Breed of chickens Maran copper. Maran chicken breed: description of appearance and characteristics of productive qualities. General requirements for chickens of the Maran breed

Maran chicken breed widely used in farms for the production of meat and eggs. The name of the birds is quite unusual for our latitudes - this is because they were named after the French town where they were bred by breeders.

Since Maran is located in the cold part of France, it is very well tolerated low temperatures. The chicken was presented to the public in 1914 at the annual exhibition - as a result of which it was decided to award it with a gold prize.

Kur Maran predominantly grown by residents of European countries. For very unclear reasons, they are not very popular on the territory of our country - mainly specialized poultry yards are engaged in its breeding.

Description and features of the Maran chicken breed

Birds have a calm nature, but at the same time they are in constant motion. A pleasant light sheen emanates from their lush plumage. French can be painted in various colors: black, copper, red, silver, gold, white and even blue shades.

Black and copper chickens maran are found much more often than representatives with plumage of other shades. They have large golden spots on the breast, and the feathers located on the back are painted in bright shades of red. The hens of this species are almost black, in the neck area there are small gold inclusions resembling a necklace.

Pictured are black and copper chickens maran

The second largest is the Maran breed of silver and golden so-called cuckoo colors. chicken maran cuckoo famous for its characteristic plumage color: golden or silver feathers are scattered on a black body, moreover, there are more golden feathers on females, and silver ones on males.

chicken maran cuckoo

Also available in wheat color. The plumage of the male is black, the entire head and breast are decorated with golden spots. Feathers of females are completely colored in golden or light red color.

Worthy of special attention blue maran chickens: the plumage of these birds has a light ash blue color, and the head is covered with copper-colored feathers. There are also miniature marans - dwarf ones.

Chickens blue maran

Representatives of the Colombian variety of marans are also endowed with an interesting appearance: chickens are absolutely white, black feathers form a ring around their neck. General description of maran chickens highlights the following key facts:

• The average body weight of a rooster is 3.5 -4 kg, chicken - 3 kg
• The eyes are bright orange-red
• The feathers are quite close to the body.
• Four fingers are formed on the paws of a light color.
• The body of the bird is elongated, the head is small, the tail is short
• Roosters have more lush plumage than hens. They also have large earrings compared to other breeds.

In the photo, marana chickens look important and even somewhat majestic. Because of their magnificent appearance, the people call them "royal".

Care and maintenance of maran chickens

Birds need to provide a long daylight hours and as much time as possible outdoors. In the cold season, the duration of the optimal daylight hours should not be less than 11 hours, in the hot season - the more light, the better.

Popular black marana chickens like all other representatives of the French breed, they love space: the fenced area for their habitat should have an impressive area.

Black chickens marana

You also need to monitor the level of humidity in the chicken coop, if it is high enough it needs to be ventilated regularly. The most suitable temperature for growing Maran chickens+ 15 C.

Nutrition should be balanced and include a large number of vitamins and microelements. The daily diet should consist of various grains and greens.

In order for chickens to rush well and gain weight, purchased supplements are added to food, as well as calcium and shell rock, which is needed for regular reproduction of eggs. To achieve this goal, birds are also fed boiled fish and bone meal.

Chickens of this breed are grown in order to obtain excellent meat and delicious eggs. A hen carries about 150 eggs per year, weighing about 70g, the color of which resembles the color of dark chocolate.

In the photo, maran chicken eggs

According to many experts Maran chicken eggs the most delicious, because they have a well-defined characteristic taste. According to the opinions of people who keep birds, the taste of eggs is directly dependent on the color of the shell: the darkest eggs have the richest taste. At home, their products are often consumed raw - experts are sure that the dense shell does not allow pathogenic bacteria to enter.

Breeding and feeding maran chickens

Breeding maran chickens according to farmers, the process is quite simple. There are two ways:

1. natural method- eggs are left under the hen, which will be engaged in the production of offspring.

2. Artificial method - eggs are taken from the chicken coop and placed in an incubator, where chickens are born under the influence of a regulated temperature .

To breed chickens most similar to the true breed, according to experts, you need to take the darkest eggs. The eggshell is famous for its high strength, so at the moment when the chickens are ready to leave their cozy haven, you need to help them: humidify the air in the room up to 75% and break through the shell opposite the beak, the location of which is determined by the sound that comes from the egg.

If the chickens were hatched in the second way, immediately after the appearance they are transferred to a box in which a piece of cloth was previously laid. A grate is placed on top of the box, and then the lamp is turned on and the temperature is maintained at + 30 C.

The temperature is gradually reduced throughout the week, then the chickens can be taken outside under warm Sun rays(+20 and above). Please note that little chickens should not freeze, so you need to carefully monitor their well-being.

Chickens are fed according to a certain scheme:

• The first two days after birth, they should be fed boiled yolk.

• The diet of the next two days should be replenished with a moderate amount of millet. The number of feedings - 6 times.

• After the chickens are 5 days old, finely chopped shells are added to the above feeds. At the age of 10 days, the number of feedings is 4 times.

• Ten day old babies begin to slowly indulge in carrots and clover, which were previously treated with boiling water.

• To prevent the development of various diseases, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is offered twice a week instead of drinking.

To date, poultry farmers have bred great amount chicken breeds, each of which boasts its own characteristics. It is impossible not to single out among all this splendor maran, which are interesting for "chocolate" eggs. Where did this feature come from? What conditions of detention does Maran require? The breed of chickens described in this article has several unique features.

