Maran breed in Russia has not yet It is known, but quite popular in Europe. Maran chickens are one of the most eccentric and appreciated types of chickens. With enviable speed, gaining weight, bearing eggs of golden chocolate color, with a bright plumage that catches the eye, they are valued as one of the most prolific laying hens. Maran chickens are surprisingly strong and active. They grow quickly and are drawn to walking for adults. Birds are not conflicting, rarely come into fights among themselves, you can see maran hens in the photo.
Features of the Maran breed
The description of the Maran breed indicates that it is a seemingly ordinary breed of chicken that can carry unusual eggs. Large eggs of golden chocolate shades are the main feature and the 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 hens of the maran are as dark as possible – because the darker the shell, the better the product. This fabulous scrambled egg tastes just stunning – the taste of these eggs, their size and quality are a kind of “brand” of this breed.
In addition, the product has a unique property – since the shell of these eggs is very thick and strong, it provides reliable protection. Through it, when the hens rush into the egg itself, any bacteria will never enter. An adult laying bird can weigh up to 3 kg, and a rooster up to 4 kg. In addition to eggs, chicken is also famous for its unusually tasty meat. Resistant to any disease, such a bird is one of the most coveted – its meat is usually served in the most elegant and expensive restaurants so maranas hens have high prices.
Appearance of representatives of the Maran breed
Each chicken of this breed is like a bright, contrasting light of its own color, like maranas, a chicken breed in the photo. All individuals, without exception, are inherent in proud posture, a special grace, coupled with a regal gait.The bewitching, iridescent plumage of these hens makes not only excellent suppliers of a quality product, but also the decoration of any poultry farm. Strong legs, a straight six-toothed crest, eyes of warm brown and red shades – these are all the features inherent in chicken marans that deserve excellent reviews.
The colors of the maran chickens are so diverse that every farmer can find and choose the most suitable one for himself. To determine the breed you can even not experienced farmer only by the amazing color of 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, the power and endurance of this bird – maran chicken elegantly 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 additives, individuals quickly gain the required kg, which is an additional benefit factor for those farmers who grow this breed for meat. Roosters are always slightly smaller than females in both size and weight. Maran chickens are active and strong. The survival rate of young animals is good.
Coloring of the plumage of the chicken maran
Black-copper
One of the most common colors of this breed is black – copper plumage, on top of which feathers cast like copper overflowed like a cloak.Black feathers in marans look very stylish and expensive. Many breeders acquire this breed simply in order to impress customers and offer a more profitable and beautiful variety of birds. the hen has a noticeable, bright red “necklace” that stands out on completely black feathers. Black feathers only emphasize this color. The cockerel has black smoky feathers with red spots. The feather is not so black, a little duller than that of the hens.
Cuckoo
The cuckoo plumage is divided into gold and silver. In roosters, the plumage is very similar to the blue-silver color. The cuckoo color of the Maran breed is slightly less common than black and copper. In plumage, they are dominated by gold and silver shades. The beautiful color is more typical of laying hens, it is a noble golden color, and the males got a cold and aristocratic silver.
Wheat
The rarest color of the above. Some farmers purchase chickens of different colors for overall contrast. Wheat, warm, golden-reddish shades distinguish this color from others. Males with this color are distinguished by black breasts and a golden head and neck. In layers, the plumage color is not so saturated, but it looks very harmonious. You can see all colors of plumage in more detail in the photo or video.
Productivity of the breed
The main value of this breed is quality eggs.The egg production may not be the same as that of similar breeds, but the eggs from the marans are obtained of good quality, provided that the marans of the chicken receive a high level of content. Each year, these hens are able to bring up to 160 eggs, which is quite profitable, each egg – given a fairly dense shell – from 70 to 90 grams by weight. But this shell has its own drawback. Of course, such a strong protection will save the egg from getting any disease, but on the other hand it is hard to break through.
Chickens are difficult to get out of such an egg. Maybe because of this particular feature, 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 guaranteedly get eggs with a dark shell. Laying hens begin to spawn when they are of reproductive age, usually it can start from 4 months from the moment of birth such a characteristic of roosters and hens is maran.
Growing eggs in an incubator
If Because some individual individuals did not hatch the egg, then for this you need to purchase an incubator . An incubation egg in its characteristics is no worse than what a hen incubates. Before laying eggs in the incubator, do not wash them and wash the protective film. Each egg has an invisible film that protects the future chicken from infection and viruses.
It is recommended to purchase an automatic incubator with the function of turning eggs and maintaining the desired humidity. Place in the incubator only flat eggs without deformation. The egg must not be longer than 5 days. Take full control of your chickens with an ovoscope. With such a device, you can enlighten the egg and see if the future young growth develops correctly, and you can also see the maranas hens in the video.
Conditions of detention
Marans have an unpretentious nature – individuals are resistant to disease, hardy and strong, they can adapt to any conditions. Chickens are carried stably if the conditions of detention 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, one can also identify general maintenance rules and features leading to the highest quality products:
- The presence of a spacious, extensive enclosure .
- Moderate humidity and fresh air in the chicken coop.
- Stable supply of chickens with 10-11 hours of light during the winter, in summer – as long as possible.
- In the summer – long walks. These active individuals physically need to spend a lot of time in the fresh air.
Characteristics of chickens are pretty good: to reveal the full productive potential of laying hens, they should be kept in a spacious chicken coop, with balanced humidity and ventilation, and also not to allow the temperature to drop below 15 degrees in the winter season.
How to feed maran hens?
The rules for feeding this breed are not much different from the rules for all other breeds. Copper chickens of the Maran egg copper breed are like a quality brand 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 chickens with a balanced, nutritious diet, if possible equipped with minerals, vitamins and boiled vegetables. The food may be solid or wet. Different types of food should be given so that the chickens receive a varied diet. One layer per day should consume about 120-130 grams of feed . Compound feed sold is carefully ground and does not allow birds to oily or overeat.
A wet mixer is made from what is at home. You can mix boiled potatoes, bran from wheat, cereals, oilcake. have to mash it can be made from boiled water, or some farmers use the serum. The main thing is not to make too big a portion as chicken can nedoest. mash based on fermented milk products sour quickly. Repeatedly giving such a blender should no longer be necessary because the maran hens will lose their egg production and may become sick.
Chopped and fresh herbs can be added to the home blender. In the winter season, birds should be given more high-calorie and nutritious food. Also carry out constant feeding. In the summer season, let the birds go 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.
