Maran is black. Chickens Marana: photo and description of the breed, reviews. Modern marana chickens: photo and description

The Maran chicken breed is excellent for the production of both eggs and meat. These birds look spectacular and can have a different color of feathers. Let's take a closer look at this breed.

Origin

This breed is the result of French breeding work, which was carried out in 1895 in the city of Maran (hence the name of the breed). Since the city is located in an area with harsh climatic conditions, Maran chickens have good resistance to poor conditions.

The bred breed was awarded the gold prize at the La Rochelle Exhibition in 1914 and has since become widespread in Europe. This cannot be said about Russia, since this bird is rarely bred here. However, in recent times there is a trend towards an increase in the popularity of maran hens, especially in large poultry yards.

Description of the breed

Maran chickens are unusually beautiful birds. They come in a variety of colors, from black and copper tan to silver and white. The most common are representatives of Maran chickens of black and copper color. Feathers of hens of this color are absolutely black with a golden necklace around the neck. Roosters with bright golden spots on the chest, and feathers on the back of a reddish hue. The tail is black with a blue tint.

There are Marans of a silver-cuckoo color, and golden-cuckoo coloring is also not uncommon. The latter is very much appreciated among breeders, as the bird alternates black and golden feathers.

The wheat color of feathers is also popular. Roosters of this color have bright golden feathers on the neck and chest. Females are a pleasant yellow or golden-red color, sometimes even a brown hue.

There are also white Maranas that do not have any pattern on the feathers. The Colombian color is interesting, when white birds have a black "necklace".

The description of maran chickens allows us to highlight the following main features of this breed (see photo):

• large sizes: an adult laying hen can weigh up to 3 kg, and a rooster - up to 4 kg;
• orange-red eyes;
• short tail hanging at a 45-degree angle;
• tight-fitting feathers;
• legs of a light shade with 4 toes that are well separated;
• the outer part of the thigh is feathered;
• elongated body shape and small head;
• roosters have magnificent plumage, especially in the neck area, as well as large earrings.

Maran chickens have a number of advantages over other breeds:

• the quality of eggs and meat is one of the highest;
• do not require special conditions of detention and tolerate adverse weather well;
• have strong immunity to various diseases.

The disadvantage of the breed may be slight difficulties in breeding, when the chickens cannot break through the thick egg shell. If they are not helped, the chick may die.

Productivity characteristic

Maran chickens are bred for both eggs and meat. The weight of representatives of this species is impressive, and the meat has excellent taste.

Laying hens can lay about 150 eggs a year. They have a dense chocolate-colored shell. The eggs are quite large - 65-70 grams. Some scientists argue that pathogenic bacteria do not penetrate into eggs through a thick shell.

Their taste is considered the best. Experienced farmers claim that the darker the eggs of these birds are colored, the better and more pronounced their taste. That is why they try to provide the most favorable conditions for laying hens in order to receive high-quality eggs.

You can give the following description of the rules for keeping chickens of the Maran breed:

• these active and mobile birds should spend a lot of time outdoors - their daylight hours in winter should not last less than 11 hours, in summer - as long as possible;
• the aviary for walking the birds is made very spacious;
• high humidity in the chicken coop should not be allowed, and wet rooms must be thoroughly ventilated;
• the temperature in the room should not fall below +15 ºС.

Feeding

The diet of laying hens of this breed does not differ significantly from the diets of other poultry. The main menu is wheat or other grains and chopped greens. You can add special mineral-vitamin complexes to food. Calcium and shell rock are also needed. Can be given to birds meat and bone meal and boiled fish.

Breeding

Farmers claim that Marans are well bred in private poultry farms. Laying hens successfully incubate eggs, but in order not to take the chicken out of the "working" state, you can use an incubator.

For breeding chickens, eggs with the darkest shell are usually selected, then chicks with the most characteristic features of the breed are born.

During hatching, chicks may have difficulty breaking the shell, which is renowned for its strength. In order to facilitate the process, it is necessary to bring the humidity in the room to 75%. In addition, at the moments of hatching, it is better to be nearby in order to be able to help the chick in the birth.

A rather unusual and rare breed of chickens, Maran, was bred in 1895 in the French city of Marans. These chickens are one of the best, which are distinguished by unusually bright colors and lay eggs of a rich chocolate color. Maran has very tasty and high-quality meat.

External signs of a rooster of this breed:

• each toe is feathered with down;
• big earrings;
• magnificent plumage on the neck in the form of a "collar";
• the comb hangs to the side.