Breeding history

Initially, in France there was a breed of chickens Maran. And when the fashion for such breeds as Brama and Langshans began, the breeders decided to use the new blood for crossing. The first birds were shown at the exhibition, and this event dates back to 1914. A few years later, the French organized a club where poultry farmers began to breed marans, and a little later breed standards were adopted. One of them says that the bird must have plumage on the metatarsus.

1934 in the history of the breed was remembered for the fact that chickens were taken to an exhibition in the UK. The following happened here: the English breeders did not like that the legs of the birds were feathered, and therefore they selected for breeding the livestock that could boast of “clean” limbs.

Such marans were successfully bred in Great Britain, but this line was not recognized by the French. The British, without thinking twice, created their own club, and the confrontation between lovers of this breed continues to this day.

The beginning of the 21st century was marked by the fact that a number of clubs involved in breeding the described breed of birds were dissolved. However, selection was carried out not only in Europe, but also in America. Here, too, things did not go very smoothly. The original association did not last long, due to different views on what kind of standard maranas should meet. We can say that the French won here, because it was the newly created club that recognized exactly the original standard. Most countries stick to the original version. The issue of official recognition of the second line of chickens at the national level is still open.

It is interesting!The first chickens bred had exclusively cuckoo color. To date, this particular color variation is considered the most popular and common. However, in Russia, birds with copper-black feathers are more common.

Breed chicken maran: description of appearance

If we talk about the appearance of birds, then it is very attractive. Individuals are distinguished by bright feathers that do not lose their beauty even at the time of molting. The description speaks of the powerful physique of individuals, but such a structure does not make representatives heavy or awkward.

Chickens are very active, mobile and at the same time have a balanced character. This feature allows you to keep them with representatives of other breeds, without fear that conflicts will arise in the group.

You can distinguish marans from other birds by the following features:

• the body is of medium size, long body with a wide and high shoulder section;
• the cervical region is long with a dense feather cover;
• the chest is powerful;
• the wings are short and close to the body;
• the tail unit is rather long;
• the head is of medium size with a slight flattening;
• a small scallop has sharp tips;
• the skin on the face is red, the color of the eyes is red-orange;
• a beak with a slight bend, but at the same time very powerful;
• the limbs are medium, may have skin integuments of different colors from white to dark gray;
• there is feathering on the metatarsus and fingers.

Egg features

The breed is interesting for the brown-red color of the eggs, and the richer it is, the higher the quality of the products. There are special indicators here, the minimum allowable value is 4-5 points. But for incubation products, it should be at least 7 points. The best representatives of marans can boast of the color of the shell, which has 9 points. The color of these eggs is almost charcoal.

The shell acquires such an unusual shade during passage through the oviduct. If you scratch the outer layer of the protective shell, a light color will appear. Additional pigmentation serves as a kind of protection for the eggs themselves.

From some farmers you can hear such an opinion that if you give chickens carrots, beets, onion broth husks, then the products will have a dark shell, but this is not so. But if you cross a maran-producer with laying hens of another breed, then dark-colored eggs will appear.

French poultry farmers hold various competitions where egg products are evaluated, namely their appearance: color features of the shell, brightness and shape. Eggs are also interesting because they have an almost regular oval shape, and not everyone has blunt and sharp ends.

Adult roosters gain weight up to 4.0 kg, and chickens - 2.5–3.3 kg. The mass of twelve-month-old adolescents is up to 3.6 kg in males and up to 2.5 kg in laying hens. Meat products are distinguished by excellent taste indicators, and are suitable for both soups and second courses. Carcasses have an attractive appearance, covered with white-yellow skin.

It is worth noting that this breed is practically not used for meat production, despite the fact that the direction is meat and egg. Mostly birds are kept for egg production. The average weight of one egg is about 85 grams with a standard of 100 grams. This is a very good indicator against the background of most egg breeds.

The egg-laying period begins at six months of age or a little earlier. The first eggs cannot boast of a large size and weight, which reaches 60 grams, even the shell is less intensely colored. But over time, all these indicators are aligned to the standard. The most saturated color is in products obtained from one-year-old hens, and it continues to hold for about a year. In older birds, the shell is lighter. Average egg production in our climatic conditions from 130 to 250 pieces in 365 days. However, much here depends on the food supply and how the representatives of the breed are kept.

Subtleties of content

As mentioned above, laying hens have a calm, balanced character, and therefore they can be kept with other inhabitants. homestead and not be afraid that conflict situations will arise.

At the same time, chickens are very energetic and mobile, and therefore they are best planted in spacious rooms that have access to a walking area. Being outdoors has a positive effect on the egg-laying qualities of the breed.

Maranas are quite unpretentious to the conditions of detention, but at the same time they do not tolerate high humidity. All rooms for poultry should be dry, this indicator can be maintained in the normal range with the help of regular ventilation and installation of heating systems, if necessary. It is important to carefully observe changes in behavior in order to diagnose diseases in time. For example, closer to spring, many poultry farmers complain that, and marans are no exception.

With the onset of winter, birds will need an additional source of light. In order for the egg-laying to remain at the proper level, daylight hours must be at least 11 hours a day. Maranas are suitable for keeping both in conditions of large poultry farms and private farmsteads.

Feeding

At the heart of the Maran diet are all the same feeding principles that are suitable for most other chicken breeds. For good weight gain and egg production, the livestock must be provided with a balanced diet.

