There are many different breeds of chickens: meat, egg, egg and meat, decorative, vociferous, fighting, and others. Each breed has its own characteristics and differences, conditions of detention and its purpose. If you have your own farm or you are thinking about this, then of course you thought about what breed of chickens to breed. One of the best egg and meat breeds, which is also distinguished by the beauty of the carcass and selected eggs, is the Maran chickens.
Breed of hens Maran, or other name Marans, distinguished by its uncommonness due to external beauty, meat quality and the fact that bears large chocolate-colored eggs. In Russia, these chickens are not very common. Although now many farms want to breed Maranov. This breed was bred in France in the city of Marans.
The city is located in the area of drained and wet swamps, this is due to the good health of chickens and the ability to adapt to adverse conditions. The first presentation took place in 1914 at the exhibition La Rochelle, the bird managed to take first place. In 1921, the name Maran was chosen for such chickens, just after the city of the same name, Marans. In 1931, the standard of Maran chickens was approved and registered in the catalog of SCAF.
Breed description Maran
They belong to the egg and meat breed. Chickens have bright colors, unusual plumage. The bird itself is quite large, one might say important, graceful and beautiful.
This breed is royal, the hen carries itself with dignity, proudly and importantly. Gives the impression of a strong bird. Active, mobile, while her temper is calm. The bird is disease resistant and quite hardy and strong.
Plumage tightly in contact with the body. The rooster has big earrings, on the neck there is a magnificent “collar”. The body is elongated. The head is not very big, it has a scallop with about 6 teeth, it usually hangs to the side. Eyes - orange-reddish. The tail is shortish, hangs down at an angle of 45 degrees.
Colors
Chickens have different colors.
Copper Black
The most common color option. The rooster has black breast with lots of reddish spots. The feathers on the back and neck are reddish-red, the tail is blue-black. But the chicken is all black, there is a red necklace. On the breast - soft spots of a small size of reddish color. The rooster is noticeably brighter and more beautiful than a hen.
Mackerel
Another name for this color is hawk. There are 2 varieties:
- golden cuckoo, in this case the plumage of birds is golden in color, with the hens having a more pronounced cuckoo pattern, bright and distinct;
- silver cuckoo, in this embodiment, the plumage of birds is silvery-white, with a more distinct and clear pattern on the roosters.
Wheat
In this species, the rooster's head and neck are bright golden. Breast black. Contour feathers are red-brown, and the tail feathers are black. Wheat-colored chicken has almost all plumage of a light, golden-reddish hue, only the head and neck are darker, light brown in color. Breast and belly beige.
The beautiful Legbar chickens are not particularly unpretentious, but they have something else, namely a funny tuft on the head.If you want to see the thyme in the photo, then you should go here: //selo.guru/rastenievodstvo/timjan/lechebnue-svojstva.html.
The black
As the name implies, chickens are completely black with no color spots.
Blacktail
In black-tailed carcasses of reddish color with a golden sheen, but the tail is noticeably different, it has a black color with brown splashes.
Colombian
Beautiful chickens in black and white. The carcass is white, on the neck - a black necklace.
White
Chickens are completely white without color spots.
Silver black
According to the picture, such chickens coincide with copper-black chickens, the only thing that is different is the color of the feathers, it is silver-black.
A photo
In this section you have the opportunity to look at the photos of the best representatives of the breed of Maran chickens. In the first photo you see copper-colored birds:
The most common gray chicken in good physical shape without any disease. Just walking in his cage:
Beautiful cock as if posing in front of the camera. The shooting was made in the most ordinary small house:
In this photo, you can see how much more a rooster can be than a regular chicken:
Well, here the house is located right on the green and juicy grass. This is for chickens:
Here you see the opposite situation. Chickens live in a fenced area where nothing grows:
Specifications
The weight of the rooster is usually about 3.5-4 kg. In this case, the chicken weighs significantly less, only from 2.5 and up to about 3.2 kg. The one-year-old cockerel usually weighs 3 kg or a little more, up to a maximum of 3.5 kg, the weight of the pullets is slightly more than 2 kg and up to a maximum of 2.5 kg.
As for egg production: Maran chickens carry about 150 eggs per year. From pullets eggs weigh about 65 g, from adult chickens - about 80 g, and they can weigh more. The eggshell is very dense, thicker than in other breeds. Ring size for roosters - 22 mm, ring size for chickens - 20 mm.
Dwarf variety
Such birds are much smaller than ordinary Maran. Dwarf rooster weighs a little more than 1 kg, and a little smaller chicken - 0.9 kg. Eggs weigh only 40 g. Ring size for roosters is 16 mm, ring size for chickens is 14 mm.
