All about the Maran chicken breed. Maran chickens. Characteristics of Maran chicken eggs

Today is a good time, dear readers, to meet and study the material about chickens that our resource offers you to read. We hope to meet your expectations. Maran is a breed of chickens in our material. Photos and videos are attached.

And we will talk about the fabulous Ryaba Hen - a bird from France.

The cross was bred within the walls of the French city of Marans and registered in 1895 as a separate species. The city is located in the vicinity of drained and wet swamps, which explains the chickens’ excellent health and ability to survive in unfavorable conditions.

The presentation of the selection dates back to 1914 at the La Rochelle agricultural exhibition, where the bird managed to win the highest awards. In 1921, the name “Maran” was determined for this species, the same name as the city of origin. In 1931, the cross-country standard was approved and entered into the SCAF catalog register.

Type of breed.

If the owner of a farm is thinking about expanding, then, of course, he decides for himself what additional animals to get. “Maran” is just one of the best meat-egg crosses, which, in addition to its beauty, is also distinguished by its selective fertility.

Appearance Features

The appearance of the maranchiks is extremely attractive.

• Powerful chest, developed belly;
• The beak is yellow, powerful, slightly curved;
• The body is long, the shoulders are wide and high;
• The wings are short and tightly pressed to the body;
• The face is red, the eyes are orange-red;
• The comb is simple, pointed with a rough texture;
• The head is medium-sized, elongated and slightly flattened;
• The earlobes are red, delicate, the earrings are of the same tone, long;
• The metatarsus and toes are covered with light feathering, the tail is well developed.
• The strong and long neck is covered with long feathers that form a “collar”;
• The paws are medium-sized, pinkish or most often white, but dark individuals may have grey/dark gray paws.

The Maran breed of chickens has a good physique and dense, bright plumage, which retains its showiness throughout the season. All this can create an impression. Although the description presents them as quite powerful animals, in reality they are far from overweight and clumsy.

Plumage color options:

• White;
• Black;
• Wheat;
• Black-copper;
• Colombian;
• Black-tailed Buff;
• Golden cuckoo;
• Silver cuckoo;
• Silver-black (birch), etc.

Black-copper colors look royally impressive, especially visible under the rays of bright sunlight. The blue-black tail feathers have a green tint. The carcass has a presentable presentation due to its yellowish skin and compact constitution.

Character

The activity and mobility of these proud French birds is combined with their balanced character, which has a positive effect when kept adjacent to other animals in the farmstead.

Productivity

These birds carry nobility and excellent productivity characteristics. According to experts, the weight of cockerels in the first year of life is already 3-3.5 kg, and ideally reaches 4 kg, in one-year-old hens the weight is 2.2-2.6 kg, and in older hens it is already up to 3.2 kg.

The meat of both females and males is tasty, excellent for making soups and also excellent for culinary masterpieces of second courses; the fat has a very pleasant taste.

However, although the Maran chicken breed is classified as a meat-egg type, using them purely as a source of meat is quite wasteful.

Chicken reproduction

Crosses begin to lay eggs at the age of about six months and reach a peak of productivity, according to reviews of Eurasian farmers, in the range of 130-150 pieces per year. In egg breeding, the large norm is considered to be a mass of 60-65 g; ornithologists claim that “golden chicken eggs” can reach a mass of 85 g, and the list of achievements of this Frenchwoman includes values ​​up to 100 g!

The first eggs are relatively small, and in fact are in the range of 55-60 g, differing in their not intense color. The peculiarity of eggs is that they often have an almost standard oval shape. By the way, let me clarify that the conditions of care and diet have a significant influence on the feathered lady.

Description of interesting features

The Maran breed of chickens is one of the most attractive feathered pets, the key feature of which is large eggs of a wonderful red-brown color. Due to their unique color, they were popularly called “Easter”, because the color is very similar to the result of a decoction in onion skins.

Competitions are popular in France, where this product is judged for its shell color, brightness and shape. The intensity of pigmentation is considered an indicator of quality, which is usually measured using a special gradation, where 4-5 points are considered acceptable values.

For incubation and preservation of genetic characteristics, experts recommend a marker of at least 6-7 points, and leading representatives of the breed can boast of a level of up to 9 points - i.e. The color is very dark, almost black.

This unique product has another unique property - extremely durable. The characteristic color is obtained during the passage of the oviduct and due to the pigment “shirt” the shell grows additional thick.

Thanks to this, the embryo is almost not exposed to salmonellosis. In addition, the thickness of the natural cover contributes to the safe transportation and storage of valuable products.

Breeding

The darkest and largest specimens, weighing from 65 g, are selected for incubation in order to preserve genetic developments. The main problem of the artificial method is the strong shell and durable shell of the raw material. Weakened chickens at the time of ripening are not able to peck the shell or break through the shell, which leads to the death of the offspring.

In order to help the chicks hatch in time and avoid their asphyxia from lack of oxygen, good ventilation of the space is provided in the second half of the incubation period.

The second danger, which should be given the meaning of “strict”, is the adhesion of the embryo to the subshell membranes. You can avoid this by rotating the trays more often and maintaining air humidity around 75%.

Control of overheating in the last period complements the daily spraying of incubation material from a spray bottle. Farmers recommend lowering the temperature from the second week in order to achieve a stable level of 36.8-36.9° at the time of hatching.

If the regulations are followed, the fluffies are born synchronously - on the 21st day. If you entrust the hatching of offspring to a reliable hatchet, then you can naturally solve all the depreciation associated with caring for the young.

Caring for young livestock

For the first quarter of their birth, babies need supervision while they are out for a walk. Week-old chicks are taken outside for a couple of hours, and from the age of two weeks they can be kept in an enclosure all day, bringing them home at night. As early as one month, the chickens can be moved to the barn “for good.”

Feeding babies.

For the first three days, the feeder for babies consists of:

• boiled yolk;
• cottage cheese (around the clock - every two hours).

On the fourth day they begin to feed five to six times a day, giving:

• crushed millet;
• corn grits.

From the sixth day the following are introduced:

• ash;
• grated shell;
• finely crushed shell.

From the tenth day you can feed four times a day, adding to the menu:

• alfalfa;
• grated carrots;
• finely chopped clover.