Farmers take note!Underfeeding and overfeeding are very harmful to laying hens. Due to malnutrition, the rate of egg production is significantly reduced. In order for everything to be successful, it is necessary to take the developed diets extremely seriously and try to comply with them.

One chicken per day should have up to 75 grams of feed, if the diet consists only of such food. But it is recommended not to pour out the entire norm at a time, but to divide it into several meals. Chickens also need to diversify their diet with green mass and vegetables.

In the warm season, be sure to give grass, chopped vegetables, heads of cabbage. Laying hens really like these top dressings. All of the above are given several times a day. The intensity of the color of the yolk in the eggs will depend on the amount of green mass in the diet.

Compound feed for chickens can be purchased ready-made or made independently. The second option is considered effective way significant savings on chicken feed.

The composition of the dry mix includes the following ingredients:

• wheat grains - 12.0%;
• corn grains - 45.0%;
• sunflower meal - 7.0%;
• barley grains - 7.0%;
• pea grains - 8.0%;
• fodder yeast, bone and fish meal, herbal - 5%;
• shell rock, limestone, fodder chalk - 7.0%;
• table salt - 0.3%.

For better digestibility of feed in poultry houses, it is recommended to install containers with gravel, quartz sand or shell rock.

70% of the diet of domestic chicken consists of carbohydrate feed, the rest is protein. If we talk about the nutritional value of compound feed, then it looks like this:

• protein - 15 - 18%;
• fat - 3 - 5%;
• fiber - 4 - 6%.

Young laying hens should receive more nutritious feed with the onset of the egg-laying period.

Ready-made industrial compound feeds contain all the additives necessary for chickens, which are not always enough for birds. As an additional source of calcium for the formation of a strong shell, you need to give special supplements.

You can provide the bird with calcium by distributing the following supplements:

• fodder chalk;
• shell;
• bone meal;
• crushed egg shells.

Such top dressing can be both in a separate container, and in a mixture with the main feed. The most convenient option is the first, so the birds decide on their own when and in what quantity to use supplements.

What to give to young people?

Chickens need proper feeding in order for the young organism to develop and grow properly, and therefore a certain scheme is used here:

• from the moment of hatching and on the third day, the chicks are given boiled eggs with cottage cheese every 120 minutes;
• from 3 to 6 days, crushed millet grains or corn grits are reported to this mixture;
• on day 6, the diet is diluted with crushed eggshells, shell rock, feeding is carried out up to 6 times a day;
• from the age of ten, they switch to four meals a day;
• from the second week, it is recommended to start complementary foods with plant-derived foods.

For the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is given as a drink once a week.

Young maran do not need any serious conditions of detention. Up to 7 days after birth, the chicks are kept in brooders with a temperature index of +30 degrees. After a week, you can let the kids go for a walk for a few hours in good weather conditions.

From 14 days of age, chickens are left with adult hens for the whole day, but in the evening they are transplanted to a warm place. From the age of one month, young animals are considered adults and can be kept in a common chicken coop.

Advantages and disadvantages

If we talk about the advantages of the breed, then they look like this:

Among the minuses are some difficulties that arise in young animals during hatching, which is associated with the thick walls of the eggshell.

As a conclusion, we can say the following: marans are very good breeds of chickens with practically no complaints. Owners especially note the activity of roosters, which has a positive effect on the number of fertilized eggs.

If all the subtleties of the care and maintenance of birds are observed, then high-quality products are always obtained from marans. Representatives of the breed become a real decoration of the farmstead, not to mention eggs with chocolate shells.

Video. Maran chicken breed

It is considered valuable, put on a par with the elite - Maran. This breed of chickens is known in Europe as promising in commercial poultry farming. It is famous for the red-terracotta color of the shell of almost oval eggs, spectacular exterior. Breed standards - characteristics and defects, a detailed description, breeding prospects, farmers' reviews, photos can be found in this article.

Description, standards: a note to the poultry breeder

The breed Maran (Marans), named after the city of Marans, obtained in 1895 in France, carries the genes Braekel, Gatinaise, Barred Rocks, Faverolles. It is used in European countries in large-scale and small-scale production, in private households.

This breed of chickens is a participant in competitions and exhibitions, valued for the exotic color of eggs, beautiful exterior. In the countries of the post-Soviet space, it acts as a collector's item. The owners are small farms and exotic lovers.

Furry-legged, majestic, with an elongated springy body, dense adjacent plumage - the French call them the royal bird. According to the standards, the true Maran has feathering on the outer two toes of the metatarsus, on the outside of the foot. In France, they deny belonging to the breed of the English branch: the English Marans have legs without plumage, and “barefoot” are not allowed to be exhibited.

However, let us return to our Marans - to the French. With reference to the standards of the MCF club, the French breeders' club, according to the international classification - a detailed description, the standards of this unusual breed.

Standards for the Maran rooster:

• the body is powerful, elongated, with high broad shoulders;
• the neck is powerful, long, somewhat rounded to the cheekbones, with rich plumage covering the shoulders;
• the back is elongated, slightly concave, flat;

• the saddle is raised, large, not rounded, with sharp small feathers;
• the chest is voluminous, convex;
• wings are short, fit tightly;
• the tail is short, powerful at the base, raised by 45° in relation to the back;
• paws are medium, with long and well separated fingers, have a slight plumage;
• paw color - white or pinkish. In individuals with black-copper, silver-black color, black - gray or dark gray;
• the head is small, the shape is slightly flattened;
• the comb is simple, leaf-shaped, folding, with 5-6 teeth;
• lobes red, tender;
• earrings developed, long, red;
• ring diameter is about 22 mm.

