Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[Illia]

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Started with hatching eggs from several different people, most from other states.

Loved it and still do because of its really dark eggs as well as very meaty body and laid-back, calm temperament as well as bold appearance/body type.


I did do a lot of research first though, because especially before knowing about the French types like Black Copper, I was just used to hatchery Cuckoos, who are an un-impressive version, sorry.

 

[Chinchilla2]

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I'm just now starting on Marans (meaning as of TODAY I put 17 in my 'bator) but the reason behind starting with them is cause Illia said they would be really kewl dual purpose birds with great attitude. Which was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Since I have a local BYC'er near me with Marans, I was able to get some eggs and already have a lead on a good cockerel from another blood line for any pretty lady birds that hatch out.

Speaking of which, could anyone point me towards a good website or forum / post number with the various accepted colors, breed standards, and general Maran care? Figure if I'm going to raise a good quality baby, I need to start the education of the breed now like I did Orpingtons. Thanks in advance!

 

[gilavina]

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I came across the Marans while I was researching poultry I might want to raise when I finally got out of Grad school....i read about a ton of breeds I wasnt familiar with, but kept coming back to them and read anything I could get my hands on about them. I was raised around poultry since before I could walk or talk, so I knew I was already hooked on them even just from reading about them. I didn't get my first Marans until over a year later and found them by coincidence at a sale in Kansas. From there it kind of ballooned to many shipments of eggs...with both good and bad hatches. I've now had mine for about 2 years and can't imagine being without them. Sure I love other breeds too, but the Marans have stolen my heart...especially any of the blue varieties!!

The temperament is outstanding and when you get some that really look like they should, they are just gorgeous!

 

[DMRippy]

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I'm just now starting on Marans (meaning as of TODAY I put 17 in my 'bator) but the reason behind starting with them is cause Illia said they would be really kewl dual purpose birds with great attitude. Which was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Since I have a local BYC'er near me with Marans, I was able to get some eggs and already have a lead on a good cockerel from another blood line for any pretty lady birds that hatch out.

Speaking of which, could anyone point me towards a good website or forum / post number with the various accepted colors, breed standards, and general Maran care? Figure if I'm going to raise a good quality baby, I need to start the education of the breed now like I did Orpingtons. Thanks in advance!

I don't know what page but the standards are listed on this forum maybe someone can help there, I have to go to bed. The only Accepted color right now is the French Black Copper Marans. (Always spelled with a S singular or plural)

I got mine for the eggs and dual purpose bird and they are really pretty if you can get one colored properly. I bought mine as chicks, now I am on to eggs from a local BYC'er who also gave me a really kewl Blue Copper and Splash Copper Roo. Now the fun begins, breeding to get that pretty roo

for my yard candy!!!

 

[Hens and Roos]

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we were taken in by the egg color and thought it would be cool to add some into our group of chickens. We did get a few hatchery cuckoo Marans and only 1 made it to laying age. While she was a mellow girl, her egg color was maybe just a 4 on the color chart nowhere near the color we were seeing on the thread! We hatched out some eggs and have 1 Blue Copper Marans pullet from that who is just starting to lay and her 1st egg was probably a 6 on the color chart. We also have 1 Blue Cuckoo Marans cockeral who is a big boy yet very mellow and takes good care of the couple of girls with him who are also Marans. This breed is the one that I picked out to have something different than what my kids are raising for 4-H. They are also very nice dual purpose.

 

[stoopid]

I too, started with some poor hatchery Cuckoos. I wondered what all the fuss was about. Get some good birds, you will really love this breed!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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I got into Marans because of the egg colour. I was looking to make some olive eggers and was told BCMs were the way to go. The olive eggers are still a distance away! I'm still waiting for my first Marans egg but it should be any day now.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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I've got some Ameraucanas with eyes like that so I'm curious to hear the response as well.

 

[gilavina]

Mornin everyone!

 

[pinkchick]

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I got into Marans because I saw the eggs......then I saw a Blue Copper Marans and that is all she wrote. I had to have them.

I researched them first and decided to get what I felt was the best birds I could get since they were pretty expensive. I fell in love with them even more once I had them and got to know them. Hooked, line and sinker for these birds, they are sweet, docile and get along great with all the other birds.