The color of feathers in this breed can be in several ways. Most often there are black chickens with a blue-green tint. At the same time, the back, neck and beard of the roosters are densely covered with bright red colorful feathers, the hens do not have such decoration, but a reddish necklace is visible on the neck.

Maranas are also golden-gray or black-and-white in color, feathers of different shades along the body are arranged in a “checkerboard” pattern, creating the so-called cuckoo pattern. The plumage of the birds is dense, the eyes are orange-red, the tail is not too long hanging at an angle of 45 degrees, there is a light plumage from the outer part of the thigh.

The body of the birds has an elongated shape, the size is considered average, the weight of the rooster reaches 3-4 kilograms, and the chicken is about a kilogram less. The laying hen lays rather large red-brown eggs: in the first year they can reach 60 grams, and in subsequent years even up to 100 grams. The color of the eggs may become slightly lighter during the molting season.

Features of the Maran breed

Chickens of the Maran breed have the habits of royal birds, dignity and strength can be traced in their behavior. Their temperament is calm, but at the same time they are active and mobile. Marans are quite hardy and strong, resistant to diseases.

Egg coloring occurs in the bird's oviduct. Their color can vary from brown to rich dark brown with a golden tint. This breed of chickens is the only one in the world that carries such eggs.

It is believed that the darker and more intense the color, the better the quality of the egg. Therefore, farmers strive to provide the best conditions for keeping birds in order to obtain darker eggs.

In addition to their unusual appearance, eggs have a delicious taste.

Important features of these birds are also considered:

• their eggs are enclosed in a strong and dense shell, which is an impassable barrier to salmonella bacteria, although this can be called a disadvantage, because it is much more difficult for chickens to overcome this obstacle when they are born;
• beautiful and bright plumage of birds does not change its appearance throughout the year;
• egg production of chickens - up to 150 eggs per year.
• when crossing a maran rooster with birds of other breeds, eggs of the same dark color are obtained.

Although it is noted that the Maran chicken breed is quite hardy and unpretentious in content, there are several mandatory rules:

• provide them with a spacious aviary;
• provide long walking in the summer;
• in winter, the light regime should be 10-11 hours;
• in the barn, the air temperature is provided at least 15 degrees.

Birds feel fine in cold climates, but high humidity should not be allowed. They grow and gain weight quickly. It is useful to include in the diet of Maran:

• meat and bone, fish and bone meal;
• various grated vegetables;
• shell rock;
• boiled fish.

bird breeding

The principle of breeding Maran chickens does not really matter: eggs can be left under the laying hen (which will allow them to develop better) or use an incubator. It is best to select eggs of a rich chocolate color, from which individuals with pronounced signs of the breed appear. By choosing the second option, the farmer leaves the chicken "free", ensuring further growth of eggs.

To make it easier for the chicks to cope with thick shells, a few days before hatching, a higher humidity (up to 75%) must be provided in the incubator.

Chicken feeding

Chickens of this breed are quite unpretentious. They are fed according to the following scheme:

• Up to 3 days: boiled yolk and cottage cheese, adding each new portion after two hours, including at night.
• From 3-4 days: crushed millet or corn grits. Feeding frequency - up to 5-6 times, the amount should not exceed what they can eat.
• From day 6: crushed shell, ash, grated shell. After 10 days, the frequency of feedings is gradually reduced to four.
• From a week and a half of age: finely chopped alfalfa, clover, carrots, previously scalded with boiling water. It is not recommended to give beets for up to a month, it acts as a laxative.
• A couple of times a week you need to drink water with potassium permanganate, making a solution of a pale pink color.

Keeping chickens does not cause any particular difficulties. If they are taken out in an incubator, they are first placed in a box, covering the bottom with a non-fluffy towel. The box is covered with a metal grate and a lamp of a certain power is placed on top, ensuring the temperature in the box is 30 degrees. It is necessary to ensure that the chickens do not freeze, huddled together. The temperature is reduced by 2 degrees every day.

From a week, you can start taking chickens outside for a few hours. From the second week they can stay in the barn for the day, but they are taken to the house at night. The chicks are finally transferred to the barn from a month old. Chickens walk outside under supervision until they are two to three months old.

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. Small ones become owners farms and lovers of the exotic.