Chicken Standards:

• the body is smaller than that of a rooster, more rounded, but powerful, strong. The abdomen is well developed, the line of the back is straight;
• the crest is large, somewhat lowered in the back;
• ring diameter is about 20 mm.

The following signs are considered rock defects:

• non-compliance with the declared weight (rooster less than 3 kg, laying hen less than 2.2 kg);
• light or black eye color;
• lack of yellow, black plumage on the paws;
• body shape tending to be triangular or flat, with excessive slope.

Color options:

• NOIR-CUIVRE (NC) black-copper;
• COUCOU-ARGENTE (CA) cuckoo silver (black and white);
• COUCOU-DORE (CD) golden cuckoo;
• NOIR-UNI (N) black;
• NOIR-ARGENTE (NA) silver-black (birch);
• FROMENT (F) wheat;
• FAUVE A QUEUE NOIRE (FAQN) black-tailed Buff (fawn, black-red);
• BLANCHE (B) white;
• HERMINEE (H) ermine (aka Colombian or light).

Egg performance and features

Breed of chickens with good egg production, universal direction (meat and egg). It is used in almost one direction - in the egg. Nevertheless, meat is also famous for consumer qualities: tasty, tender, carcasses have a neat appearance, with attractive yellow-white skin, a sufficient layer of fat.

The mass of the Maran rooster is older than one and a half years - 3.5-4 kg, chicken - 2.5-3 kg; the weight of a one-year-old cockerel is 3-3.5, chickens are 2.2-2.6 kg.

Egg production up to 150-170 pcs. in year. The weight of young eggs is about 65 g, adult laying hens - from 70-80 to 100 g.
Eggs have a characteristic shape - almost oval. According to the nine-point color scale used by MCF, shell color options range from light beige to extra red, terracotta, chocolate. Color intensity is an indicator of quality: the darker the shell, the higher the class of the egg.

Attention! The eggs have a thick shell due to the pigment coat formed during the passage through the oviduct, and are positioned at home as a priori not carrying salmoneliosis.

In individuals with a dark color, the eggs are distinguished by a dark shade. At the beginning of laying, the color is more intense - closer to brown, at the end of the shell brightens up to light beige.

Care and maintenance requirements: main points

The bird is famous for its health and strong constitution with external grace, a lively, but calm disposition. On free range it forages well, it is not picky about food.

Advice. A shell with a thick shell membrane interferes with pecking. In the conditions of an incubator, chickens need to be helped by breaking the shell at the point of pipping along the circumference.

Reviews and prospects

Given the low prevalence, the Maran chicken breed is considered by farmers to be commercially promising for both consumer products and hatchery eggs, and has appropriate reviews. The bird is unpretentious, calm, excellent foraging, quickly gaining weight. Of the minuses - occasionally there is a lack of simultaneous laying in the herd. Let the productivity not go beyond sufficient, the spectacular color and shape of terracotta eggs are appreciated.

A large producer does not consider it profitable to use the breed as an industrial one, but sees a lot of opportunities in the production of breeding material. And given the prices of foreign breeders and the growing fashion for this breed of chickens, the prospects for breeding majestic birds that lay red eggs seem bright.

Maran: video

Maran chickens are one of the most interesting breeds of domestic egg-laying birds. And this is the merit of one very amusing feature of their body, thanks to which eggs resemble Easter eggs in their color - boiled in a strong infusion of onion peel. Experts distinguish 9 shades of the shell - from medium beige to almost black. According to the standard, the darkest eggs are considered the best.

Marans are the fruit of the work of French breeders from the city of Marans. The breed was bred at the end of the 19th century and officially registered in 1895. At the time of the demonstration of the new breed, it had not yet been decided how to name it, but a little later, the experts came up with the idea to give the bird a name in honor of the city in which it was bred. In 1905, the Maran breed standard was officially approved.

After some time, there was a general fashion for the Langshan and breeds. This prompted breeders to improve Marans by crossing with the aforementioned birds. As a result, in 1914, an improved Maran breed was presented at the exhibition. After a few more years, a club of maran connoisseurs was opened in France, the purpose of which was to breed an improved breed. Further, the standards were revised, and one of the requirements was the presence of plumage on the metatarsals.

In 1934, Marans became participants in a chicken exhibition held in Great Britain. The British did not like representatives of the breed with hairy legs, so individuals with bare limbs were chosen for breeding.

This is how a separate breed line appeared, bred in the United Kingdom, but it was not recognized by the French. The British created their own Maran lovers club. By the way, the confrontation between these clubs continues to this day.

It should be noted that not only European breeders became interested in the breed. The Americans also bred Maran. A club of connoisseurs of this unique breed was also organized here, but it did not last long. And the reason for everything was the fragmentation of views on the true standard that a purebred bird had to meet.

A new association of breed connoisseurs, created in America, preferred the French standard for the appearance of chickens. He was also recognized by Maran breeders in most European countries. But the line of chickens with bare metatarsus has not yet been officially recognized.

Appearance and character

Marans are a breed of chickens, the description of which does not fit any clear template. In particular, there are many varieties of plumage color. Perhaps no other breed can boast such a rich variety of officially recognized color standards.

The breed is considered to be To some extent, this is true, but those who are just planning to have this bird in their backyard should be aware of some of the nuances. For example, the vast majority of breeders prefer to keep and breed Marans solely for egg production, as they consider it wasteful to use these hens for meat.

