Thoughts on Marans?

[Better Than Rubies]

Hey, guys.
I don't have chickens, but I'm hoping to get some next spring, Lord be willing. And I've read that Silver Cuckoo Marans are gentle birds, but don't make good pets? For those of you who own/have owned them, in particular, or any Marans, would you say that's true? Hand raised as a few-days-old chick, though, do you think they could be nice pets after all? And what color egg does the Cuckoo Marans typically lay? Is it not uncommon for them to be speckled, just not like the Welsummer's?

 

[User395221]

I have only one black copper marans. I wouldn't say that she is particularly friendly, and she is my prime suspect in the murder of some chicks that another girl recently hatched. It's not a big enough indicator of the breed as a whole, but personally I'd get silkies for pets. (on the other hand, WONDERFUL eggs from my marans)

 

[Better Than Rubies]

and she is my prime suspect in the murder of some chicks that another girl recently hatched

Oh, dear. That doesn't sound pleasant.
But my parents would be letting me get chicks for eggs only, so, sadly, I probably wouldn't be able to hatch any, since she doesn't want me to have a rooster (but our neighbors' rooster comes into our yard a lot ). And I want a Silkie, and definitely a friendly, tame flock, as I want them for pets, too, but because of my mom (no ill feelings intended), I definitely need good layer breeds.
But so long as I could hold and pet the Marans, and it'd be social and eat from my hand and learn to lay in the nest box and go in the coop at night, etc., then maybe it wouldn't be so bad?

Update: I appreciate your help and answer. Sorry I forgot to mention I want a good layer and friendly breed.

 

[3riverschick]

I had silver cuckoo Marans years ago. they were Kelly Cratty strain birds . I really enjoyed them. they were the English strain that didn't have feathers on their feet . personally I like them better than the feathered feeted ones. they did well in the cold weather. would slosh around in the mud, in the water, no problem. they are after all a swamp chicken. Kelly has passed on now but there still are some people around who have his strain of Birds . they laid a beautiful dark egg . just delicious egg.
I didn't find they want to crawl up in my lap and be cuddled but I didn't find them as flighty as maybe a leghorn. Best ,
Karen

 

[Better Than Rubies]

Thanks, Karen.

 

[venymae]

My absolute favorite is Red Sex links (called production red, cinnamon queen, red star, etc.) They are fantastic!!! layers of large brown eggs (6-7 a week) and are super friendly if hand raised. Most chickens will start to slow down or stop egg production after 3 years of laying, so keep that in mind. My last two RSLs were still laying strong at 3 years, but others have had different experiences. Here's a pic of my kiddo with his pet RSL "Honey" to convince you of their friendliness

 

[sylviethecochin]

Have you considered ordering a mixed layer package? Several hatcheries sell them. As a first time owner, you'd be able to tell your birds apart, you'd get different colored eggs (always interesting) and you'd get some temperament variety. Some places (mypetchicken is one, I think) allow you to order one of each breed. Maybe get five hens or so (whatever would provide you with enough eggs) and see what you like?

If you like the cuckoo coloration, you might like barred-rocks. They lay a rather pale egg, but they do have personality.

 

[User395221]

they laid a beautiful dark egg . just delicious egg.

Yes, your mum would definitely be happy with the eggs.

Seriously, you should just get whatever chooks are available. Every girl has her own personality, and even within a "friendly" breed you might get a cranky-pants and vice versa, or one who is shy. If you get young girls, you can train them to accept you and accept handling and whatever you want to make them "tame". I've never met a chook I didn't like. I say that Lucy (my marans) isn't that friendly, but that's just compared to my "tamer" ones. She still comes up for treats, and I can still pick her up and all that sort of thing. I haven't put any effort into "taming" her so she's more of "just a chook" than a pet chook.

Another option for you might be Australorps. They are great chooks, and again have really nice eggs. My white sussex is a sweetie.

EDIT: yes, a mixed package is a great idea.

 

[3riverschick]

I love my Light Sussex. ( See my avatar) they're gentle and curious and friendly .you come to the run and they come running up. I don't really hold my chickens a lot so I can't speak to that .
if your mother wants dark brown eggs you might consider the Welsummer breed . beautiful chickens and they lay eggs that are very competitive in darkness with the Marans . they don't have feathers on their legs, which is I think a good thing . but they're just a really nice chicken.
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Here's the deal with the feathered legs on the Marans. okay it's a cultural thing. in France where the Marans came from , they pasture their chickens on grass. feathers on the legs and the feet are no problem. but in England , they yard their birds in poultry yards and the feathers get dirty and messy . so they bred their Marans without feathers on their feet . it was sanitary and beauty thing .
okay fast forward to America. originally from England mostly they're clean legged. then Marans get imported from France . they have feathers on their legs and feet . what to do ? they want to get Marans accepted into the American Poultry Association Standard . so there's a big fight between two sides. the one side wants to follow "country of origin" standard and have feathered legs. the other side says no we don't want to do that . We want to have clean legs . so the people who wanted to follow the French standard won and the Marans were accepted into the American Poultry Association for showing and stuff if they had feathers on their legs. so what happened to all of the English strains? Some people kept them pure and you can find a flock of Fugate or a flock of Kelly Cratty here in there . people found that in one or two generations by breeding to the French birds they could add feathers to the legs of their English birds. so that is what you see mostly around the United States now is the feather leg Birds they're not all pure French. no they're not but they're birds from an English Heritage that had the feather legs and feet bred back into their strain so they could be shown and stuff like that.
right that's that's the story behind The Feathered legs.
Best ,
Karen