The chicken breed Maran was especially fond of poultry breeders due to the fact that the bird gives unique eggs, and its meat has excellent taste characteristics. The article discusses the external characteristics of the bird, its varieties, breeding and keeping.
How did the breed appear?
The Maran breed was bred from France in 1895. But the unique qualities of animals could only be evaluated after 29 years. In 1914, the creators decided to present their new breed at the La Rochelle exhibition. Since then, birds have become popular all over the world.
Many poultry farmers still prefer this breed. The bird was bred in the city of Maran, located in the western part of France. This has contributed to the fact that the animals adapt perfectly to adverse weather conditions.
Description of Maranov
Outwardly, Maranas look very attractive. Throughout the year, the plumage of birds remains as bright. These are animals with a powerful body, but they do not seem “heavy” and awkward, on the contrary, they look noble and majestic.
Body size is average, good build, plumage is dense. Birds have a long body, broad and high shoulders. On a strong and long neck there are many long feathers that form a kind of collar. A powerful chest, a developed abdomen, wings tightly pressed to the body - these characteristics indicate that the bird is strong. Legs are shortish, white or slightly pinkish. But in birds with dark plumage, the legs may be gray or dark gray.
Moran’s head is small, slightly elongated. On the head is the middle ridge with sharp ends. Earrings and earlobes of a red shade. A distinctive feature is orange-red eyes, a strong, curved beak of yellow color.
Birds are active and mobile, at the same time calm and non-aggressive. This is convenient for poultry farmers engaged in breeding several breeds at once.
Bird features
Maran chickens have many unusual features. Here are some of them:
- Birds lay eggs with a thick and strong shell - it becomes a barrier through which harmful microorganisms cannot penetrate. But this feature is a significant minus on the other hand, because it is very difficult for chickens to peck this barrier when hatching.
- If you cross the male Maran with chickens of other breeds, the laying hens will give the same "chocolate" eggs.
- The animals have a beautiful and bright plumage, its color does not change during the year, remains as bright as at birth.
- The darker the eggs of Maran, the higher the quality of the product. Because of this, poultry farmers are struggling to provide birds with good conditions to get dark eggs.
What is the breed's productivity?
Adult laying hens in adulthood gain up to 2.5-3.3 kg, roosters - about 4 kilos. Meat carcasses are distinguished by high taste characteristics. Soups and various main dishes are prepared from meat. At the same time, carcasses have an attractive appearance, are covered with white-yellow skin.
Maranes are almost never used for meat, although these are universal chickens. Birds are mainly kept for egg production.
Chickens reach puberty at 6 months or a little earlier. The first eggs are obtained not so saturated dark, and their weight usually does not exceed 60 g, but over time, the indicators change for the better. For a year, a laying hen is able to produce from 130 to 250 eggs weighing about 85 grams. Sometimes the number of eggs increases, it depends on the type of feeding and conditions. One-year-old laying eggs lay eggs with a saturated egg color.
Varieties of breed
Marans of cuckoo, black, white, wheat, Colombian, silver-black color and others are found. There are also dwarf subspecies. All varieties are different in color. The following are varieties of Maran.
Wheat
The birds have a golden uniform color. Males of this species look much more elegant - wheaten neck color, black chest and red tail feathers.
Cuckoo
Males cuckoo color according to the French standard, lighter than layers. The birds have the same colorful plumage throughout the body and a slightly reddish tint. British standards indicate that a rooster has a lighter neck and upper chest than the color of the rest of the body. Because of this, black chickens may appear in the offspring of cuckoo marans. When mating a silver-cuckoo rooster with black chicken, the offspring will have dark males and silver-cuckoo females.
Copper black
Almost the entire body of the birds has a reddish tint with a golden tint. Such birds have a black tail, on which small spots are located.
Black tailed
Birds have a red body and a black tail. The males have emerald pigtails, and the females have brown shades of feathers.
Colombian
Colombian birds are distinguished by a pure white body with snow-white fluff. A black feather mane with a white trim flaunts around the neck. With feathers, the upper part is white, the lower part is black. When a bird folds its wings, it is impossible to discern a black tint. Metatarsus of a pinkish-white color.
