weeks.  Eggs getting darker and larger each day.

January 13, 2012 at 8:44 pm
wood&feathers
Reviewed by wood&feathers
Pros: gorgeous eggs that keep exceptionally well, great mothers
Cons: may lack vigor due to limited foundation stock

I have had cuckoo, black copper and wheaten marans. The cuckoo is my favorite.  She seems short legged, but is incredibly quick on her feet. She has been a very good broody - only goes broody once in the summer, and when she does she sees things through.  The Black Coppers are larger and lay those gorgeous dark eggs but lack the cuckoo's vigor and intelligence. Their persona is more stately. They too make good mothers.  Both types have laid well when they are laying.

January 15, 2012 at 3:37 pm
MicheleC
Reviewed by MicheleC
Pros: Beautiful Dark Eggs, calm and sweet birds
Cons: Not heavy layers, but the eggs are worth the wait
Just started with some from a local breeder and hatched a few from a BYC seller. They are the sweetest I have raised. Even the two Roos I have are incredibly docile. I have tried several breeds, this is one I'll be sticking with!big_smile.png
January 21, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Busheybird
Reviewed by Busheybird

cute ad awesome

February 1, 2012 at 12:57 pm
kitchenchick
Reviewed by kitchenchick
Pros: beautiful eggs, sweet hens, really impressive when grown
Cons: not easy to raise, disease prone, not for beginners

If I had known then what I know now I think I would have passed on my desire for BCMs.  Even from better than average lines hatches were not fantastic.  Found they are not very hardy during winter- frostbite, etc.,  mysterious losses, not to predators, just would keel over with no signs of sickness.  On the plus (when grown) gorgeous eggs, very calm and endearing birds, beautiful to see out in their pens and pasture. 

 

One word of advice, buy chicks or eggs locally if at all possible.  I think my biggest mistake was trying to hatch shipped eggs, but that was my only option at the time.  you can sink alot of money in eggs with a very small return... 

February 9, 2012 at 7:21 pm
greatergraceoffbg
Reviewed by greatergraceoffbg
Pros: Great dark egg color
Cons: Inconsistant in every way where breeding is an issue.

My next door neighbor had white Marans when I was a child. These birds were much cleaner than our Leghorns, they thrived in the muddy pasture and often hatched chicks. I got interested a few decades back and have every color in the book. They are just plain fun. If there wasn't so much out crossing and false advertising from people trying to make easy money we could have a great breed in the Marans. Unfortunately the Marans craze created a lot of unethical people, who hatched and sold all sorts of substandard stock. Now it is what it is.

January 11, 2012 at 5:47 am
OldChurchEggery1
Reviewed by OldChurchEggery1
Pros: Unique eggs, Attractive and Gentle
Cons: Hard to obtain, Expensive

I first tried my hand at Marans with shipped eggs and had dreadful results. Of 24 eggs I had only 1 live chick, and it was not a Wheaten Marans as it had been sold. The next attempt was slightly better with three of 12 hatching. Unfortunately, the pullet never laid before mysteriously wasting away. My luck in 2011 improved markedly- 7/12 hatched out of eggs obtained from a different source, I found a breeder shipping live chicks, and had good luck with yet another source of hatched eggs with 4/4 hatching. I've now got a breeding flock of 5 hens (who are laying-yes!!!) and three cockerels to choose from. The most recent hatchlings are 1 cockerel and 3 pullets. The cockerel has good leg feathering and may prove himself to be my foundation sire when at last I can hatch MY OWN WHEATEN MARANS!

February 11, 2012 at 1:52 pm
derk12
Reviewed by derk12

i want this

February 24, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Mary_Ann
Reviewed by Mary_Ann
Pros: Beautiful birds, amazing eggs!
Cons: Not great layers

I will probably always have a few Marans because I love the color of the eggs and the amazing richness of them.  But I had no eggs from Sept. through Dec. and had to buy eggs from a local farmer.  I'll get better layers for production, but they won't be as beautiful as the Marans.

 

They are not a social as my younger Welsummers, but get along well with the flock. One 9 mo. old did just roll over and die two nights ago.  She was fine one minute and then she was gone.

February 27, 2012 at 2:08 pm
BeccaOH
Reviewed by BeccaOH
Pros: egg color, gentle, dual purpose
Cons: hard to get good quality birds

I've raised both blues and wheatens for a couple years. Last fall, due to space, I went down to just Wheatens and then lost both roos to a dog attack. I love the wheaten color, and my birds have had very good dark egg color. Their personalities have been very gentle and calm. The hens forage well. I had broody hens in my blue flock. I will rebuild my wheaten flock.

April 21, 2012 at 7:02 am
6lilhens
Reviewed by 6lilhens

2 Marans

March 8, 2012 at 11:24 am
njgarlicgrower
Reviewed by njgarlicgrower

Great chickens, easy to raise, very good egg production.