Indeed, it is much more expedient to get meat from chickens of other breeds, because in quality it is not inferior to Maran meat. But it is unlikely that a chicken of any other breed will be able to lay the same tasty and large eggs as those of layers from Marans.

Maran's character is calm, friendly disposition. This feature allows you to keep the bird next to individuals of other breeds. An undoubted plus is the fact that layers covered with a Maran cockerel can begin to lay the same beautiful, bright eggs.

Another one distinguishing feature Maranov is their royal posture gait. They move smoothly, importantly, with dignity. According to many breeders, their maranchiki are well aware of their importance and uniqueness, which is manifested in their behavior.

The owners of Maranese chickens are proud of their pets and often post photos and videos of their pets peacefully swarming in the open range. Maran roosters have their own distinctive features in appearance:

• a comb with a clear pattern, often hanging to one side;
• rather large earrings;
• rich collar;
• landing of the tail relative to the back 45 degrees;
• fingers are covered with down.

The bird of this breed has an elongated, medium-sized body. Females weigh 2-3 kg, males - from 3 to 4 kg.

Varieties

In the description of the breed, there are more than 10 types of colors. The American standard allows three basic colors: white, wheat and black and copper. The latter is the most popular among breeders of this breed, both in America and around the world.

The plumage of females is snow-white, in males a yellowish tinge is allowed on the collar, tail and part of the back closer to the tail. In Marans, the genes that are responsible for the white color are recessive. This can only mean one thing - there is an admixture of genes of a different color in the line.

Note: the metatarsus of the white Maran is always pink. The gray or bluish-gray shade of the legs of the chick indicates that it belongs to the lavender variety.

The color of plumage in males and females of this variety of Maran differs markedly. In roosters, the head and neck are bright golden in color, and the chest is black. The steering feathers have a black edging along the contour, the rest of the feathers have rich copper. In chickens, the color is almost even - wheaten. Only the head and neck are somewhat darker, but the chest and stomach, on the contrary, are slightly lighter.

The main color of the feather on the breast of the male is black with multiple patches of reddish-copper color. The back and neck are a rich copper color, and the tail feathers are the color of a raven's wing.

The female is almost completely black. On her chest there are small spots of a reddish color, and a red-copper necklace flaunts around her neck.

However, Americans recognize the following colors:

• silver cuckoo;
• golden cuckoo;
• silver black;
• Colombian;
• lavender;
• mottled;
• salmon;
• black;
• black-tailed.

The plumage of females and males is silvery-white. At the same time, there are three standards: American, French and British.

In American male Maran, the pattern is clearer and brighter. By French breed standards, males, on the other hand, are paler in color. Throughout the body, the feather is evenly variegated, a slightly creamy shade is allowed.

The British standard allows males to have a lighter shade of plumage on the upper chest and on the neck.

On a note: often black chickens can hatch from motley parents. Mating of cuckoo and black varieties is also allowed.

Sometimes this variety is called the golden cuckoo and is mistakenly attributed to a separate breed of chickens. In reality, this is just a variation of the color of the Maran breed.

In males of the golden-cuckoo variety, the head, mane, part of the back near the tail have a bright yellow plumage, and the shoulders are covered with a copper-colored feather. Otherwise, the color is like that of the silver-cuckoo variety, only with a creamy yellow tint.

Females are painted more modestly - a golden hue of the feather is only on the neck and head.

Note: in some cases, the yellow color on the breast may predominate, giving it a whitish-golden hue.

According to the arrangement of flowers, this variety is an analogue of black-copper, where silver takes the place of copper-colored feathers.

Note: the French did not officially recognize this variety, but it is included in the list of varieties in the Dutch and Belgian clubs of Maran connoisseurs. Chickens of this color are obtained by crossing individuals of black-copper and silver-cuckoo individuals.

Colombian color

Surprisingly beautiful color: snow-white body and head, the collar is covered with black feathers with white edging, which creates the appearance of a clear pattern, as if a net of snow-white lace was thrown over the black collar. The tail is black, on the edges of the wings the feather is white above, black below. Hocks are pinkish-white.

Lavender

The color is based on two pigments - black and red, therefore it is presented in several variations: from blue to light coffee. At the same time, a lavender bird may have offspring of a red or black color.

Mottled

Snow-white body with single colored feathers (black or red). The standard allows a different frequency of inclusions.

Pinkish-yellow plumage throughout the body. The color of the head and mane is slightly darker - in golden brown tones. Males have rich rich copper colored wings.

Both the female and the male are black in color without any inclusions. A feather with an emerald sheen is allowed. A reddish tint of plumage is also allowed by the standard. The variety is considered quite rare among the Marans.

Red-copper body and black tail. In males, the tail feather casts in emerald green. The tail plumage of females may be copper-brown.

In addition to the difference in color options, Maran chickens have another variety - dwarf. Such birds are much smaller than ordinary Marans: chickens weigh 900 grams, roosters - 1 kilogram. Eggs in miniature laying hens do not exceed 40 g.

It is interesting! The very first Maranas were of an exceptionally motley cuckoo suit. Such Ryaba hens are still most in demand among breeders around the world to this day. The exception is Russia, where the black-copper variety of the breed is more popular.

Productivity

Marans are a versatile breed of chickens with high performance. Roosters reach a weight of 4 kg, chickens - up to 3 kg. The meat is tender, juicy with a minimum fat content, due to which it is recognized as a delicacy and dietary.

