Cuckoo Maran
Maran Eggs
Black Copper Maran
Marans
In the late 1800s a farmer of Maran, a town on the Atlantic
coast of France, first bred Langshans, an Asiatic breed, with bloodlines of
local game birds. The Maran,was named after the town they were developed in.
The Maran shows the tight “hard” feathers that are commonly know to the game
bird, along with a solid body, a strong-looking beak, and a relatively short
tail. The French strain has feathered legs that are common with Asiatic breeds.
The English strain, which was developed during the early 1920s and 30s has
non-feathered legs. The Maran is well know for it's very dark eggs and can
range in color from dark chocolate to a coppery color. Egg color resulting from
a recessive gene, when crossing the Maran with another breed the eggs will
become lighter. Hens occasionally go broody. The are an active bird but can be
kept in confinement.
Roosters can weight up to 8.5 pounds and hens 7 pounds making
them a dual-purpose bird. Both male and female have combs with five or more
points and are held upright. Fairly long waddles and earlobes, all bright red.
The colors can come in birchen, black, black tailed buff, brown red, columbian,
golden cuckoo, silver cuckoo, wheaten, white. The Cuckoo Maran is the most
common and the Black Copper Maran is rare but can be found at a price.