March 11, 2012 at 12:16 am
katwester
Reviewed by katwester

I bought eggs and hatched 9 chicks also have 6 coppers in the incubator right now

March 27, 2012 at 1:58 am
Axle Quails
Reviewed by Axle Quails

a very good layer and got her own character 

March 29, 2012 at 7:58 am
ruby101
Reviewed by ruby101
Pros: is a good leader, also is good for if you want to have chicks.
Cons: there is no cons that i have for ths breed yet.

this is a very good chicken and for me, i think i would say it is 5 stars. it always wants to be the leader, and it makes a good one. it treats the ladies nice, so if you want chicks this is a good chicken for you

March 27, 2012 at 10:31 pm
karithatswho
Reviewed by karithatswho

My marans have the most interesting crow.  I hope I have a hen in this batch of chicks.  I want dark terracota eggs!

April 9, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Coopacabana
Reviewed by Coopacabana
Pros: will lay dark eggs someday hopefully, beautiful, feathered legs
Cons: not friendly, taking forever to lay, weird & annoying crow

I have had two roosters and a hen (black copper). They are quite beautiful but I had to get rid of the roosters because they make a terrible noise! And I enjoy my other rooster's crows! It was like Ooooooooh- ooooooh- ahhhhhooooh. Really deep and mournful and irritating. They are skittish & flighty. The hen is over 7 months, maybe 8, and has yet to lay. I think if I want chocolate layers I should go with welsummers. But super beautiful, love the feathered legs!!! 

April 9, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Chickielady
Reviewed by Chickielady
Pros: Large to Jumbo sized eggs ! calm, intelligent birds
Cons: none !

I absolutely love my Marans.

I have french Silver Cuckoos and Blue Coppers and they are the smartest most friendly hens and cocks.

They are my mainstay layers, easily counted on to produce the jumbo to XL dark brown egg.

Chicks hatch easily & are thrifty and healthy.

hens not as broody as other breeds so I can count on these hens to take care of my egg orders.not to mention they are hefty & produce a nice heavy carcass and keep the feed bill paid by eating egg sales year round.   yippiechickie.gif

April 16, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Marbleeeh
Reviewed by Marbleeeh
Pros: Good egg layers, friendly, quiet
Cons: Can be shy

I live in the suburbs and have a small backyard. I have 2 chickens: a Marans and a Barred Rock. My Cuckoo Marans, Orca, is a very sweet, medium-sized bird. I get a large, dark brown egg from her every day, and a double yolked egg weekly. She isn't the biggest people-chicken, but she isn't too shy either and willingly eats out of my hand. I would highly recommend this breed for backyard flocks. I got her when she was 3 months old, so I don't know what they are like as chicks.

April 29, 2012 at 6:51 pm
StarLover21
Reviewed by StarLover21

I might be getting a maran soon! The color options I have are: Black Copper (I already have black stars, so I think I won't want one of these), Blue Copper, Splash, or Wheaton.

 

Which do you think I should get! Post an answer in the comments :)

April 30, 2012 at 9:30 pm
citroen
Reviewed by citroen
Pros: 9/12 hached cute little guys
Cons: I can't sex them

delicous eggs cute as a button, hardy babies good chick I recommend them for anybody

May 7, 2012 at 3:04 pm
JesnJer
Reviewed by JesnJer

Its too early to really say, but they seem pretty friendly so far.

January 11, 2012 at 6:39 pm
amillecay
Reviewed by amillecay
Pros: He is great, perfect size and is so loving
Cons: I can't think of any at this moment

I really like my roo he is just the perfect size and he is such a nice polite boy of course he is at that point in his life right now were he has to guard his girls :P so he has attacked me a few times now but I am working on making sure he knows I am the boss not him. But otherwise I really enjoy this guy :))

January 11, 2012 at 7:09 am
Corban
Reviewed by Corban
Pros: Beautiful dark colored eggs. Produce eggs about every other day!
Cons: None that I can think of.

My BCM hens have a lot of character and are fun to watch interact with nature. They produce dark colored eggs and do so every other day.  They like to voice their opinion and won't hesitate to know other chickens out of the way for meal time - including the roo.  My BCM roo doesn't like anyone messing with his hens and will attack just about anybody that appears to be a threat... he knows not to mess with me though as I am the Alpha! However, because he is aggressive it ensures that the flock is well protected.  I would imagine there are less aggressive BCM roo's as roo's tend to bring on a character entirely of their own regardless of breed.

January 11, 2012 at 7:20 am
mandelyn
Reviewed by mandelyn
Pros: Good layers, large birds, good feed conversion, friendly, sane
Cons: Can't think of any cons!

I have 1 Splash, 1 Blue, and 1 Wheaten Marans from 2 sources. All 3 are great layers, calm and a friendly birds. They do ok in heat and excellent in cold. My goal is to have one hen in every available color since they're just great all-around birds.

 

You don't have to be very hands on in taming them, they're just naturally calm birds.

January 11, 2012 at 10:01 am
GreenEarth
Reviewed by GreenEarth
Pros: Good layers of dark eggs, calm
Cons: egg color fades throughout laying cycle, sort of standoffish

Our Marans are good and predictable layers, although they slow significantly in winter. They are calm and mostly quiet, but are sort of standoffish and not as friendly as some of our other breeds.

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