At first, these ingredients are heat treated with boiling water.

From the month you need:

• Twice a week, water the young animals with a sanitary solution of potassium permanganate;
• Add sand or fine gravel to help digest food;
• Give grated beets. Premature feeding in most cases causes digestive problems.

From the age of three months, a transition is made to an adult diet, which differs uncritically from the standard one.

Feeding adult livestock

The main menu items are grains and chopped greens. Like most relatives from adjacent classes, these need calcium and shellfish. Birds do not disdain meat and bone meal and boiled fish.

Some farmers claim that individual feed ingredients affect the legendary coloration, these ingredients could be vegetables with dark pigmentation:

• Carrot;
• Table beets;
• Decoction of onion peels.

At the same time, breeders note that a genetic approach leads to the appearance of an exclusive shell color - crossing a marana cockerel with females of related families. But the main value of this set of benefits is good taste.

Advantages over relatives:

• Sustained immunity;
• The quality of eggs and meat is one of the most indicative;
• Unpretentiousness to living conditions and endurance to adverse weather.

Basic care rules:

• Spacious enclosure for walking;
• The requirement for thermoregulation in the room is not lower than +15 ºС;
• Strict regulations on air humidity in the poultry house, careful ventilation in cases where it increases;
• The limits of being in the fresh air - the norm of daylight hours in winter should not be less than 11 hours, in summer - as long as possible.

Age characteristics

As already noted, the first sock results in the relatively small size and color of the eggs, but subsequently the color becomes brighter and the sizes increase. The peak intensity of their color is observed in one-year-old laying hens, and in general its duration is about a year; for older mothers it becomes lighter.

Each subsequent year is characterized by a gradual decrease in the productive abilities of laying hens, up to the complete cessation of egg laying, therefore it is advisable to carry out a planned replacement of the herd in a timely manner.

Diseases

No special nuances were found in matters of immunity that would distinguish this cross from others. A clean poultry house, compliance with temperature conditions, a rich diet enriched with vitamins and minerals - these are the standards of maintenance and feeding that are important to comply with.

The birds appeared as a result of the breeding successes of scientists from France who carried out work in the city of Maran. It was thanks to him that the breed got its name. The area where the city is located does not have a mild climate, and therefore the chickens bred there in 1895 acquired excellent adaptation to unpleasant conditions.

The new breed became a gold medalist at one of the agricultural exhibitions. It was from this moment that the birds began to spread throughout European cities, but in Russia marans did not take root and are considered a rarity. Today, laying hens can only be found in our country on a large farm.

What do birds look like?

Marans are characterized by a beautiful appearance. The breed boasts a variety of colors from black with copper-colored tan to white and silver. Most often there are representatives with coal feathers, cast in copper. The entire body is black, and there is a gold necklace around the neck. This coloring is typical for chickens. In roosters, golden spots are located in the sternum area, but on the back you can see a red tint. The tail is black, with a blue tint.

There is a cuckoo-silver color, as well as a cuckoo-golden color. It is this that has the greatest value among breeders, because the birds look very elegant, walking around the yard in black and gold attire. Marans with a wheaten color are popular; cockerels have bright golden plumage on the neck and chest. But the chickens have a yellow, golden-red color with a brown tint.

There are birds with white feathers without any pattern; unlike the Colombian pattern, there is a black necklace here.

The breed has its own characteristics:

• chickens are large in size: adult female - 3.0 kg, rooster - 4.1 kg;
• eye color is reddish-orange;
• the tail is not long, hanging down to the ground;
• the plumage is not loose;
• limbs with light skin end with fingers that have a clear separation;
• the outer thighs are covered with feathers;
• the body is elongated and the head is small;
• roosters boast lush plumage, a luxurious neck collar and large earrings.

Productive characteristics

Marans belong to the meat and egg direction. It's not only about the impressive mass, but also about the very good taste.

One chicken can produce approximately 150 eggs in 365 days. The shell is dark brown, one egg weighs about 70 grams. According to some scientists, thanks to their thick shells, eggs are reliably protected from pathogenic bacteria.

Egg products have excellent taste. Some farmers say that the more saturated the color of the shell, the better the taste. Thanks to such reviews, every poultry farmer tries to create the best conditions for obtaining eggs.

Marans have a balanced character, and therefore they will not conflict with the rest of the inhabitants of the farmstead. Despite their outward calmness, chickens are distinguished by their mobility, and therefore it is recommended to choose the floor method for keeping them.

If you set up a walking area next to the chicken coop, the hens show higher egg production. Marans can be classified as birds with a good immune system, but they cannot tolerate high humidity. The room must be kept clean and the bedding must be dry, the chicken coop must be ventilated as often as possible, and, if necessary, heating devices must be installed.

In addition, marans need to install additional lighting lamps to ensure full growth of the young animals, and so that the chickens’ egg production does not drop with the onset of winter. During this period, birds need light at least 10 hours a day.

The temperature in the chicken coop should not be below +15 degrees.

Subtleties of feeding

For Marans, who belong to the mixed type of chickens, diets that were developed a long time ago specifically for this area are suitable. To achieve high productivity indicators, it is important to pay attention to the completeness and balance of feed.

Both hunger and overfeeding are contraindicated for laying hens. Both of these factors will negatively affect egg production. This can be avoided by correctly calculating the amount of feed per bird.

If a farmer’s financial capabilities allow it, he can switch his herd to feed with compound feed. In this case, there should be about 75 grams of pellets per bird. Food is distributed twice a day, but you should not give preference exclusively to dry food; the diet can be varied:

• green mass;
• root vegetables;
• vegetable crops;
• mineral supplements.

Compound feeds are purchased ready-made or produced directly on the farm.

Standard feed includes the following components:

Some young hens may begin laying eggs slightly prematurely. Here we must take into account that they are still in the growth stage, which means they will need a very nutritious diet.

The finished feed is ideal in composition, but very often chickens will not have enough of it. Laying hens need additional sources of calcium to form strong egg shells. You need to put several containers with shell rock, mix bone meal or crushed egg shells into the wet food. Preference is given to freely available sources of calcium; obviously, the birds themselves will decide how much of the microelement they need.

