Maran chickens
The Maran chicken breed is still completely unknown in Russia, but it is quite popular in Europe. Maran chickens are one of the most eccentric and prized types of chickens. Gaining weight with enviable speed, laying eggs of golden-chocolate color, with bright, eye-catching plumage, they are valued as one of the most prolific layers. Maran chicks are born surprisingly strong and active. They grow quickly and are drawn to walking for adults. The birds are not conflicting, they rarely get into fights with each other, you can see maran chickens in the photo.
Breed of chickens Maran
The birthplace of the Maran is a small French town called Maran. As a result of selection achievements, this breed was finally formed and was approved only in 1914, at a special exhibition in La Rochelle, receiving a gold medal. Chickens owe their endurance to their homeland - the town did not have the best weather conditions, which is why these birds developed resistance to any weather. Before purchasing maran chickens, you should read the description and reviews about this type of bird in more detail. You can see how the birds look externally in a photo or video. It is imperative to find out so that the Maran chickens do not die, the peculiarities of their maintenance and nutrition.
Features of the Maran breed
The description of the Maran chicken breed indicates that this is a seemingly common breed of hens that can lay unusual eggs. Large eggs of golden-chocolate shades are the main feature and reason for the popularity of this breed of Maran chickens in the photo and their products. Experienced breeders try to do everything so that the eggs from the Maran laying hens have the darkest possible color - after all, the darker the shell, the better the product. The taste of such fabulous scrambled eggs is simply stunning - the taste of these eggs, their size and quality are a kind of "brand" of this breed.
Among other things, the product has a unique property - since the shell of these eggs is very thick and strong, it provides reliable protection. Through it, when chickens lay in the egg itself, any bacteria will never get into. An adult laying bird can weigh up to 3 kg, and a rooster up to 4 kg. Besides eggs, chicken is also famous for its delicious meat. Resistant to any disease, such a bird is one of the most desirable - its meat is usually served in the most elegant and expensive restaurants, so marana chickens are expensive.
The appearance of representatives of the Maran breed
Each chicken of this breed is like a bright, contrasting light of its own color, like the marana breed of chickens in the photo. All individuals, without exception, are characterized by proud posture, special grace, coupled with a regal gait. Fascinating, iridescent plumage makes these chickens not only excellent suppliers of a quality product, but also the decoration of any poultry farm.Strong legs, straight six-toothed crest, eyes of warm brown and red shades - these are all features inherent in the marans chick, which deserve excellent reviews.
The colors of maran chickens are so diverse that every farmer can find and choose the most suitable one for himself. Even an inexperienced farmer can determine the breed only by the amazing color of the plumage. The change of seasons and conditions does not prevent this bird from remaining as luxurious - the brightness and color of its feathers remains in any case, regardless of time.
However, under the luxurious feathers, the strength and endurance of this bird is hidden - the maran chickens smartly adapt to any conditions of detention and have strong immunity. Also, this breed is quite large in size, without any help in the form of supplements, individuals quickly gain the necessary kg, which is an additional factor of benefit for those farmers who grow this breed for meat. Roosters are always slightly smaller than females both in size and weight. Maran chickens are active and strong. The survival rate of the young is good.
Plumage colors of Maran chickens
- Black-copper
One of the most common colors of this breed is black-copper plumage, on which, like a cloak, feathers are spread out on top, casting copper tints. Black feathers in marans look very stylish and expensive. Many breeders purchase this breed simply to impress customers and offer a more profitable and beautiful variety of birds. the hen has a conspicuous, bright red "necklace" that stands out on the completely black feathers. Black feathers only emphasize this color. The cockerel has black, resinous feathers with red spots. The feather is not so black, a little dimmer than that of chickens.
- Cuckoo
Cuckoo plumage is subdivided into gold and silver. In roosters, the plumage is very similar to the blue-silver color. Cuckoo color of the Maran chicken breed is found a little less often than black-copper. Their plumage is dominated by gold and silver shades. A beautiful color is more inherent in laying hens, it is a noble golden color, and the cockerels got cold and aristocratic silver.
