What is up with Marans?

[timordog]

I've come across several sites which indicate Marans are very expensive. Both the eggs and the chicks. Can anyone fill me in on this?
Tricia

 

[smith2]

It is the "in" chicken. There is really nothing that unusual about them except they lay a really dark, chocolate colored egg. I happen to really like dark eggs, but I am not going to pay ridiculous amounts for eggs or chickens. I just don't have that kind of money.

 

[Katy]

It's especially certain colors that are all the rage right now. I've had cuckoo Marans for several years...they lay nice dark eggs and don't cost you an arm and a leg like some of the other colors. You have to watch who and where you get them from tho or you can end up with a really expensive bird that doesn't lay a dark colored egg at all.

 

[Black Feather]

I agree...the 'fad' chicken of the moment. I've seen some of the eggs some produce and have an inkling that there is more Barred Rock in some of those Marans than anything else. The real Marans lay a nice dark egg which is pretty cool. I can see getting one or two in the future when the dust has settled and the serious breeders emerge.

What can I say, how can you not like an egg that looks like chocolate?

 

[amazondoc]

I agree with what everyone else said. There's two or three big problems that are causing the high prices:

First -- there's a big fad effect.
Second -- it's difficult to breed the really really dark eggs and keep them dark.
Third -- the breed is still rare in this country, especially in colors other than cuckoo and perhaps black copper.

Now, you CAN get good eggs and/or chicks cheaply, IF you do your homework first. But to do that you first need to get involved with the groups that are interested in Marans. You need to get to KNOW people. When you have made good connections, then you can often get very good deals. But most folks who just want to jump in without doing the legwork will still be paying top dollar for the next few years.

If you want a cheap bird that lays a nice egg, buy a Welsummer.

If you want to partake in the fad but you don't want to spend any money or do any work, buy a Cuckoo Marans from a hatchery. But don't expect very dark eggs.

If you want a good quality Marans but you don't have much money to spend, then take the time to become involved with the hobby and get to know the breeders.

If you want the best of the best and the sky's the limit, then at least take the time to find out the names of top breeders before you go on ebay or eggbid or ovabid, or before you start contacting people to get on waiting lists.

Do NOT be buying from people who just followed the fad into the hobby. I know one breeder who has gotten $150 and more for a dozen eggs, who hasn't even managed to hatch any of her own yet!

 

[Birch Run Farm]

I like my cuckoos. I bought eight of them for $5 bucks each and they were 8 weeks old. Now they are laying and you know what, nice dark eggs. You don't need to spend a fortune unless you want to!

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I couldn't agree with everything you said more!! Especially your last point. If you're going to spend that kind of money go to an established breeder.....they don't even charge that much as a rule!!

 

[Black Feather]

The one thing I can say about established breeders though it they don't like to sell their good birds to just anyone. They like to know if you are serious about raising the birds and that the hard work they put into breeding high quality stock is being passed on to good hands. That's why it's so important that if your are 'truely' serious about a certain breed to build a good rapport with the breeders. This will enable you to acquire good stock to start your own flock with.

Urban Coyote

 

[blackdotte]

Just remember,no matter what anyone says, if it does not lay a very dark red-brown eggs & it does not have leg feathering ,then it is NOT a Marans.
Brown egg layers are not Marans
Clean shanked birds are not Marans.

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
Oh, now that leg feathering part is baloney.

Clean shanks follow the British standard, feathered shanks follow the French standard. And since France reimported their Marans from Great Britain after the second World War, it would also be nonsense to say that British Marans aren't "real" Marans.