Subtleties of breeding

According to statements, marans are quite easy to breed in private households. Chickens have good maternal instincts. Most farmers prefer to put their eggs in an incubator to keep their hens laying eggs.

Egg products are selected according to the color of the shell - the darker it is, the better. This guarantees the appearance of young animals with all the characteristics of the breed.

At the moment of hatching, the farmer is advised to carefully monitor the progress of the process. The hatching material has a very strong shell, which the chicken cannot always break, and human help will be needed to prevent the death of the livestock from suffocation.

What to feed the young

It is important not to forget about the presence of drinking bowls with fresh water; to prevent digestive disorders, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is given as a drink once a week.

Young marans are also unpretentious in keeping, but for the first 7 days they are kept in a brooder with a temperature of at least +30 degrees. After a week, it is recommended to take the chicks out for walks if appropriate weather conditions exist.

From the age of 21 days, the chickens can be transferred to the chicken coop, but with the onset of evening they can be moved to a warmer place. As soon as they are a month old, the young animals begin to be fed according to the diet of adult chickens.

About the advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the breed include the following qualities:

• meat and egg products have excellent taste;
• poultry can be kept even in regions with an unfavorable climate;
• Marans have a good immune system, immune to disease;
• egg products of unusual chocolate color;
• the eggs have a very significant weight, as do the carcasses;
• The dense, thick shell does not allow helminths to penetrate the egg.

The disadvantage of such a wonderful breed is one thing: the shell is too dense, which causes problems with the birth of young animals, and the presence of the owner is required.

Proper care allows you to achieve high levels of productive qualities. In addition, having an unusual appearance, maranas can become a real decoration for any private household.

The variety of domestic chicken breeds is impressive. They come in egg, meat, egg-meat, fighting, vocal, and decorative varieties. If you plan to breed chickens as a business, the question arises about choosing a breed. The Maran breed is considered the best among egg-meat chickens. When asked what breeds of chickens are the best laying hens, it must be said that this breed of chickens is called “laying golden eggs.”

It is Maran chickens that are distinguished by large eggs that have a beautiful red-brown color, as if they were painted with onion skins for Easter. The homeland of Maran chickens is France, the city of Marans, where they were bred and have existed as a breed since 1895. The climate of the area where Marans is located is hot, with high rainfall, and is characterized by a greenhouse effect. Therefore, chickens tolerate bad climatic conditions well. But cold weather is worse for them than heat.

For its remarkable qualities, the Maran breed was awarded a gold prize at the La Rochelle exhibition in 1914. In Russia, the breed has become popular only in the last decade.

The bird is very attractive with its appearance; the description of the Maran chicken breed is as follows: it has bright plumage that does not change throughout the year. Maran chickens are active and calm.

The bird is medium in size, well built: with a long body, broad shoulders, a strong long neck, which is covered with long feathers that form a “collar”.

Has a powerful chest and a developed belly. The bird's wings are short, tightly pressed to the body. The tail is well developed and hangs at an angle of 45 degrees. All this gives the impression of powerful birds, although they do not look heavy and clumsy.

The head of this breed is medium, long, with a medium-sized crest with sharp ends. A bird with red, delicate earlobes, and long red earrings.

The face is red, with orange-red eyes, with a yellow, strong beak that is slightly curved.

The birds have medium-sized legs, white or slightly pink. There is light feathering on the metatarsus and toes.

Particularly impressive is the rooster, which stands out for the Maran black-copper breed of chickens; in the sun, its blue-black tail feathers shimmer and become blue-green. It has bright golden spots on its chest, and the feathers on its back have a reddish tint. The chickens have black plumage, with feathers on their necks like a golden necklace.

Colors of Maran chickens

There are birds of different colors: black and copper, silver cuckoo, golden cuckoo, white, wheaten, black, silver and black, black-tailed buff, Columbian and others.

In the dwarf subspecies of Maran, the only difference is the weight - more than a kilogram for cockerels and 0.9 kg for hens.

Why is the Maran chicken breed valuable?

The main thing that the Maran chicken breed is valued for is its eggs. They are large, beautiful, and have good taste. Although the carcasses have an attractive appearance: the skin is yellowish-white, the fat has a pleasant taste. The meat of these chickens is tasty, so you need to figure out how to gut a chicken at home in order to prepare both first and second courses from it. Cockerels reach 3.5-4 kilograms, hens weigh up to 2.6-3.2 kg. By the age of one year they reach weight: cockerels - 3-3.5 kg, chickens - 2.2-2.6 kg.

Productivity

Chickens lay eggs at 5-6 months of age. The weight of the first eggs is 55-60 g, later the color intensity of the eggs intensifies and the eggs increase in size. They can reach 85 grams (large eggs - 60-65 g) or more.

The eggs of yearling hens are the most beautiful; this lasts for a year. Older hens lay eggs that are lighter in color. I wonder how long laying hens lay - Maran hens are characterized by an egg production of 130-150 eggs per year.

The advantage of this breed is the high quality of eggs and meat, they are hardy and not demanding on living conditions. They have a strong immune system.

Characteristics of Maran chicken eggs

The eggs of this breed have a rich red-brown color. The color intensity of the egg is determined using a special scale.

The more intense the color, the higher the quality of the egg.

The acceptable color index is 4.5 points, and hatching eggs should have 6-7 points. The best representatives lay eggs with a color of 9 points; the color of the eggs is dark brown, almost black.

The egg, passing through the oviduct, acquires color, becoming covered with an additional pigment cushion. At the same time, the shell becomes thicker. When roosters of this breed are crossed with chickens of other breeds, farmers claim that the chickens lay dark-colored eggs. The eggs have a regular oval shape; you can’t tell which is the sharp end of the egg and which is the blunt end.

In the homeland of Maran chickens, in France, competitions are held for the eggs of this bird. The criteria for the best eggs are color, brightness and shape.

Egg shells are not only beautiful, but vary in thickness and strength. Therefore, it has been proven that Maran eggs are not susceptible to salmonellosis infection, tolerate transportation well, and are stored for a long time.

Maran chickens are highly prized, so how much does a laying hen of this breed cost? Prices may vary on farms, but it costs about 300 rubles; prices for six-month-old birds reach 6,000 rubles; for chickens over 14 days old they ask for 450 rubles.