Lavender
Lavender color comes in several variations, because it is based on red and black pigments. Lavender chickens can predominate in either black or red feathers.
The black
Throughout the body, including feathers on the tail, their shade is jet black. Sometimes individuals with interspersed feathers of a different color are found - these are defective birds.
White
White Maranas are dominated by snow-white plumage. In roosters, sometimes there are yellow tides on the feathers of the mane, tail and lower back. White Maran has pink metatarsus. If the chick has a gray or gray-blue rose, this is not a faded lavender representative of the breed.
Blue copper
The color is very similar in appearance to copper-black birds, but in this case, the feathers of birds are silver-copper in color.
More about eggs
Farmers appreciate the Maran breed for their brown-red color. The richer the color, the higher the quality of the product. In this case, there are special indicators, the minimum acceptable value is 4-5 points. But for incubation products, the indicator should be at least 7 points. The best representatives of the breed can boast a shell color, an indicator of which is 9 points. Such eggs have almost a coal shell.
Some farms argue that if you feed the birds carrots, beets, decoction of onion husks, the eggs will turn out dark, but this is an erroneous opinion. But when a male Maran is crossed with laying hens of another breed, the eggs will be of a dark color.
Eggs predominate in such an unusual shade, due to the fact that during laying it passes through the oviduct. If you try to scrape the outer layer of the egg's protective shell, it will acquire a light shade. Complementary color - a kind of protection for the product itself.
But the main signs of the egg products from Maranov are both their excellent taste and the shell, which is durable, which contributes to the ability to transport and store eggs with minimal risk.
Content Features
Before purchasing birds, the farmer must familiarize himself with the living conditions that animals prefer:
- Marans need a house where it is dry, warm, and there are no drafts. It should not be dark; birds need at least 11 hours of lighting.
- The temperature in the barn, even in winter, should not be lower than 15 degrees. A prerequisite is the presence of litter from sawdust.
- Birds do not tolerate moisture, due to which it is necessary to ventilate the chicken coop more often. If ventilation is not enough, it is recommended to install a heater in the house - this will help save the situation, protect the birds from health problems.
- There is no need to enclose the territory for walking with a high fence, because due to the significant body weight, birds cannot fly.
- Spacious walking area is organized. If animals do not have the opportunity to lead an active lifestyle, they may face obesity - it is dangerous not only for productivity, but also for the life of the birds themselves.
- On a walk, farmers install special containers with sand and ash - dry baths help birds protect themselves from parasites that can lead to depletion of the body and lower productivity. Sometimes, due to parasites, birds lose their plumage. With proper care, chickens will not suffer from this.
- Half of the enclosure should be covered with a roof, so that in case of bad weather the chickens can hide from rain or snow - this will protect them from colds.
- Although birds are bred for keeping in regions with a cool climate, it is important to pay attention to their keeping in the winter. At this time, daylight hours should last up to 14 hours - artificial lighting comes to the rescue. Experienced poultry farmers recommend using a time relay - it automatically turns on and off the light bulbs in the room.
- You can not allow the temperature to drop to 10 degrees in the winter, otherwise the egg laying will stop. It will be possible to create the optimum temperature with the help of additional heaters, as well as by warm straw bedding on the floor - it is changed twice a month.
Feeding
The Maran diet is based on the same principles of feeding that are characteristic of other breeds of chickens. In order for the birds to gain weight well and the egg production rate to be stable, livestock provide a balanced diet.
Lack of feed and overfeeding are harmful to layers. Improper nutrition can lead to a decrease in egg production. The farmer needs to take seriously the menu design for young and adult individuals.
What to give to young growth?
Chickens must be properly fed - the right development and growth depends on this, and therefore it is required to follow a certain pattern:
- From 1 to 3 days, feed the kids with boiled eggs and cottage cheese every 2 hours.
- From day 3 to 6, corn grits and crushed millet grains are added to the curd and eggs.
- From the 6th to the 9th day, chopped eggshells, shell lime are added to the birds. Chicks are fed up to 6 times a day.
- From day 10, chickens are fed 4 times a day.