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

With good egg production, the direction of the universal (meat-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 perspectives

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

Man has been breeding poultry for many centuries. by the most popular view There have always been and still are chickens. They are valued for their delicious meat and eggs. One of the unusual breeds are Maran chickens.

Marans or Marans is a very interesting breed of chickens. The eggs of this chicken have a rich brown shell, which is why it is often said that Marans lay golden eggs.

Origin story

Maran chickens are a cross. The hybrid was bred by French breeders back in 1895. The birds got their name thanks to the city of Marans, where they appeared. The strain received an award at an exhibition held at La Rochelle in France in 1914. And since then, it began to spread widely throughout Europe. But in Russia this breed is still not as popular as abroad. The city of Maran is located in the western part of France in a rather swampy area and is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Because of these conditions, the climate there is quite cool. That is why Maran hens, bred in such an area, are not very susceptible to bad weather conditions.

Subspecies

Marans can vary in color and size. By color, there are the following subspecies:

• black-copper - this is the most common subspecies;
• cuckoo golden;
• silvery cuckoo;
• black;
• white;
• wheat;
• Colombian;
• buff black-tailed;
• birch or silver-black.

Appearance

Regardless of color, all Maran birds have common characteristics:

• rather large sizes - chickens reach a weight of 3 kg, and a rooster weighs up to 4 kg;
• eyes are orange-red;
• the tail is short;
• comb with six teeth hangs to one side;
• the plumage is dense, and in roosters it is quite magnificent, especially in the neck area;
• paws are light with 4 clearly separated fingers;
• earrings in males are quite large;
• body shape is elongated, the head is small.

There are also dwarf species of Maran, whose weight is about 0.9 kg in hens and a little more than 1 kg in roosters.

Productive characteristics

• the weight of adult birds - roosters grow up to 3.5-4 kg, hens weigh about 2.6-3.2 kg;
• weight gain - in one year, roosters gain up to 3.5 kg, and females up to 2.6 kg;
• egg production - they begin to lay eggs at 5-6 months, they give an average of about 140 eggs per year;
• egg weight - fairly large eggs, reaching a weight of 85 g.

Maranov is considered to be meat and egg breed. But almost all farmers claim that it is rather unprofitable to use them only for meat.

Description of the egg

The main feature of Maran is eggs. They are painted in a rich burgundy color. At the same time, the intensity of the color of the egg determines its quality. There is even a special scale that measures the intensity of the color. Permissible intensity is considered to be at the level of 4-5 points. But if we are talking about incubation, then to save the best performance breeds take eggs not with an intensity of 6-7 points. The best representatives of the breed have eggs that are almost black, which corresponds to 9 points on the quality scale.

Such an unusual color of the egg appears when the egg passes through the chicken's oviduct. There, the egg is covered with additional pigment, and the shell becomes denser. If you scrape the egg of Maran, then white scratches will appear on it. The density of the shell helps to avoid a common problem - salmonellosis. Maran eggs are practically not susceptible to this disease. The size of the eggs is also amazing. Average weight eggs are about 80-85 g. But in the characteristics of the breed, weight up to 100 g is declared.

Another feature of Maran eggs is the perfect oval shape. Sometimes it is almost impossible to distinguish a sharp end from a blunt one.

In France, competitions are often held in which Marans eggs are judged by the shade of the shell, size and shape.

Care and maintenance

Birds of the Maran breed are distinguished by a rather peaceful character and not conflict. You can keep them in the same house with other types of chickens or poultry.

Place of detention

Despite the rather calm nature, Marans are mobile and freedom-loving birds that prefer space. Therefore, it is important to provide a spacious aviary for walking. Certainly, the best option There will be free range of birds in the fresh air.

As for the barn, it is better to make it from a bar. So you will provide warmth even in the winter season. The height should be about 1.8 m. It is important to provide a window or a small window, so you can ventilate the chicken coop. The floor can be made of wood or mud concrete. Straw, hay or sawdust are used as flooring.

For laying hens it is necessary to build nests. Here are the main recommendations for their design and placement:

• nests are located above perches, find secluded places for this;
• the bottom of the nests is laid with hay;
• one nest is enough for 5 laying hens;
• the entrance must be at least 25x25 cm;
• the height of the nests is at least 35 cm, and the depth with a width of 30 cm;
• near the entrance to the nest, you need to make a shelf for take-off;
• it is better to make the roof of the nest sloping, then the birds will not sit on it and soil it with droppings.