Laying hens and cockerels reach puberty by 5-6 months of age. In hens who have just begun to lay eggs, they are not very large - their weight is approximately 55-60 grams. The color of the shell at first is not so intense, but by the beginning of the second year of life it reaches the darkest shade, which, when good conditions keeping and feeding the birds remains the same throughout the year. In laying hens older than 2 years, the eggs become paler. Egg productivity, depending on the conditions of detention, is approximately 130-150 pieces per year.

Egg features

The main distinguishing feature of eggs laid by Maranese chickens is a hard, thick shell and a unique pigment. The darker the color of the shell, the better the quality of the egg. Color intensity is measured on a 9-point scale.

According to the standard, eggs rated at 4-5 points and above are recognized as quality. For breeding poultry, experts recommend using an egg with a shell color intensity of at least 6 points - only if these requirements are met, the offspring are guaranteed to retain all the signs of breed.

An egg corresponding to 9 points on the scale looks almost black. It is carried by the best representatives of the breed. The shell acquires a characteristic "Easter" color when passing through the chicken's oviduct (if you try to scrape it, the top layer is removed, and a lighter shade peeks out from under it). It is the additional shell that makes the shell thicker, so that maran eggs are almost not susceptible to salmonellosis infection.

According to some farmers, you can achieve a darker egg color by adding carrots, beets and other dark vegetables to the diet of chickens. In hens of other breeds, the color of the eggs may become darker if they are crossed with a Maranese male.

Another feature is the almost perfectly regular oval shape - in such an egg, the opposite sides are almost indistinguishable. The eggs are also excellent in taste. This feature is noted by all owners-breeders of maran. They argue that in scrambled eggs made from different eggs, you can always find out which one belongs to the laying hen from Marans.

There is no fundamental difference in the requirements for keeping marans and chickens of other breeds. Here - everything is like everywhere else:

• The bird does not tolerate excessive humidity in the room, drafts and unsanitary conditions.
• Walking in the warm season is preferable in the fresh air throughout the daylight hours.
• The air temperature in the chicken coop should not be lower than + 15C.

In the poultry house, you can equip both standard perches and keep the bird on the floor. In this case, the thickness of the litter should be sufficient so that the bird can dig a recess for itself to sleep and lay eggs.

chicken coop

The balanced temperament of marans does not mean at all that the bird can be kept in cages. Chickens of this breed require a spacious aviary for outdoor walks, and even better if there are conditions for free range in the courtyard. However, some breeders prefer to play it safe and stretch a translucent mesh over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe enclosure. The main purpose of such protection is the prevention of infection with infectious diseases from wild birds.

Ideally, a maran house should be equipped with the following:

• For year-round poultry keeping, the chicken coop should be built either from foam blocks or from solid timber. A room made of such material will be warm.
• Be sure to equip the supply and exhaust ventilation.

Also in the chicken coop there should be perches and nests for hens that are comfortable for chickens. Experts recommend equipping and placing nests above the level of perches, in secluded corners where the bird will feel calm. Nest arrangement:

• the bottom must be laid with hay;
• for 5 layers, one nest will be enough;
• the entry hole is easier and better to make square with sides 25x25 cm;
• the height of the laying house is at least 35 cm, the depth is at least 30 cm;
• at the entrance to the nest, a special shelf for take-off should be equipped;
• the shape of the roof of the nest can be single-pitched, as in a birdhouse or gable - at the discretion of the owner.

The main thing is that it is not horizontal. The slope is needed so that the chickens do not settle on the roof and do not stain it with droppings.

For perches, it is better to use bars with a minimum cross section of 6 cm. The ideal shape for the convenience of the bird is a bar with rounded edges or a cylindrical shape. The length of the perch is calculated based on the number of birds in the herd. Each individual relies on at least 20 cm. It is better to make perches with a margin. The optimal height for perches is 120 cm from the floor.

In the warm season, chickens will be able to sit on the poles freely and comfortably, but in winter, if the birds get cold, they will huddle together. It is much worse if some chicken does not have enough space on the perch.

Experienced poultry farmers advise covering feeders and drinkers with a net. So the bird will be able to eat and drink, but will not climb into them with its paws.

Feeding

In order for the bird to receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals from the feed, it is best to buy specialized compound feed. An adult bird needs 75 grams of feed per day. It is strictly not allowed to reduce the amount of feed or overfeed the bird. This negatively affects her health and productivity.

In summer, chickens nibble fresh greens on an open range, while in winter, herbal granules and boiled vegetables should be added to the main diet.

The finished feed contains all the necessary nutrients, but if you have the time and desire to cook food for chickens on your own, you should know the standard composition:

• whole corn - 45%;
• wheat (whole grain) - 12%.
• peas - 8%;
• sunflower meal - 7%;
• barley - 7%;
• shell rock, limestone, chalk - 7%;
• fish, herbal, meat and bone meal and fodder yeast - up to 5%;
• salt - 0.3%.

Note: for better absorption of food, chickens need small pebbles and quartz sand. 70% of the composition of standard mixed feed is carbohydrates, the remaining 30% is protein.

Nutritional value of chicken feed:

• fiber - 4-6%;
• fats - 3-5%;
• protein - 15-18%.

Young laying hens should be supplemented with calcium containing feed supplements. You can mix them into food or give them separately - the bird itself determines how much calcium it needs.