- From day 14, it is recommended to feed the chicks with plant-based feeds.
Once a week, as a drink, chicks are required to give a weak solution of potassium permanganate - the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases.
Young growth needs serious conditions of detention. From the moment of birth to the 7th day of life, they are kept in brooders, where the temperature is at least 30 degrees. A week later, chicks are already released for a walk for a couple of hours in case of good weather.
From the second week of life, the chicks are left with adults, but are put in a warm place at night. When the birds turn 1 month old, they are considered adults, then they can be kept in a common house.
Adult Bird Feeding
For one chicken per day, up to 75 grams of feed, if the main diet consists only of such food. But to pour out the entire norm in one is extremely undesirable, so that the birds do not eat everything, and then do not remain hungry. Food is divided into several receptions. Also, the diet necessarily includes green mass and vegetable crops.
In the warm season, grass, chopped vegetables, cabbage are sure to be given. Layers need feeding. Birds are fed several times a day. The color intensity of the yolk in the eggs directly depends on the amount of green mass consumed by the laying hens.
Read more about proper feeding of laying hens here.
Compound feeds for chickens are purchased ready-made or prepared independently. In the second case, farmers significantly save on food for birds.
The composition of the dry mixture should contain such products:
- table salt - 0.3%;
- fodder yeast - 5%;
- grass, fish and bone meal - 5%;
- sunflower meal - 7%;
- fodder chalk, shell rock, limestone - 7%;
- barley grains - 7%;
- pea grains - 8%;
- wheat grains - 12%;
- corn grains - 45%.
For better digestibility of feed in poultry houses, it is recommended to equip containers with shell rock, gravel or quartz sand.
The diet of domestic chicken consists of 70% carbohydrate feed, the remaining 30% is protein. Young laying hens should be fed more nutritious feeds with the onset of the laying period. Ready-made industrial feeds already contain all the additives necessary for birds. Special additives are provided to birds as an additional source of calcium for the formation of a strong shell. They are fed with such products:
- crushed eggshell;
- feed chalk;
- bone meal;
- a shell.
Such top dressing can be in a separate container or added to food. Nevertheless, it is better to give additional nutrition separately, so that birds have the opportunity to independently determine when and in what quantity to feast on supplements.
Breeding
For laying in the incubator, large eggs weighing at least 65 grams are selected. Choose the darkest - this allows you to save hereditary qualities. It is very important that the parents meet the breed standards according to external data.
The only problem farmers face is the thick and sturdy shell of eggs. If the chicks are weakened, it is very difficult for them to peck the shell or tear the shell shell. If you do not help the kids get out on time, this can lead to their death.
To avoid death from a lack of oxygen under a thick shell, the farmer can by good ventilation in the second half of the incubation - for 10-11 days. To prevent the embryo from sucking to the shell-shell, eggs need to be turned more often. Spraying water will help maintain air humidity in the last period of the incubation period. In recent days, the humidity indicator should not be lower than 75%.
To avoid overheating of the embryos, defects in the chicks (for example, crooked fingers) will help to reduce the temperature by 0.2 degrees per day, starting from day 16. By the time of withdrawal, the temperature in the incubator should be 36.8-36.9 degrees.
After the start of biting, it is required to ensure that this place does not rest on the floor or any other surface. Some farmers help the chicks by breaking the shell in a circle from the bite site. Subject to the rules of incubation, chickens of the Maran breed hatch together - on 21 days after laying.
Read more about incubation of chicken eggs here.