Perches are constructed at the rate of 20 cm per bird. The poles for it must be taken no longer than 6 cm. They must be placed opposite the window at a height of about 1.2 m. It is best to close the feeders with a net. So the bird will be able to eat, but will not be able to climb into the feeder, which is fraught with contamination of the feed. The same should be done with the drinker.

Temperature, lighting, humidity

Like all chickens, Marans need a long daylight hours. This is necessary for high egg production. If in the summer you can get by with the light from the window and natural lighting for walks, then in winter it is important to provide artificial lighting. Maranas do not tolerate moisture well, so try to ventilate the chicken coop more often, but do not allow drafts. If ventilation is not enough, you can install a heater in the barn. The temperature in the barn should not fall below 14 degrees.

Feeding

For regular egg production and good development, chickens need to be properly fed. It is important not only the quantity, but also the quality of food. After all, it affects both the number of eggs and the intensity of their color.

It is impossible to overfeed or underfeed Maran chickens. This will lead to a significant reduction in egg production.

Here are the basic rules to follow when feeding:

1. The first main feeding is carried out in the morning, a couple of hours after the chickens wake up.
2. The second feeding is carried out after about 8 hours.
3. The food should be well balanced.
4. On the day of one laying hen, about 75 g of feed and 250 g of water are needed.
5. Young chickens require more feed than older ones.
6. Standard compound feed should contain about 70% carbohydrates, 20% protein, 5% fat and 5% fiber. A chicken should eat about 300-320 calories per day.

Compound feed can be bought ready-made, or you can cook it yourself. Here is an approximate composition of the feed:

• 45% corn grain;
• 12% wheat;
• 8% peas;
• 7% sunflower meal;
• 7% barley;
• 7% limestone, shell rock or chalk;
• 4-5% yeast, fish or meat and bone meal;
• 0.3% salt.

If there are no special feeds, then the following proportions can be used:

• 6 parts of grain;
• 3 parts boiled root vegetables;
• 1 part additives.

Although the compound feed contains calcium, it is better to give additional calcium supplements that will increase the strength of the shell. Such additives can be crushed chalk, shell rock, crushed eggshell, bone flour.

As for green grass and vegetables, in the summer the bird will have access to them. But in winter, it is important to feed cabbage, turnip or rutabaga. Greens and vegetables can be given up to four times a day.

Prices for feed additives for chickens and egg-laying birds

Feed additive for chickens and egg-laying birds Royal Feed

Although Maran chickens are bred for a cool climate, in winter it is worth paying attention to their content. Paramount is the extension of daylight hours to 14 hours. For this, artificial lighting is used. It is convenient to use a timer that will automatically turn on and off the lights in the chicken coop.

The temperature should not be allowed to drop to 10 degrees, otherwise egg laying will stop. A temperature of 15-25 degrees is considered the norm. You can create it in cold weather with the help of additional heaters. It is also necessary to cover the floor warm bedding from straw or sawdust, changing it every two weeks. Chickens need fresh air, but avoid drafts, they can cause illness.

Prices for popular models of electric heaters

Electric heaters

reproduction

Chickens of the Maran breed breed perfectly both naturally with the help of laying hens and with the help of incubation. You can choose the method convenient for you. Many farmers prefer the first method, they believe that eggs develop better this way.

Incubation

For incubation, it is necessary to choose eggs of the most saturated color. So you get the most “clean” young animals that will have all the signs of the breed. To increase the likelihood of breeding high-quality young, you need to take eggs from those laying hens that have the most striking signs of the breed.

• at the second stage, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the eggs, otherwise the embryos may suffocate in a thick shell;
• A few days before hatching, start spraying the eggs with water from a spray bottle to increase the humidity to 75%. This will soften the shell a little and make the hatching process easier;
• You can help the chicks to hatch by breaking the shell a little at the pipping point.

Prices for egg incubators

egg incubators

Rearing of young animals

At first, the chicks are kept in a brooder or in a box lined with a towel. The air temperature should be at the level of 30 degrees. Every day the temperature is reduced by two degrees. After a week, you can take the young to the street, but only for a couple of hours. And starting from the age of two weeks, they can already be kept in the barn only during the day, and at night they should be brought into the house. After 30 days, the chickens are kept in the barn for the whole day.

Feeding is an integral part of the full development of chickens. It is important to adhere to a certain scheme that will allow young animals to absorb all the nutrients as much as possible.