How to breed Maran chickens

Eggs that weigh at least 65 grams are suitable for incubation. They should be large, dark in color, from parents with good conformation and breed standards.

Because the shells are thick and dense, problems can occur when chicks are weakened. They are not able to peck through the thick shell, they cannot break the shell of the egg, which can cause them to die.

During the second half of the incubation process, ventilation should be established and the eggs should be turned frequently. To prevent the embryo from sticking to the shell, the humidity should be close to 75%. To protect the embryo from overheating, from the 16th day of the process, the temperature begins to gradually decrease (by 0.2 degrees) to 36.8-36.9 degrees.

The eggs lie freely on their sides. Carefully observe that the egg does not rest against the floor, wall, or another egg, so that the pecking area is free. The chicks need help; to do this, you have to break the shell in a circle from the point of pecking.

The incubation time for Maran chicks is 21 days. Chickens themselves can hatch chicks, then all problems are solved naturally.

How chickens are kept

The rules for keeping chickens are the same as for others.

At first, the temperature is maintained at 30 degrees. It is gradually reduced - by 2 degrees every day. After 7 days, the chickens can be taken out into the fresh air, where they can stay for about 2 hours.

From the age of one month they are placed in a barn. Until 2-3 months of age they need supervision. Basically, they are hardy and unpretentious.

For three days, chickens eat boiled yolk and cottage cheese. They are fed after two hours.

From the fourth day they begin to feed crushed millet or corn grits. Feeding is carried out 5-6 times.

From 6 days of age they give crushed shells, grated shells, and ash. First, chopped clover, alfalfa, and grated carrots are given, first scalded with boiling water, and then they are simply chopped. At one month of age, grated beets are introduced.

For preventive purposes, chickens are given a pink solution of potassium permanganate to drink twice a week.

At the age of three months, chickens are transferred to the diet of adult birds.

For chickens of this breed, space is important. They are active and need to walk in the fresh air. In winter, the duration of daylight hours should be 11 hours. The temperature is maintained at least 15 degrees.

In winter, chickens are increasingly kept in a polycarbonate greenhouse. Greenhouses protect chickens from bad weather and make it more difficult for predators to get into them. The advantage of such greenhouses is the transparency of polycarbonate, so daylight penetrates in sufficient quantities for chickens to lay eggs in winter.

In order for chickens to successfully overwinter, an influx of fresh air is necessary, but there should be no drafts. During frosts, additional heating is provided.

To extend daylight hours, use artificial lighting. Perches are built in the greenhouse, feeders and drinking bowls are placed, and nests are prepared.

Attention is paid to warm bedding made of straw, hay, and sawdust, which is changed once every two weeks.

The temperature should not fall below 10 degrees, and for normal egg laying it is 15-25 degrees. To do this, the foundation is insulated and additional heating is used (heaters, water heating, electric heated floors).

The length of daylight hours for chickens is 14 hours. Additionally, the chicken coop is illuminated in the morning and in the evening. Some farmers use energy-saving light bulbs by using a timer that turns the lights on and off at the right time.

How to feed chickens correctly

The diet for laying hens is very important, otherwise poor nutrition will lead to the fact that the hens will stop laying eggs. The first feeding is carried out in the morning with the lights on, the second - after 8 hours. Water is also important; lack of it reduces productivity.

When feeding chickens, it is necessary to adhere to a strict schedule. In the morning, they are given boiled potatoes, bran, grain, waste, which are mixed with water. In winter they produce less mash.

In the evening, the chickens are fed before being placed on the roost. They give you whole grain, it should be varied (each time the grain is different).

The question arises of what to feed laying hens to lay a lot of eggs; the diet must be balanced. You should not skimp on feed.

The amount of feed a chicken needs depends on its weight, egg production, age, time of year, and the conditions in which it is kept. In winter, more feed is needed than in summer. Older hens require less feed than pullets.

But with abundant feeding, laying hens become fat - why chickens do not lay eggs is because the feeding is incorrect. Obese chickens do not lay eggs, and if they do, the eggs are unfertilized. To prevent this from happening, in the morning they are given not mash, but water and greens, and in the afternoon, half a portion of mash.

Feeding standards

Scientists have long developed a daily feed rate for laying hens, which makes it possible to increase their productivity. During the year, a laying hen needs 40 kg of concentrated feed and 15 kg of greens. Every day, egg-laying breeds need feed that provides energy of 300-320 kcal, and there should be 20 grams of crude protein in the feed.

The basis of chicken nutrition is grain, but it is very important to know what grain to feed laying hens.

Corn is a source of carbohydrates, but contains almost 6% fat. It is better to feed ground corn. Wheat gives a boost of energy and is rich in vitamins B and E. Barley serves as a highly nutritious food. Oats are high in fiber and promote feather growth. Rye is rich in proteins and vitamins. It’s good when a third of the grain is sprouted.

One chicken should drink 250 ml of water per day.

Beginning poultry farmers can use ready-made feed. In them, the daily diet of laying hens is balanced.

In standard feed, 45% is allocated to corn, wheat – 12%, barley and sunflower meal – 7% each, peas – 8%, yeast, fish, grass and meat and bone meal – 4-5%, chalk, limestone, shell rock – 7%, table salt – 0.3%.

If there are no special feeds, then the diet should be composed so that grain is 6 parts, boiled root vegetables are 3 parts, 1 part is additives, which can be sunflower cake, silage, fermented dairy products, nettle, dandelion, wood lice. The grain is crushed, the remaining products are mixed with water.

It is prohibited to feed chickens with soft, fresh bread, but you can soak bread croutons and feed them with sprouted grains or feed porridge. When asked whether it is possible to feed laying hens boiled potatoes, you can by mixing crushed boiled potatoes with bone meal.

Molting laying hens

Once a year, many chickens molt - what to do, because at this time they lay eggs poorly, often not at all. This condition lasts 6-8 weeks and begins in chickens in the second year of their life. Shedding is a natural process due to shortening daylight hours. But it can also be caused by stress.

During this period, feeds containing clover, peas, cabbage, alfalfa, and meat and bone meal (contain sulfur) are increased. Grain is excluded from the diet. As soon as the feather begins to grow, abundant feeding is resumed, adding sprouted grain. In January, chickens begin to lay eggs again.