Diseases

Marans have strong innate immunity to various diseases, but any breeder should be aware of the most common of them in order to start timely treatment if necessary and prevent the loss of the bird. Such knowledge will also be useful in order to protect your chickens from possible ailments through prevention.

Dropsy of the abdominal cavity occurs when the water-salt balance in the bird's body is disturbed. The main causes are dysfunction of the liver, kidneys and heart. The disease is manifested by a change in the behavior and appearance of the bird. The chicken becomes lethargic, moves with difficulty. Palpation reveals tension in the abdominal cavity, the abdomen is noticeably enlarged.

The success of treatment depends on how much it is possible to eliminate the underlying causes of dropsy. Symptomatic therapy includes pumping out the accumulated fluid using a catheter, the use of diuretics.

The selected drug is mixed into the drink or food at the dosage recommended by the instructions for use. The course of treatment is also indicated there. For prophylactic purposes, an adult bird is given phenothiazine. Prevention of helminthiases in young animals consists in drinking a bird that has reached 20 weeks of age with a solution of potassium permanganate at the rate of 1: 30,000. This solution replaces ordinary water.

Note: any treatment should begin with a visit to the veterinarian.

Prevention

Good prevention along with deworming is keeping the chicken coop clean. It is also necessary to carry out regular disinfection of the premises with fluorochlorophenol, xylonaft, sodium hydroxide or ash alkali preparations. Solutions for processing are made in accordance with the instructions attached to the disinfectants.

Scabies is a disease that is dangerous by the speed of spread. In the absence of prevention and timely treatment, a bird can suffer from scabies for years.

The treatment is carried out in this way: the paws of an infected bird are kept for half an hour in warm soapy water, then dried with a clean rag and lubricated with a solution of creolin.

For the prevention and treatment of this disease, spacious baths with a sand-ash mixture should be installed in the chicken coop. The fallen affected feather and fluff must be removed from the chicken coop in a timely manner and burned at the stake.

Breeding

In order to breed the livestock of maran and obtain healthy, high-quality offspring with all the signs of breed, eggs with the most intense shell color should be selected. Hatching eggs can be placed under a hen or an incubator can be used. Otherwise, the requirements for breeding and raising chickens are the same as for other breeds of chickens.

The only nuance to pay attention to Special attention is the thickness of the shell. On the one hand, such protection helps to protect offspring from helminthiasis, on the other hand, it is quite difficult for chickens to hatch and in some cases outside help is required.

Experienced maran breeders are also advised to closely monitor the eggs in the incubator. Hatched and dried chickens should be immediately planted in a separate box. The reason for this need is that, moving inside the incubator, the hatched chicks can turn the eggs over with a peck, thereby blocking the access of air to the chicks that are just starting to emerge from the shell. If you do not notice this in time, the babies may die without hatching.

You can buy Maran hatching eggs both from private farmers and large poultry breeding farms. Prices are quite affordable and may vary depending on the intensity of the color of the shell. Dark eggs are considered the best, respectively, and the price for them will be higher.

Chicken diet

In order for the hatched offspring to develop correctly and be healthy, chickens should be fed according to a certain pattern:

• The first 3 days of life, babies are given a mixture of cottage cheese and boiled eggs every 2 hours.
• In the next three days, corn grits or crushed millet are added to the feed.
• On the 6th day, crushed eggshells and shell rock are added to the feed. The frequency of feeding is already 4 hours.
• Ten-day-old chickens are transferred to 4 meals a day.
• Starting from the 14th day of life, plant products (finely chopped greens, tops) are introduced into the diet.

For the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases every 7 days drinking water replaced with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Necessary conditions for chicks

From the moment of hatching and up to a week of age, the chicks are kept in special brooders, the air temperature in which must be maintained at +30 C. Starting from the 8th day of life in warm weather, the chicks are allowed to walk for several hours.

From the age of two weeks, young animals can walk on the street all day and only at night the growing chicks are placed in a warm room. Upon reaching the age of one month, the young are moved to a common chicken coop.

Advantages and disadvantages

Chickens of any breed have their pros and cons. To a greater extent, these characteristics depend on what exactly the breeder wants to get from their pets. So the following indicators can be attributed to the obvious advantages of the Maran breed:

• Both eggs and meat of Maran have excellent taste.
• The breed tolerates any weather because it has a strong immune system from birth.
• Maran chickens carry “ready-made” Easter eggs with a thick, durable shell and sometimes weighing up to 100 g.

Flaws

According to breeders, chickens of this breed have virtually no flaws. The only negative is the need to help the chicks peck through a thick shell.

Maran is one of the best versatile breeds of chickens. Hatching eggs have a very high hatching rate. Subject to all the recommendations and tips for care, Maran will delight their owners with unsurpassed productivity and the highest quality eggs and meat.

Useful video

Video about maran chickens:

Chickens of the Maran breed have recently become increasingly common on Russian farms. They are distinguished by good adaptive potential, high productivity and excellent taste of meat. This is the only breed of chickens that lay chocolate brown eggs. The color of the shell is not the only distinguishing feature of this breed. The high palatability of the egg and its density are noted. Due to the high strength of the egg, it is less susceptible to infection with salmonellosis.

Origin story - chickens that lay black eggs

Maran is a breed bred over 120 years ago. For the first time this chicken was presented at the National Exhibition in La Rochelle in 1914, where she confidently took first place. The name of the breed was given in 1921 in honor of the city of Maran (French Marans), where it was bred. The swampy terrain of the southwest of France contributed to the excellent health and ecological plasticity of chickens. In 1929, a French club was created in the Poultry Corporation in order to protect the purity of the Maran breed. The standard is finally approved and entered into the register of the SCAF catalog of marans in the fall of 1931.