1. The first 3 days - they are fed every 2 hours with chopped boiled eggs, mixed with cottage cheese.
2. From 3 to 6 days - chopped cereals from corn or millet are added to the eggs.
3. From day 6 - it is necessary to introduce calcium supplements in the form of crushed shells or shell rock. Feeding is done 5-6 times a day.
4. From day 10, the frequency of feeding is reduced to 4 times.
5. Starting from the second week, plant foods are introduced in the form of carrots, nettles, alfalfa, clover.
6. From the 30th day, the young animals are transferred to the usual adult diet.

Do not forget to water the chickens, and every 5 days give them water with a weak solution of manganese.

Potential Growing Problems

Marans are quite resistant to living conditions and have good immunity. However, they are not immune to the typical diseases that affect poultry. It is important to monitor the cleanliness of the chicken coop and then the number of possible diseases will noticeably decrease.

Diseases

The most common diseases are:

Maran chickens have a lot of advantages, for which they are highly valued by farmers.

Among the advantages:

• excellent productivity - chickens rush well, eggs and carcasses of chickens are quite large;
• high survival rate - chickens can be bred in any, even adverse conditions, they tolerate them well due to high immunity and good resistance to diseases;
• unusual eggs - this breed of chickens has rather large and tasty eggs of an unusual brown color;
• meat - the breed is distinguished by a large weight of carcasses and excellent taste of meat.

Of the shortcomings, only the difficulty of hatching chickens from an egg can be distinguished, which is due to the thick shell.

Profitability of breeding

All farmers agree that although Maran chickens are classified as meat and egg type, it is unprofitable to grow them only for meat. But the eggs of these chickens are in incredible demand due to their large size and unusual appearance.

They have excellent taste. The strength of the shell makes them safer to transport than regular eggs. In France, they are eaten raw without fear, as a strong shell prevents salmonellosis from entering.

The Maran chicken breed is considered quite common in farms around the world. Birds owe their popularity to the unusual chocolate coloring of eggs. In addition, they have high level strength. Products are not the only thing for which marans are so valued. These chickens have many unsurpassed qualities.

Origin and characteristics of the breed

Maran chickens were bred back in 1885 by French breeders. However, glory overtook the birds not immediately. Farmers started talking about her only in 1914, after the chickens made a splash at the La Rochelle exhibition. The name of the breed corresponds to the name of the city in which the birds were bred. It is worth noting that the climate in these places is very severe. Therefore, marans have adapted to any bad weather and easily endure the winter.

However, chickens are best kept in a warm place, so they can rush.

In Europe, marans are widespread. In Russia, it is quite difficult to find high-quality and thoroughbred poultry, since there are no large farms in the country specializing in this breed of chickens. Not so long ago, large farms began to significantly expand the range of poultry, and soon it will not cause any difficulties to purchase maran.

According to the description, outwardly maranas look very attractive. Their stately appearance stands out noticeably among the rest of the pack. They have a massive and large body, but even due to the size of the birds, they cannot be called clumsy.

Features of the Maran chicken breed are as follows.

• Birds have contrasting plumage, and even molting does not spoil their appearance, but only changes the tone. The color scheme of the plumage of marans is quite diverse, it can be both dark and light tones, with different tints.
• The plumage fits snugly to the body of the chicken. The birds are of medium size, the body is oblong, the shoulders are broad, and the chest is convex. The neck of marans is massive and long, the feathers on it are arranged in such a way that they create the effect of a collar.
• Maranas have short wings, a long tail, their thick limbs are of medium size, the color can be white or yellow. The head of the bird is slightly flattened and has a medium size.
• The comb of the bird is standard, red in color, rigid structure. Chickens of this breed have long earrings, painted red.
• Metatarsals, like fingers, have light plumage.
• The small eyes of chickens are golden in color.
• The yellow beak of the bird has a curved shape.
• The weight of a maran rooster can reach 4 kilograms. The weight of the female is 3 kilograms.
• Tender maran meat is famous for its incredible taste. However, the main thing for which these chickens are so loved is their eggs. They are large in size, the maximum weight of the product is 80 grams.
• A variety of maran is considered medium-late, this is due to the beginning of the egg-laying period. Birds become sexually mature when they reach 6 months. The first laying eggs can weigh up to 55 grams and are white in color. Over time, chickens begin to lay larger and darker eggs.
• The average egg production rate can reach 140 eggs per year. The conditions of poultry keeping have a great influence on this factor.
• Chickens can live up to 7 years. High productivity is observed at the age of 2-3 years. After that, a complete replacement of the livestock is carried out.
• Among the birds of this breed, there are dwarf varieties, the weight of females reaches only 800 grams, and males - 1 kilogram.