Chicken diseases

The bird becomes infected with infectious diseases that cause poor egg production and even the cessation of egg laying: coccidiosis, salmonellosis, staphylococcosis, typhoid, pullorosis, avian influenza, smallpox, etc.

Bird flu is an infectious disease. The cause is the H5 and H7 virus, and the symptoms of avian flu in chickens are characterized by impaired coordination of movements, unnatural bends of the joints, staggering, and rotational movements of the head.

The temperature rises to +44 degrees, and the chickens become thirsty. The bird does not respond to stimuli, its feathers are ruffled. The nasal sinuses are stuck together with secretions, so breathing is difficult, and mucus-like exudate is observed from the beak.

If a bird's comb and earrings turn black, it means the bird will soon die.

In the summer, chickens walk in the shade for a long time and consume a lot of liquid. If during this period productivity decreases or there is no egg laying, you should seek help from a veterinarian.

Maran chickens are one of the most interesting breeds of domestic egg-laying poultry. And this is due to one very interesting feature of their body, thanks to which the eggs resemble Easter eggs in color - boiled in a strong infusion of onion peels. Experts distinguish 9 shades of shell - from medium beige to almost black. According to the standard, the darkest eggs are considered the best.

Marans are the fruit of the work of French breeders from the city of Marans. The breed was developed at the end of the 19th century and officially registered in 1895. At the time of the demonstration of the new breed, it had not yet been decided what to name it, but a little later the experts came up with the idea of ​​giving the bird a name in honor of the city in which it was bred. In 1905, the Maran breed standard was officially approved.

After some time, there was a general fashion for the Langshan and . This prompted breeders to improve the Marans by crossing with the above-mentioned birds. As a result, in 1914 an improved Maran breed was presented at the exhibition. After a few more years, a club of Maran connoisseurs was opened in France, the purpose of which was to breed an improved breed. Further, the standards were revised, and one of the requirements was the presence of feathering on the metatarsals.

In 1934, the Marans took part in a chicken exhibition held in Great Britain. The British did not like representatives of the breed with shaggy legs, so individuals with bare limbs were chosen for breeding.

This is how a separate line of the breed appeared, bred in the United Kingdom, but it was not recognized by the French. The British created their own club of Maran lovers. By the way, the confrontation between these clubs continues to this day.

It should be noted that not only European breeders became interested in the breed. The Americans also bred Marans. A club for connoisseurs of this unique breed was also organized here, but it did not last long. And the reason for it all was the fragmentation of views on the true standard that a purebred bird should meet.

A new association of breed connoisseurs, created in America, preferred the French standard to the appearance of chickens. He was also recognized by Maran breeders in most European countries. But the line of chickens with bare metatarsals has not yet been officially recognized.

Appearance and character

Marans are a breed of chickens whose description does not fit any clear pattern. In particular, there are many varieties of plumage color. Perhaps no other breed can boast such a rich variety of colors officially recognized by the standard.

The breed is considered to be . To some extent, this is true, but those who are just planning to have this bird in their backyard should be aware of some nuances. For example, the vast majority of breeders prefer to keep and breed Marans solely for eggs, since they consider it wasteful to use these chickens for meat.

Indeed, it is much more expedient to obtain meat from chickens of other breeds, because the quality is not inferior to the meat of Marans. But it is unlikely that any other breed of chicken will be able to lay eggs as tasty and large as those of laying hens from Marans.

The Marans have a calm character and a friendly disposition. This feature allows you to keep the bird next to individuals of other breeds. An undoubted advantage is that laying hens covered with a Maran cockerel can begin to lay the same beautiful, bright eggs.

Another distinctive feature of the Marans is their royal gait. They move smoothly, importantly, with self-esteem. According to reviews from many breeders, their dogs are well aware of their importance and uniqueness, which is reflected in their behavior.

The owners of Maranese chickens are proud of their pets and often post online photos and videos of their pets peacefully swarming around in an open range. Maran roosters have their own distinctive features in appearance:

• the comb with a clear pattern often hangs to one side;
• fairly large earrings;
• rich collar;
• tail set relative to back 45 degrees;
• fingers covered with down.

The bird of this breed has an elongated, medium-sized body. Females weigh 2-3 kg, males - from 3 to 4 kilograms.

Varieties

The description of the breed includes more than 10 types of colors. The American standard allows for three main colors: white, wheat and black-copper. The latter is the most popular among breeders of this breed, both in America and around the world.

The plumage of females is snow-white; in males, a yellowish tint is allowed on the collar, tail and part of the back closer to the tail. In Marans, the genes that are responsible for the white color are recessive. This can only mean one thing - there is an admixture of genes of a different color in the line.

Note: the metatarsals of a white Maran are always pink. The gray or bluish-gray tint of the chick's legs indicates that it belongs to the lavender variety.

The plumage color of males and females of this Marana variety is noticeably different. Roosters have a bright golden head and neck, and a black chest. Along the contour, the tail feathers have a black edging, the rest of the feathers have a rich copper edging. The chickens have an almost even color - wheat. Only the head and neck are somewhat darker, but the chest and belly are, on the contrary, a little lighter.

The main color of the breast feathers of the male is black with multiple splashes of reddish-copper color. The back and neck are a rich copper color, and the tail feathers are the color of a raven's wing.

The female is almost completely black. There are small spots of reddish color on her chest, and on her neck there is a red-copper necklace.

However, Americans recognize the following colors:

• silver cuckoo;
• golden cuckoo;
• silver-black;
• Colombian;
• lavender;
• mottled;
• salmon;
• black;
• black-tailed

The plumage of females and males is silvery-white. At the same time, there are three standards: American, French and British.

American Marana males have a clearer and brighter pattern. According to French breed standards, males, on the contrary, have a paler color. The feather is evenly variegated throughout the body, with a slightly creamy tint allowed.

The British Standard allows for males to have a lighter shade of plumage on the upper chest and neck.

Note: often motley parents can hatch black chicks. Mating of cuckoo and black varieties is also allowed.