Features
- Eggs beautiful, chocolate color. A feature of the breed is that they carry large eggs of a beautiful, dark brown color with a golden sheen. Shell dyeing occurs in the oviduct. The color of eggs can vary from brown to very dark brown, chocolate color. It is believed that the darker the color of the eggs, the better and better they are.
Farmers specifically create the best conditions for chickens, trying to recreate a very dark shade. There are exhibitions in which farmers put eggs from their chickens, competing in those whose hens have darker eggs. In nature, there are no more birds except Maranov, which would carry the same reddish-brown eggs.
In addition, the taste of eggs is just delicious, those who tried them, they say that they did not eat eggs better. It is also believed that chicken eggs do not affect salmonella, since the shell is very dense and strong, and the bacteria simply cannot penetrate inside. - Unusual plumage. Also to the features include bright beautiful plumage of birds. Moreover, the beauty of plumage is preserved at any time of the year, unlike other breeds. There are several types of color of chickens (copper-black, cuckoo, white, black and other variants), but each bird is graceful, beautiful and majestic.
- Strength and endurance. Birds possess not only beauty, but also strength and endurance; they perfectly adapt to unfavorable conditions and are resistant to diseases.
- Good egg production. Chickens carry up to 150 large eggs per year.
- Taste of eggs. The taste of eggs is simply amazing, the eggs themselves are large and not susceptible to salmonellosis due to the unusually strong shell.
- Taste of meat. Chickens have tender and delicious meat, which is praised by all who have tried it.
The disadvantages include the fact that due to such a dense and thick shell, it is difficult for chickens to pierce the shell and get out. This question is solved in this way: when it is time for the chicks to hatch, it is worthwhile to increase the humidification of the air in the hen house and be close to help in case of unforeseen situations.
Content and cultivation
Chickens are quite unpretentious and resistant to disease, but some conditions are better to observe:
- Spacious and free aviary.
- Not desirable high humidity in the chicken coop.
- In winter, a 10-11 hour light regime is required.
- Long walking in the summer.
- Good food: chalk, boiled fish, shell rock, fish and bone and bone meal, grated vegetables: cabbage, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, etc.
In general, the cultivation of Maran chickens does not present any particular difficulties, such birds adapt well to cold climates, are hardy and are not susceptible to diseases. They eat well and dry food, and vegetable supplements. Chickens are actively growing, quickly gaining weight. This breed can not be called pampered and weak. These birds are strong, strong and beautiful.
Where can I buy in Russia?
Despite the fact that this breed of chickens is not yet so common in Russia, still some poultry farms specialize in breeding Maran hens. We list some of them.
- Orlovsky courtyard. Address: Mytishchi, Pogranichny Dead End St., Building 4. Telephones: +7 (915) 009-20-08.
- “Private residence of Marina Mikhailovna”. Address: Orekhovo-Zuyevo, ul. Krasin. Phones: +7 (929) 648-89-41.
- LPH SIMBIREVYH. Address: Shakhovskoy district in the Moscow region, p. Ivashkovo, New ul, d 8, k. 2. Phones: +7 (967) 072-72-07.
- Golden Feathers. Address: Moscow, 20 km from Moscow Ring Road on Nosovihinskoe highway. Phones: +7 (910) 478-39-85.
- "Chekhov's Compound". Address: Chekhov district in the Moscow region, Art. Stolbovaya. Phones: +7 (926) 226-94-51.
We have already told you about the Zagorian salmon breed of chickens. For comparison, you can always return to an already written article.Why is a columnar apple tree suitable for Moscow region? Read the answer here.
Analogs
There is another breed, which is called Easter. Such breed of hens is called - Ameraukana. In some ways, this breed is similar to the breed of Maran chickens. It has a bright, beautiful plumage, mostly golden brown. Breed type: egg and meat. Its most important feature is that Ameraukana bears eggs of various colors: brown, pinkish, light blue, and olive, and khaki.
Because of this, it is called the Easter chicken. Ameraukana have good egg production. Chickens are hardy and strong, adapt to any climate, do not suffer from any diseases. Very good meat quality, tasty and tender.
Another interesting chickens - Araucana. Also like Maran chickens, they carry colored eggs. Araucana bears eggs are not quite familiar, namely the bluish-green hue. Such eggs are very beautiful and unusual. The chicken itself is also pretty, and besides it is tough and has good health. Egg production is decent.
The bright, juicy colors of chickens will not leave anyone indifferent, endurance and good health will delight the owners of the farmstead, and golden-brown eggs are so unusual and tasty that you wonder. The main thing is to make the right choice, taking into account all the subtleties and characteristics of a particular breed.