Advantages and disadvantages

Marans practically do not have significant shortcomings. The only negative point is their strong shell. This feature often serves as a serious obstacle to the birth of chickens. It is very difficult for them to break through such a powerful shell.

If we talk about the pluses of the breed, then marans have a lot more of them than minuses.

Varieties of colors

In the course of a long selection work, experts brought out a large number of representatives of the maran breed of various stripes. These birds have a rather diverse color, but from their ancestors they received the so-called birthmark in the form of specks on the plumage.

Types of maran colors are as follows.

• Wheat. This variety is characterized by brown plumage in the tail of the mane and head. There are also representatives of a golden-red color. The back is characterized by a rich red color, and the wings are painted in a light red hue. Flight wings are black with a bright green tint. The black tail has an emerald sheen. Clush is characterized by a lighter color, most of the representatives have a golden-red color. The chest and abdomen area has a wheaten hue. Down is characterized by a milky color.

The color standard for all maranos of this variety is the same, the plumage should be cream, wheaten and dark red.

• Silver cuckoo. Marana roosters have a lighter color than hens. This condition is mandatory for the variety. The variegated plumage has a pale red tint, decorated with speckles along the body.

Due to their genetic characteristics, the offspring of such birds may have black plumage.

• golden cuckoo. Such chickens in places have a bright yellow tint. The shoulders are characterized by red plumage. The main part is painted in silver-cuckoo color. Females of this species have yellow plumage only on the head and neck.

• Black and copper. The body and tail of representatives of this species of birds have black plumage. The lumbar region, mane and head are painted in copper color. The intensity of such a color can be different, the main condition is the presence of a similar color. Males may have black plumage on their backs and loins.

The hen, like the rooster, is the owner of only two colors of plumage.

• White. These chickens have plumage of rich white color. In some places on the body, roosters may have yellowish tints. The metatarsus of white marans is pink.

• Mottled. This variety of chickens is characterized by a white plumage, on which there are small round spots of brown or red.

• Lavender. Plumage color is based on black and red pigments. A special gene of birds makes it lighter, and then their feathers become blue or milky. The offspring of lavender chickens may have red or black plumage.

• Silver black. The plumage color is similar to the copper-black suit of birds. The only difference is the absence of red feathers on the tail and neck. Instead, these zones have silver plumage.

• Colombian. The body of these chickens is covered with white feathers and down of the same color. The plumage in the mane area is black, it is decorated with a white edging. The upper part of the flight feathers is painted snow-white, and the lower part is black. Hocks have a pale pink hue.

Before you start marans, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with all the nuances of keeping individuals of this breed. A distinctive feature of marans is their calm and docile nature. In the case of a mixed type of content in a flock, you can keep up to 3 roosters for 30 hens.

Such birds fight very rarely and coexist perfectly.

chicken coop

The room for chickens should be warm and dry. The chicken coop should be protected from drafts. It also needs to be provided with enough light. It is recommended to illuminate the room for at least 12 hours, especially in the winter season. The temperature in the chicken coop all year round should be at least 15 degrees Celsius. In winter, farmers install a heater in the chicken coop as an additional source of heat. The floor should be covered with sawdust or straw, which should preferably be changed at least 2 times a month.

Increased moisture levels can harm the condition of chickens, so you need to regularly air the barn in which they are kept.

Nutrition

The rules for feeding marans are not much different from other birds of this species. A balanced diet must be provided for high egg production rates, as well as for normal weight gain in birds. It is strongly not recommended to overfeed hens. Underfeeding also has a bad effect on the condition of the maran. Such nutrition can reduce the productivity of laying hens. For chickens and adult chickens, you need to make the right diet.

To ensure the young growth with normal development and growth, it is necessary to feed the birds according to a certain scheme.

• 1 to 3 days. The nutrition of newborn chickens in this period is based on boiled eggs and low-fat cottage cheese. Birds should be given food every 2 hours.
• 3 to 6 days. These days, the diet of young animals must be filled with products such as ground wheat grains and corn grits.
• 6 to 9 days. Shell rock and crushed eggshells are added to the diet. Food is given 5-6 times a day.
• From 10 days. The number of meals is reduced to 4 times a day.
• From 14 days. Plant products are introduced into the diet.