Maran chicken breed

Description and characteristics of the breed: exterior and performance

With their beautiful appearance and demeanor, marans are often compared with. Their movements are filled with dignity and grace. These birds are quite large, hardy and strong. The weight of an adult rooster is about 4 kg, and hens - 2.5-3 kg. Behind external activity lies a calm character.

Marans have a powerful body with a wide chest. The body is elongated, with densely touching plumage. On a small head is a comb with 6 teeth. The eyes are a rich orange color. The short tail hangs down at an angle of 45 degrees.

Exterior chicken maran

Of particular importance in current standard breed is attached to the feathering of the legs. It is more expressed in the presence of "cuffs". Only the outer sides of the metatarsus and both outer toes should be moderately feathered. Preference is given to individuals with insufficient feathering than those with abundant and obvious. The diameter of the ring is 0.22 cm (for a rooster) and 0.20 cm (for a hen).

are:

• magnificent plumage on the neck in the form of a "collar";
• impressive earrings on the sides of the head;
• comb hanging on its side;
• plumage on the fingers.

The disadvantages (defects) in the following parameters include:

• low weight (roosters less than 3 kg, chickens - 2.2 kg);
• yellow or white earrings;
• too light or dark eye color;
• yellow or black legs without cuffs.

The plumage color of Maran chickens varies significantly. There are the following types of colors:

Feature of the breed - eggs with a chocolate-colored shell

Maranov belongs to the egg-meat breed. Their egg production is high and is about 150 eggs per year. The size varies from 70 g (in young chickens) to 85 g (in adults).

The unusual color of the shell gives not only a beautiful appearance, but is also an indicator of the biochemical properties of the egg and future offspring. The less pigment, the less vitamin A and carotenoids are contained inside. In laying slightly colored eggs, and chickens derived from them, the content of hemoglobin in the blood is reduced. And vice versa, the more saturated the color of the shell, the higher the indicator of health and viability of future offspring.

Maran chicken eggs

When crossing Maran roosters with other breeds, the eggs are often also dark in color.

Diet and feeding regimen

Marans are a fast-growing breed, this should be taken into account when compiling a diet. The basis for the menu is various grains with. It is also useful to include the following components: finely chopped boiled fish, meat and bone meal, fresh and boiled grated vegetables.

For rearing young animals and chickens you can use the following special complete feeds (PC):

1. PC-0 for chickens up to 4 days old;
2. PC-1 for breeding and industrial laying hens;
3. PC-2 for chickens from one week to 2 months;
4. PC-3 for young chickens from 2 to 3.5 months and from 4.5 to 5 months;
5. PC-4 for young chickens from 3.5 to 4.5 months.

Feeding maran hens

The frequency of feeding depends on the age of the chickens. Starting from hatching, chicks are fed every two to three hours and gradually increased to 3-4 times a day for adults.

As a mineral supplement, shell rock, chalk, and shells should be present in the diet.

Features of care

Maran are genetically predisposed to good health. There are practically no problems in their maintenance and care. It is worth noting the following points:

• the desired temperature in the chicken coop should be at least 15 degrees Celsius;
• humidity in the barn should not be very high. It is recommended to equip special ventilation openings to prevent air stagnation;
• these are active birds and they need to equip a spacious enough aviary for walking;
• as much as possible, Maranas should spend time outdoors. In winter, the light period is at least 11 hours.

For the rest, no special conditions This breed does not require care.

Pitfalls, maintenance problems and their solutions

Chickens of this breed feel good both in industrial conditions and in private poultry farms. Laying hens are excellent at incubating eggs. It should be noted that the intensity of the shell color and productivity is affected by the indicator of stress resistance of hens. up to 30 0 C reduces pigmentation and increases the number of light eggs in the clutch. To increase the viability of the offspring, laying hens are chosen that give eggs with a more saturated shell color.

Difficulty you may encounter when hatching chickens, lies in the high strength of the egg shell. This problem can be solved by increasing the humidity in the room up to 75%. It is also worth monitoring the moment the chicken is born and, perhaps, helping to break through the shell manually.

Difficulties in Maran usually do not arise. They are quite unpretentious. The daily brood is placed in a box covered with a wire rack. A lamp is placed on it, which maintains a temperature of 30 0 C inside. If the chickens huddle together, then they freeze, and it is worth raising the temperature by one or two degrees. In the future, every day the value on the thermometer should decrease by 2 divisions.

Growing young maran chickens

From a week old, chickens are taken out into the street (for 2-3 hours). In the barn to adults, they are transferred to the daytime from 2 weeks. Chickens are finally transferred to the chicken coop at the age of one month. It is necessary to control walks in the courtyard for up to two months.

The menu and the principle of feeding young animals is given below:

• every few hours for chicks up to 3 days old it is necessary to add the yolk (boiled) with low-fat cottage cheese to the feeder;
• starting from 4 days, add crushed corn and millet. The frequency of feeding - 5 times a day;
• from a week old shell rock, shells and ash are added to the diet. Gradually, the frequency of feeding is adjusted to 4 times;
• from the second week chopped alfalfa and grated carrots are introduced (scald lightly);
• several times a week in drinking water add a few crystals of manganese. The solution should be almost imperceptible, pink in color.