Sometimes this species is called the golden cuckoo and is mistakenly attributed to a separate breed of chicken. In reality, this is just a color variation of the Maran breed.

Males of the golden cuckoo variety have bright yellow plumage on the head, mane and part of the back near the tail, and the shoulders are covered with copper-colored feathers. Otherwise the color is the same as that of the silver cuckoo variety, only with a creamy yellow tint.

Females are more modestly colored - the golden hue of the feathers is only on the neck and head.

Note: in some cases, the yellow color on the breast may predominate, giving it a whitish-golden hue.

According to the arrangement of colors, this variety is analogous to the black-copper variety, where the place of the copper color of the feathers is taken by silver.

Note: the French have not officially recognized this variety, but it is included in the list of varieties in the Dutch and Belgian clubs of Maran connoisseurs. Chickens of this color are obtained by crossing black-copper and silver-cuckoo individuals.

Colombian color

Amazingly beautiful color: snow-white body and head, collar covered with black feathers with white edging, which creates the appearance of a clear pattern, as if a mesh of snow-white lace had been thrown over a black collar. The tail is black, the feathers on the edges of the wings are white on top and black below. Metatarsus – pinkish-white.

Lavender

The color is based on two pigments - black and red, therefore it is presented in several variations: from blue to light coffee color. In this case, the lavender bird can have red or black offspring.

Mottled

Snow-white body with single colored feathers (black or red). The standard allows different frequencies of inclusions.

Pinkish-yellow plumage throughout the body. The color of the head and mane is slightly darker - in golden brown tones. Males have wings of a deep, rich copper color.

Both the female and the male are black in color without any inclusions. A feather with an emerald tint is allowed. The standard also allows for a reddish tint to the plumage. The variety is considered quite rare among the Marans.

Red copper body and black tail. In males, the tail feather is emerald green. The tail plumage of females can be copper-brown.

In addition to the differences in color options, Maran chickens have another variety - dwarf. Such birds are much smaller than ordinary Marans: chickens weigh 900 grams, roosters - 1 kilogram. Eggs from miniature hens do not exceed 40 g.

This is interesting! The very first Maranas were exclusively variegated cuckoo. Such Ryaba chickens are still the most in demand among breeders around the world. The exception is Russia, where the black-copper variety of the breed is more popular.

Productivity

Marans are a versatile breed of chickens with high productivity. Roosters reach a weight of 4 kg, chickens - up to 3 kg. The meat is tender, juicy with minimal fat content, which is why it is recognized as a delicacy and dietary product.

Laying hens and cockerels reach sexual maturity at 5-6 months of age. Chickens that have just begun to lay eggs are not very large - their weight is approximately 55-60 grams. The color of the shell at first is not so intense, but by the beginning of the second year of life it reaches its maximum dark shade, which, under good conditions of keeping and feeding the bird, remains so throughout the year. In laying hens over 2 years old, the eggs become paler. Egg production, depending on housing conditions, is approximately 130-150 eggs per year.

Features of eggs

The main distinguishing feature of eggs laid by Marano chickens is their hard, thick shell and unique pigment. The darker the color of the shell, the better the quality of the egg. Color intensity is measured on a 9-point scale.

According to the standard, eggs rated 4-5 points or higher are considered high quality. For poultry breeding, experts recommend using an egg with a shell color intensity of at least 6 points - only if these requirements are met, the offspring are guaranteed to retain all the characteristics of the breed.

An egg that scores 9 on the scale looks almost black. It is carried by the best representatives of the breed. The shell acquires its characteristic “Easter” color when passing through the chicken’s oviduct (if you try to scratch it, the top layer is removed, and a lighter shade peeks out from under it). It is the additional shell that makes the shell thicker, making maran eggs almost not susceptible to salmonellosis.

According to some farmers, you can achieve a darker egg color by adding carrots, beets and other dark vegetables to the chickens' diet. In other breeds of chickens, the color of the eggs may become darker if they are crossed with a Maranese male.

Another feature is the almost perfectly regular oval shape - in such an egg the opposite sides are almost indistinguishable. The eggs also have excellent taste. This feature is noted by all owners and breeders of Marans. They claim that in scrambled eggs made from different eggs you can always tell which one belongs to the hen from Marans.

There is no fundamental difference in the requirements for keeping marans and chickens of other breeds. Here everything is the same as everywhere else:

• The bird does not tolerate excessive room humidity, drafts and unsanitary conditions.
• Walking in the warm season is preferable in the fresh air throughout the daylight hours.
• The air temperature in the chicken coop should not be lower than +15C.

In the poultry house you can equip both standard perches and keep the birds on the floor. In this case, the thickness of the litter should be sufficient for the bird to dig a hole for sleeping and laying eggs.

Chicken coop

The balanced temperament of Marans does not mean at all that the bird can be kept in cages. Chickens of this breed require a spacious enclosure for walking in the fresh air, and even better if the yard has conditions for free range. However, some breeders prefer to play it safe and stretch a translucent mesh over the entire area of ​​the enclosure. The main purpose of such protection is to prevent infection with infectious diseases from wild birds.

Ideally, a poultry house for marans should be equipped as follows:

• To keep poultry year-round, the chicken coop must be built either from foam blocks or from solid timber. A room made of such material will be warm.
• Be sure to equip supply and exhaust ventilation.

Also, the chicken coop should have perches and nests for hens that are comfortable for chickens. Experts recommend equipping and placing nests above the level of perches, in secluded corners where the bird will feel calm. Nest arrangement:

• the bottom needs to be filled with hay;
• for 5 laying hens one nest will be enough;
• it is easier and better to make the entry hole square with sides 25x25 cm;
• the height of the laying house is at least 35 cm, the depth is at least 30 cm;
• a special take-off shelf should be installed at the entrance to the nest;
• The shape of the nest roof can be single-pitched, as in a birdhouse, or gable - at the discretion of the owner.

The main thing is that it is not horizontal. The slope is needed to prevent chickens from settling on the roof and dirtying it with droppings.

For perches, it is better to use bars with a minimum cross-section of 6 cm. The ideal shape for the convenience of the bird is a bar with rounded edges or a cylindrical shape. The length of the perch is calculated based on the number of birds in the flock. Each individual requires at least 20 cm. It is better to make perches with a reserve. The optimal height for constructing perches is 120 cm from the floor.