To prevent stomach diseases, it is recommended to give chickens a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This procedure should be carried out no more than once a week. Upon reaching 4 months, the chickens switch to a diet that is intended for adult birds. One adult chicken consumes about 75 grams of feed per day, if this product is the basis of nutrition.

It is better to divide the feed into several meals, otherwise if you pour out the entire norm at a time, the birds will eat everything, after which they will remain hungry.

Be sure to include vegetables and herbs in your diet.. In summer, birds eat grass, they can also be given chopped vegetables and cabbage. Laying hens need to be fed. They should be fed several times a day. For the products to be good quality, you need to add a normal amount of greens to the diet.

The chicken diet consists of proteins and carbon feed (70% of the total mass). From an early age, chickens should receive vitamins and all useful substances. Some feeds already contain the necessary elements to keep birds healthy. Many farmers prefer food based on the amaranth variety. They note that this additive, which is used for feed, is eaten by birds with pleasure. Additional meals are provided separately. So the bird itself will be able to decide what exactly to eat and in what quantity.

Place for walking

To prevent rain from harming the birds, it is recommended to cover half of the walking area with a roof.

Possible problems

It happens that for some reason in a flock of birds begin to peck the tails of its weaker representatives. Such behavior for representatives of the species is considered pathological. It manifests itself in the form of aggression by eating the feather of a fallen chicken. Birds can also damage the cloaca and skin of their neighbors. There are 3 main reasons for cannibalism among chickens: features of the breed of chickens and their socialization, conditions of detention, nutrition.

For the affected bird, a separate cage is made and it is separated from the flock. The damaged area must be treated with hydrogen peroxide. After that, the treated wound is lubricated with oily disinfectants:

• ichthyol ointment;
• glycerol;
• tar ointment.

In this case, you should find out the cause of pecking among chickens and try to eliminate it. It is best to improve the conditions of the birds, as well as make changes to their diet. A sick and weak bird is removed from the common chicken coop.

Breeding

Before you start the process of breeding and growing maran, you need to choose a hen for breeding new offspring. A chicken with a high level of egg production is suitable for this role. You should also pay attention to appearance birds and its compliance with the breed standard. The chicken should be of a calm nature, of medium size, and be at least 2 years old.

The optimal age of the hen is 2-3 years.

It is recommended to use fresh eggs for the breeding process. They should be large in size and characteristically dark in color. As mentioned earlier, the biggest problem when breeding a breed is a thick and durable shell. It happens that the embryos cannot destroy it and later die. There is a way that can save most embryos. Eggs should be placed on the side and well ventilated. Thus, a large amount of oxygen will enter the egg.

To prevent the embryo from drying out, the eggs should be turned over to the inside of the shell once every 2 days.

Maran eggs are quite large, so you can put no more than 10 of them under the chicken. In the room where the chicken will incubate eggs, there should be a normal temperature, the heat is considered unacceptable. The humidity level should reach 75%. The incubation period continues for 20 days. When the chicks begin to hatch, it is advisable to be nearby in case any difficulties arise.

Diseases and their prevention

By adhering to certain rules, you can avoid the appearance of diseases among chickens. The main preventive points include maintaining cleanliness in the room where the birds live and a balanced diet. Chickens should be vaccinated at an early age.

The most common diseases of Maran chickens are as follows.

• Bird flu. This disease belongs to the category of infectious diseases. During bird flu, chickens lose coordination and have a significant increase in body temperature. The plumage has a disheveled appearance, and the bird often rotates its head. Another sign of illness is discharge in the form of mucus from the beak. A sick chicken must be isolated. Usually it is immediately slaughtered to prevent infection.
• Ascariasis. In this case, the bird may appear worms. At the first detection of signs of the disease in the chicken coop, it is necessary to carry out sanitization with boiling water. To cure the disease, it is recommended to buy special preparations for chickens, designed to combat helminths.
• Knemidocoptosis. On the paws of birds, growths appear in the form of small tubercles, they can also be covered with scales. The cause of the disease is the scabies mite. To cure a bird, it is necessary to apply aversictin or novertin ointment.
• Abdominal dropsy. Symptoms of the disease can be a sluggish appearance of the bird, a tense gait, an increase in the abdominal cavity. In this case, it is necessary to get rid of excess fluid in the stomach. To do this, it is recommended to add a diuretic based on herbs to the water. For this purpose, bearberry decoction can perfectly cope.