Disease and Prevention
It will be possible to prevent the disease of chickens by observing cleanliness in the chicken coop and by organizing proper feeding. It is equally important to vaccinate young birds on time. The table describes the most common diseases of chickens and methods for their treatment:
Disease | Symptoms | Methods of struggle |
Bird flu | Infection. In birds, coordination is disturbed, body temperature rises. There is a constant rotation of the head, disheveled feathers. From the beak of a sick bird, mucus is secreted. | Isolate the infected bird or kill until the infection has spread to other individuals. |
Abdominal dropsy | An infected bird suffers from an enlarged and tense stomach. The animal feels weak, lethargic. The gait is intense. | The disease is treated by pumping water from the abdominal cavity. Diuretic herbs, such as bearberry, horsetail, are also added to the drink. |
Knemidocoptosis (growths on the paws) | A disease in which scales and knolls appear on the paws of chickens. This is due to the introduction of the scabies mite under the skin. | The most effective drug for solving the problem is considered to be an aversiktin or non-vertin ointment. |
Ascariasis | Birds become infected with helminths. | It is desirable to treat the disease with drugs such as hygromycin or piperazine. If worms are found in the chicken coop, it is urgent to sanitize all surfaces with boiling water. |
Read more about diseases of chickens, the reasons for their development, treatment and prevention - read here.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
The breed has almost no flaws, the only negative point is the strong shell, which prevents the chicks from escaping to freedom.
In comparison with this, Maran has much more advantages:
- the meat and eggs of the chickens have a delicious taste;
- a thick and durable shell reliably protects against the penetration of parasites;
- the breed is adapted for breeding in any conditions;
- large eggs and carcasses of birds delight farmers;
- chickens are highly resistant to various diseases;
- egg production is dominated by a rich brown color, from which the eggs are called "chocolate".
In addition to these advantages, many poultry farmers note the activity and mobility of chickens, which has a beneficial effect on the fetus.
Breeding profitability
Maran is a meat-and-egg chicken. But most farmers argue that raising birds to get only meat does not make sense at all. Regarding egg production, the dark laying eggs are in incredible demand, all the more pleasing to large size.
The eggs of females have unique taste, a strong shell provides safe transportation over long distances, which can not be said about the product obtained from chickens of other breeds.
Breeding will be profitable only if the goal of the business is to sell unusual dark eggs for gourmets and interested buyers. But it is important to take care in advance of finding potential buyers (amateurs or restaurateurs).
Where to buy and at what price?
Farmers often turn to trusted suppliers to buy hatching eggs. Today, many poultry farms offer to buy high-quality eggs of Maran, as well as chicks and adults of this breed.
Approximate cost:
- hatching egg - about 300-350 rubles apiece;
- seven-day chickens - from 400 to 470 rubles;
- two-week-old chicks - from 480 to 500 rubles;
- six-month-old individuals - from 5500 to 6000 rubles.
Farmers can familiarize themselves with the products of poultry farms in more detail by visiting their websites, studying offers and price lists. The sites contain all the detailed information describing the breeds that the farms offer. It is also possible to place an order online.
Reviews about chicken maran
Reviews about Maran chickens are often only positive, because many managed to make sure that the laying hens bring large eggs of high quality, and the meat of the carcasses has unique taste.
Sergey, 47 years old, a villager.Five years ago, one of my friends talked about this breed, I wound it on my mustache and went for the chicks. I have never regretted it. These are golden chickens carrying Easter eggs. The main thing is to comply with the conditions of detention, release the birds to freedom, feed well and make sure that the chicken coop is warm.
Under appropriate conditions, by the age of 4.5 months, the bird is gaining good weight. At 5 months, laying hens begin laying. There are four species of birds in my household. I like copper-black Maran more.
Victor, 37 years old, farmer.Used to live in the city, but pulled in fresh air, I wanted to engage in breeding of animals. The first thing I decided to raise chickens. But then the question arose about me. He began to be interested, read information on the network, came across positive reviews about the Maran breed. I decided to buy hatching eggs, bred chickens. The kids grew up, and it turned out that in our wilderness no one needs beautiful chocolate eggs. I went to the city - the trade went like clockwork, in an hour they had all been cleaned up.
Nadezhda, 58, a housewife.I liked the Maranas because of their peaceful nature. Now this breed is one of the most beloved. When Maran birds appeared on our farm, there were no problems from them. We breed birds exclusively for personal consumption. I cook delicious broths based on chicken carcasses for my family, fry delicious eggs - everyone is happy. It not only gives pleasure, but also helps us to save.
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Maran chickens today are very popular and in demand. They are appreciated for fast weight gain, large chocolate eggs. The products have a good taste. When breeding is rarely difficult, and the proper conditions of keeping allow you not to lose the livestock, while increasing profit from the business.
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