Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[gilavina]

It always surprises me to see folks say their Marans aren't good layers; mine are among the best I have. The only thing that frustrates me just a bit is that my flock tends to lay VERY late in the afternoon to early evening. That I find odd. I also have found that they most definitely prefer a very dark nest box. When I moved their nest boxes to a different location, which coincidentally was darker, I began to immediately notice more eggs each day. It's the only thing that had changed; that was 5 years ago, and I've left the nest box in that same location!

(Incidentally, here in the U.S. they are simply "Marans" - not "French Marans".)

x2 on the very dark nest box and laying later in the day to evening.

 

[mikefields]

Hi ,y'all,
My BCM's stopped laying in the egg boxes. The temp has started to drop. I have two that were laying and blam, nothing for a week. I do let them range during the afternoon hours . I guess i will have to stalk them to be sure they are not hiding the eggs. It sure was a sudden stop and they are healthy. Anyone have ideas?

 

[Wynette]

Hi, mike - when the daylight hours begin to shorten, that alerts the hens that it's time to slow down & take a break to refuel & prepare for the next laying season. In other words, it's perfectly normal for them to slow way down and stop in the fall. Many folks add supplemental light to their chicken runs/pens to force lay through the off season; I personally don't do this, as I know that it's very hard on them to lay when nature is telling them they need a break. But, I sure don't hold it against folks who DO use this practice.

That might be why I consider my Marans to be good layers; many folks have been commenting that they don't feel they are good layers, but my gals start up before any of my other breeds (usually in late January) and, when other breeds have stopped for the season, mine continue on for several weeks longer. As a matter of fact, I haven't gotten a Plymouth Rock eggs (I have 2 varieties) for almost a month, and my last Giant egg was a couple weeks ago; yet, my Marans are just now beginning to slow down a bit.

 

[mikefields]

Thanks Wynette,
If this is a repeat, i seemed to have lost my post. I have two laying now and was worried when the suddenly stopped. My girls have laid 59 beautiful eggs in just over a month. I think thats pretty good. I am with you on adding extra light. I'm going to let nature take care of that. They are as much a pet as a producer. Thanks again.

 

[Wynette]

Kudos, Mike! I think they are healthier when they take a break. I had a lovely black Marans pullet lay me 3 eggs just last week, and I have not seen one yet this year. Her eggs were absolutely GORGEOUS and I couldn't wait to see how they progressed. Sigh. I guess I'll find out in the late winter!

 

[DaveEmily]

This is my experience with my BCMs for the past 4 years. They are all individuals when it comes to hens. To say they are sensitive would not be best explanation. It is true that they will take time to adjust to a move just like people. The main thing is these birds are by no means prolific layers. They can't be compared to any of the true layer breeds because they were bred as a dual purpose breed of meat and eggs. That being said, they are excellent at either, but they get the job done. If you're wanting consistent egg laying you really only have two options. Increase your flock size in hens or change to a layer breed. But only Marans have the true chocolate egg.

I hatched 200 Marans early this spring and fed them the way the French do free ranging and then finishing with grains and milk for a few weeks,,,,,,the meat has been wonderful,quite a bit different than we generally produce here in the states. I hatched them from eggs like these in the picture,which has been about average for our birds.

 

[DaveEmily]

x2 on the very dark nest box and laying later in the day to evening.

Nice Splash in your Avatar....

 

[upthecreek]

It always surprises me to see folks say their Marans aren't good layers; mine are among the best I have. The only thing that frustrates me just a bit is that my flock tends to lay VERY late in the afternoon to early evening. That I find odd. I also have found that they most definitely prefer a very dark nest box. When I moved their nest boxes to a different location, which coincidentally was darker, I began to immediately notice more eggs each day. It's the only thing that had changed; that was 5 years ago, and I've left the nest box in that same location!

(Incidentally, here in the U.S. they are simply "Marans" - not "French Marans".)

Wynette ,

Thanks for the Good timely info ....... i agree completely and have seen over the years exactly what you are saying and Your corrections (makes me smile everytime i see the word French used as part of their name) .
I literally have to change my feed to get my Marans to stop laying ....... i've shared many times what and how i feed for laying and health but just about everytime i am told this is not the way the scientific specialist say it's to be done and then they proceed to tell me how to feed correctly . I stopped after several times of being scolded . (smile)

Thanks again Wynette ,
Shannon

 

[Nashonii]

Thank you James;;aka overrun with chickens, for telling us the facts of the original Marans farms.
I bought these Marans as Black Copper, (one male 2 females). Having not been in the chicken business before, (and trusting that others knew what they had), I didn't do my research as to what the male and females looked like. I want to keep the breed pure, but I now doubt that what I have is pure. So, yes, I will advertise them as Mixed Marans. I don't want to deceive anyone. Yet, I have been very successful at incubating them, and don't have room for all of them. I have become a true hatch-aholic!
When I get a true Wheaten female, I will so enjoy breeding a pure breed, as I had hoped to do in the beginning.

 

[Nashonii]

Quote: Thank you DMRippy, and others, for answering my questing about mating for color! Very informative, and helpful!