In the warm season, chickens will be able to sit on the perches freely and comfortably, but in winter, if the birds get cold, they will huddle together. It is much worse if some chicken does not have enough space on the roost.

Experienced poultry farmers recommend covering feeders and drinkers with netting. This way the bird will be able to eat and drink, but will not be able to climb into them with its paws.

Feeding

To ensure that the bird receives all the necessary vitamins and microelements from the feed, it is best to buy specialized feed. An adult bird needs 75 grams of feed per day. It is strictly forbidden to reduce the amount of feed or overfeed the bird. This negatively affects her health and productivity.

In the summer, chickens pluck fresh greens on an open range, but in winter, herbal pellets and boiled vegetables should be added to the main diet.

The finished feed contains all the necessary nutrients, but if you have the time and desire to prepare food for the chickens yourself, you should know the standard composition:

• whole corn – 45%;
• wheat (whole grain) – 12%.
• peas – 8%;
• Sunflower meal – 7%;
• barley – 7%;
• shell rock, limestone, chalk – 7%;
• fish, grass, meat and bone meal and feed yeast – up to 5%;
• salt – 0.3%.

Note: for better digestion of food, chickens need small pebbles and quartz sand. 70% of the composition of standard feed consists of carbohydrates, the remaining 30% is protein.

Nutritional value of chicken feed:

• fiber – 4-6%;
• fats – 3-5%;
• protein – 15-18%.

Young laying hens should also be given calcium supplements to their feed. You can mix them into the food or give them separately - the bird itself can determine how much calcium it needs.

Diseases

Marans have strong innate immunity to various diseases, but any breeder should know about the most common ones in order to begin timely treatment, if necessary, and prevent the death of the bird. Such knowledge will also be useful in order to protect your chickens from possible illnesses through prevention.

Dropsy of the abdominal cavity occurs when the water-salt balance in the bird’s body is disturbed. The main causes are dysfunction of the liver, kidneys and heart. The disease is manifested by changes in the behavior and appearance of the bird. The chicken becomes lethargic and has difficulty moving. Palpation reveals tension in the abdominal cavity, the abdomen is noticeably enlarged.

The success of treatment depends on the extent to which the underlying causes of dropsy can be eliminated. Symptomatic therapy includes pumping out accumulated fluid using a catheter and using diuretics.

The selected drug is mixed into drink or food in the dosage recommended by the instructions for use. The course of treatment is also indicated there. For preventive purposes, adult birds are given phenothiazine. Prevention of helminthiases in young animals consists of watering birds that have reached 20 weeks of age with a solution of potassium permanganate at a rate of 1:30,000. This solution replaces ordinary water.

Note: any treatment should begin with a visit to the veterinarian.

Prevention

A good preventative measure, along with deworming, is keeping the chicken coop clean. You should also regularly disinfect the premises with fluorochlorophenol, xylonafte, sodium hydroxide or ash alkali. Treatment solutions are made in accordance with the instructions supplied with the disinfection products.

Scabies is a disease with a dangerous rate of spread. In the absence of prevention and timely treatment, a bird can suffer from scabies for years.

The treatment is carried out in this way: the paws of the infected bird are kept for half an hour in warm soapy water, then dried with a clean rag and lubricated with a creolin solution.

To prevent and treat this disease, spacious baths with a sand-ash mixture should be installed in the chicken coop. Fallen affected feathers and fluff must be promptly removed from the chicken coop and burned at the stake.

Breeding

To reproduce the Maran stock and obtain healthy, high-quality offspring with all the characteristics of the breed, eggs with the most intense shell color should be selected. Hatching eggs can be placed under the hen or an incubator can be used. Otherwise, the requirements for breeding and raising chickens are the same as for other chicken breeds.

The only nuance that you should pay special attention to is the thickness of the shell. On the one hand, such protection helps protect the offspring from helminthiasis, on the other hand, it is quite difficult for chickens to peck and in some cases outside help is required.

Experienced Maran breeders also advise closely monitoring the eggs in the incubator. Hatched and dried chickens should be immediately placed in a separate box. The reason for this need is that while moving inside the incubator, the hatched chicks can turn the eggs over as they peck, thereby blocking the access of air to the chicks just starting to emerge from the shell. If you do not notice this in time, the babies may die without hatching.

You can buy Marana hatching eggs from both private farmers and large poultry breeding farms. Prices are quite affordable and may vary depending on the intensity of the shell color. Dark eggs are considered the best, and accordingly their price will be higher.

Chicken diet

In order for the hatched offspring to develop correctly and be healthy, chickens should be fed according to a certain scheme:

• For the first 3 days of life, babies are given a mixture of cottage cheese and boiled eggs every 2 hours.
• Over the next three days, corn grits or crushed millet are added to the feed.
• On day 6, crushed eggshells and shell rock are added to the feed. The feeding frequency is already 4 hours.
• Ten-day-old chickens are transferred to 4 feedings a day.
• Starting from the 14th day of life, products of plant origin (finely chopped greens, tops) are introduced into the diet.

To prevent gastrointestinal diseases, drinking water is replaced with a weak solution of potassium permanganate every 7 days.

Necessary conditions for chicks

From the moment of hatching until the age of one week, the chicks are kept in special brooders, the air temperature in which must be maintained at +30 C. Starting from the 8th day of life in warm weather, the chicks are allowed to walk for a few hours.

From the age of two weeks, the young can walk outside all day and only at night the growing chicks are placed in a warm room. Upon reaching the age of one month, the young animals are moved to a common chicken coop.

Advantages and disadvantages

Chickens of any breed have their pros and cons. To a large extent, these characteristics depend on what exactly the breeder wants to get from his pets. So, the obvious advantages of the Maran breed include the following indicators:

• Both Maran eggs and meat are distinguished by their excellent taste.
• The breed can withstand any weather conditions well because it has a strong immune system from birth.
• Maran chickens lay “ready” Easter eggs with thick, durable shells and sometimes weighing up to 100 g.

Flaws

According to reviews from breeders, chickens of this breed have virtually no disadvantages. The only negative is the need to help the chicks hatch through the thick shell.

