Marans

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The Marans is a breed of chicken originating in France. It is a small breed compared to others, popular for poultry shows and its eggs, rather than for its meat.

Contents 1 Appearance 2 Characteristics 2.1 Eggs 2.2 Meat 3 History 4 References

[edit] Appearance

There are 9 recognised colours in the French Standard: Cuckoo, Golden Cuckoo, Black, Birchen, Black Copper, Wheaton, Black-tailed Buff, White and Columbian . Black Copper is the most common of these. All have red or orange eyes and white feet. They all tend to be relatively medium sized in comparison to other breeds, the average weight of a Cockerel being around three and a half kilograms, whilst Sussex cockerels can weigh four and a half kilograms.

[edit] Characteristics

Marans are quiet, docile, gentle birds, but they are quite active, taking well to free ranging in rough terrain and are also tough and disease-resistant.

[edit] Eggs

Marans lay around 150 dark brown eggs each year.

[edit] Meat

Marans are an historically dual-purpose bird, prized not only for their dark eggs but for their table qualities as well.

[edit] History

The Marans originate from France, and were imported into the United Kingdom in the 1930s.

[edit] References

• Raymond, Francine (2001). The Big Book of Garden Hens. Kitchen Garden Books, ISBN 0-9532857-3-1