- Wheat
The rarest of the above colors. Some farmers purchase chickens in different colors for overall contrast. Wheaty, warm, golden-reddish shades distinguish this color from others. Males with this color are distinguished by black breasts and golden head and neck. In laying hens, the color of the plumage is not so saturated, but it looks very harmonious. In more detail, all colors of plumage can be seen in the photo or video.
Breed productivity
The main value of this breed is quality eggs. Egg production perhaps not the same as in similar breeds, but the eggs of marans are of good quality, provided that maran chickens are kept at a high level. These chickens are able to bring up to 160 eggs per year, which is quite profitable, each egg - given the rather dense shell - is from 70 to 90 grams by weight. But this shell also has its drawback. Of course, such a strong protection will save the egg from getting any diseases into it, but on the other hand it is difficult to break through it.
Chickens are difficult to get out of such an egg. Maybe because of this feature, the chickens have a hardened character and endurance. The main rule of egg quality is that the darker the shell, the better. That is why many breeders try to create the most suitable conditions for these chickens in order to ensure they receive dark-shell eggs. Layers begin to lay with the advent of reproductive age, usually this can begin from 4 months from the moment of birth such a characteristic of males and maran chickens.
Growing eggs in an incubator
If some individual individuals did not hatch an egg, then for this you need to purchase incubator... An incubation egg is no worse in its characteristics than that incubated by a laying hen. Before placing eggs in the incubator, do not wash them or remove the protective film. Each egg has an invisible film that protects the future chick from infections and viruses.
It is recommended to purchase an automatic incubator with the function of turning eggs and maintaining the desired air humidity. Incubate only even eggs without deformations. The egg must not be more than 5 days old. Take full control of your chicks with the Ovoscope. With such a device, you can enlighten the egg and see if the future young growth is developing correctly and also see marana chickens in the video.
Conditions of detention
Marans have an unpretentious character - individuals are resistant to diseases, hardy and strong, they can adapt to any conditions. Chickens lay stably if the conditions of keeping are close to natural and egg production does not suffer from this. They will feel most comfortable only on private farms or small households. According to the experience of poultry farmers dealing with chickens of this breed, it is also possible to single out general rules for keeping and features leading to the receipt of the highest quality products:
- The presence of a spacious, extensive aviary.
- Moderate humidity and fresh air in the chicken coop.
- Stable provision of chickens with 10-11 hour daylight hours during winter, in summer - as long as possible.
- In summer - long walks. These active individuals physically need to spend a lot of time outdoors.
The characteristics of chickens are quite good: in order to reveal the full productive potential of layers, they should be kept in a spacious hen house, with balanced humidity and ventilation, and also to prevent the temperature from falling below 15 degrees in the winter season.
How to feed maran chickens?
The rules for feeding this breed are not much different from the rules for all other breeds. Copper Maran chickens are like a quality mark known among experienced breeders. And only with proper care and attention for these birds, you will be able to achieve the best results. It is necessary to feed the chickens with a balanced, nutritious diet, if possible supplied with minerals, vitamins and boiled vegetables. The feed can be solid or wet. Different types of feed should be given so that the chickens receive a varied diet. One laying hen per day should consume about 120-130 grams compound feed... The compound feed is sold thoroughly ground and does not allow the birds to get fat or overeat.
A damp mash is made from what is at home. You can mix boiled potatoes, wheat bran, cereals, oilcakes. The mash base can be made from boiled water, or some farmers use whey. The main thing is not to make the portions too large, as the chicken may not eat enough. A mash based on fermented milk products quickly turns sour. It is no longer necessary to give such a mash again, because maran chickens will lose their egg production and can get sick.
Chopped and fresh herbs can be added to the homemade mash. During the winter season, birds should be given more nutritious and nutritious food. Also carry out constant feeding. In the summer season, release birds outside so that individuals can independently find pasture, shells, chalk and other minerals. Birds that regularly go free-range are less likely to suffer from common diseases.