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Gift Certificates!
Give a gift certificate redeemable towards any Beau Peep Farms poultry purchase, then you decide how to "dress" the "Turkey" for giving. Email it, wrap it or mail it in a greeting card... no matter how you "dress" it the recipient will be able to purchase any of our poultry and supplies they choose up to the value of the gift certificate.
Breed Showcase
This page is for promoting new, rare or special breeds and varieties of poultry.
Marans, French
st of Paris.
French Marans Chickens | Dark Brown Egg Layers
Superior Marans Quality Egg?
st of Paris.
French Marans Chickens | Dark Brown Egg Layers
One Marans, Two Marans
Did you know that the word "Marans" is always plural (and always should be capitalized) since its the name of the French town where the breed originated? It is incorrect to refer to a single chicken as a Maran.
French Marans chickens are the official "dark chocolate brown egg" layers of the chicken world. Like most other eggs, a Marans egg starts out white. Then during the laying process, the hen deposits brown pigment onto the surface, making the egg that nice deep chocolate brown color. Marans breeders are careful to keep soft bedding in the nesting boxes because the pigment will scrape off, especially when the egg is freshly laid. You can scrape it off with your fingernail actually.
French Marans chickens are the official "dark chocolate brown egg" layers of the chicken world. Like most other eggs, a Marans egg starts out white. Then during the laying process, the hen deposits brown pigment onto the surface, making the egg that nice deep chocolate brown color. Marans breeders are careful to keep soft bedding in the nesting boxes because the pigment will scrape off, especially when the egg is freshly laid. You can scrape it off with your fingernail actually.
Superior Marans Quality Egg?
Did you know that some French chefs are reputed to ONLY cook with Marans eggs, claiming they are superior in taste and quality? They actually might be onto something because according to the French Ministry of Agriculture, Marans eggshells have smaller pores than the shells of other breeds and thicker shells and inner membranes, making them far less likely to contain salmonella and allowing the Marans eggs to stay fresher longer.
Note: This thicker outer layer coupled with the dark shell that candling hard can make hatching Marans eggs a bit challenging, with a lower success rate than other breeds.
The French Marans have feathered feet which makes them kind of unique in the chicken world. There are only a handful of breeds of chickens with feathered feet besides the Marans, including Faverolles, Cochins, Sultans, Brahmas and Silkies.
The French Marans have feathered feet which makes them kind of unique in the chicken world. There are only a handful of breeds of chickens with feathered feet besides the Marans, including Faverolles, Cochins, Sultans, Brahmas and Silkies.
The English Marans, however, are clean legged. English cuckoo variety is available from us as well.
Marans are generally friendly, quiet and docile. They aren't terribly broody, but are good foragers and a nice, hardy breed. They are decent layers, producing 150-200 eggs per year on average.
They have a single comb, orange eyes and yellow legs.
The French Marans breed comes in several colors including Black Copper, Birchen, Cuckoo (barred black and white feathers), Golden, White, and Wheaten. Other non-recognized colors include Blue, Blue Copper and Splash. WE NOW OFFER CUCKOO, BLUE CUCKOO, BLACK COPPER AND WHITE!
Black Copper Marans Chickens
TheCuckoo is the most common variety we find here but the Black Copper Marans and the Black are probably the most common color of Marans chicken in their country of origin.
Day old chicks are available in VERY limited quantities through Beau Peep Farms . Order early to avoid disappointment.
Breed Facts
Origin / History:
Marans, France
Class: Continental
Primary use: dual-purpose meat/eggs
Egg production (annual):
150-200
Egg size: large - XL
Egg colour: dark brown
Temperament: Docile, Sweet, Easy to handle
Recognized varieties: Black, Black Copper, Wheaten and White. Many other varieties exist, but only these four are currently recognized by the APA
Status: Recovering
Adult Weight:
Large Fowl
Size: Cock….…....8 lbs Hen……..6 1/2 lbs
Characteristics:
Comb Type: Single Comb
Crested: No
Bearded: No
Ear Muffs: No
Feathered Legs: Yes
Number of Toes: 4
Suitability to Backyard Life: Yes
Hardy In Winter:: Yes
Confinement: Bears confinement well
Setter/Broody: Yes
Bantam available: Yes, but we do not offer them in any variety at this time.
Origin / History:
Marans, France
Class: Continental
Primary use: dual-purpose meat/eggs
Egg production (annual):
150-200
Egg size: large - XL
Egg colour: dark brown
Temperament: Docile, Sweet, Easy to handle
Recognized varieties: Black, Black Copper, Wheaten and White. Many other varieties exist, but only these four are currently recognized by the APA
Status: Recovering
Adult Weight:
Large Fowl
Size: Cock….…....8 lbs Hen……..6 1/2 lbs
Characteristics:
Comb Type: Single Comb
Crested: No
Bearded: No
Ear Muffs: No
Feathered Legs: Yes
Number of Toes: 4
Suitability to Backyard Life: Yes
Hardy In Winter:: Yes
Confinement: Bears confinement well
Setter/Broody: Yes
Bantam available: Yes, but we do not offer them in any variety at this time.
Beau Peep Farms
A great place to pick up chicks!