The Maran is one of the best all-around chicken breeds. Hatching eggs have a very high hatching rate. If all recommendations and care tips are followed, Marans will delight their owners with unsurpassed productivity and the highest quality of eggs and meat.

Useful video

Video about Maran chickens:

Chickens that lay golden eggs can be called Marans. This is one of the most specific and original breeds, the main characteristics of which are beautiful red-brown eggs of a very large size. They are often also called “Easter”, as they look colored with a decoction of onion skins.

Maran chickens are one of the best breeds. Its value lies not only in the unique coloring of the eggs. Due to their outstanding characteristics, these birds have gained popularity in Russia in the last decade.

Description of the breed

Maranas have a very attractive appearance. Their bright plumage retains its beauty throughout the year. Experienced poultry farmers can easily distinguish Marans from other breeds of chickens. Even at first glance, their important, proud gait is striking.

Although, according to the description of the breed, they are quite powerful birds, they do not give the impression of being clumsy and heavy. Maranas are active and mobile, but these qualities are combined with a calm character, which is important for mixed content.

The body of the Maran is well built, medium in size, quite long, with high, broad shoulders. The long strong neck is covered with long feathers that form a “collar”.

The impression of a strong bird is created by a powerful chest, short wings tightly pressed to the body, a developed belly and a small tail hanging at an angle of 45 degrees.

The unusual plumage of the maran fits quite tightly to the body. In sunny weather, feathers shimmer with bright colors and shine, giving the chickens an even more beautiful look. The neck of males is decorated with a downy collar, which is another distinctive sign of the breed.

The slightly flattened long head is of medium size. The simple medium pointed comb with six teeth has a rough texture. The earrings are long, red, and the earlobes are delicate. The face is red, the eyes are red-orange. The strong yellow beak is slightly curved.

Medium-sized feet with four clearly separated toes are most often slightly pink or white; in dark colors they can be dark gray or grey. The toes and metatarsals have light feathering.

The Maran breed has dwarf subspecies, which differ from ordinary chickens only in size: the weight of cockerels is slightly more than 1 kilogram, of hens - about 900 grams. Laying hens of dwarf breeds lay eggs weighing about 40 grams.

Origin story

The Maran chicken breed was bred in France back in 1895, but it was only in 1914 that it was presented by its creators at the La Rochelle exhibition. Chickens have since spread throughout the world, and poultry farmers in different countries are willing to keep them.

The breed is named after the city of Maran, located in western France, where it was bred. The terrain here is predominantly marshy, and the climate is quite cold due to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean.

For this reason, Maran chickens are well adapted to unfavorable climatic conditions. It was this quality that contributed to the popularity of the breed in France and throughout Europe.

Varieties of Maran chickens

All Maran chickens lay brown eggs, but among them there are several varieties of this breed, which differ in different color options.

Copper black

This is the most common color option for birds of this breed. The rooster's black breast has many reddish inclusions. Its neck and back are reddish-red, and the feathers on its tail are blue-black.

The female is completely black with small reddish spots on the chest and a red necklace on the neck. Against the background of a bright rooster, the copper-black maran hen is noticeably paler.

Wheat

The head and neck of the rooster are bright golden, the breast is black. The contour of the feathers is red-brown, the tail feathers are black. The golden-red hen is slightly darker on the head and neck - light brown. The feathers on the belly and chest are beige.

Cuckoo

This color comes in two varieties:

1. Cuckoo silver - the feathers of chickens are silvery-white, while roosters have a brighter and clearer pattern.
2. Golden cuckoo - a more pronounced high-definition cuckoo pattern on females.

Black-tailed

The body of the birds is red with a golden tint; there are small brown spots on the black tail.

Black

This type of chicken is distinguished by its almost completely black color without any colored inclusions.

White

The birds are completely white.

Colombian

The coloring is unusual and quite beautiful: the neck of a completely white chicken is decorated with a black necklace.

Silver-black

The coloring is reminiscent of black-and-copper chickens, but the feathers of the birds in this case are silver-black.

Reviews from poultry farmers

The Maran chicken breed is loved by many poultry farmers who successfully breed it and leave only positive reviews.

Among the advantages of birds they note:

• excellent taste of meat and eggs;
• excellent breeding in any adverse weather conditions;
• good activity of roosters, which has a beneficial effect on the fertilization;
• high immunity and resistance to diseases;
• unusual brown color of eggs, different from other breeds;
• fairly large sizes of eggs and bird carcasses;
• Thanks to the thick, durable shell, helminths do not penetrate into the eggs.

Among the disadvantages of Maran chickens, one can name one: due to the thick shell, the chickens hatching from the egg sometimes have difficulties.

Price

From 600 to 7000 rubles, depending on age.

Productivity and egg production

Roosters of the Maran breed weigh 3.5-4 kilograms, chickens weigh 2.6-3.2 kilograms. One-year-old cockerels weigh 3-3.5 kilograms, hens - 2.2-2.6 kilograms.

The tasty meat of Maran chickens and cockerels is well suited for main courses and soups. Fat also has a pleasant taste. The appearance of the carcass is attractive, the skin color is pleasant white-yellow.

It is quite wasteful to use Marans as a source of meat, although they are a meat-egg breed. The main value of these birds is their beautiful large eggs with excellent taste.

The weight of eggs of this breed reaches 85 grams, and breed standards provide for a value of up to 100 grams. For egg breeds, eggs weighing 60-65 grams are considered large.

At the age of 5-6 months, marans begin to lay eggs. The first eggs are relatively small in size and weigh about 55-60 grams; their color may not yet be so intense.

Subsequently, it becomes more saturated, bright, dark, and the size of the eggs increases. By the age of one year, the coloring of laying hens reaches its greatest intensity and remains at this level for about a year. The egg color of older hens becomes lighter.

The egg production of marans reaches 130-150 eggs per year. Feeding and living conditions have a strong influence on it. Maran eggs are rich brown in color. An indicator of high quality is the color intensity, which is measured on a special scale.

Indicators of 4-5 points are considered acceptable, but in order to preserve the characteristics of the breed, experts recommend using an egg of at least 6-7 points for incubation. The best representatives of the breed lay eggs with a shell color of about 9 points, which are very dark, almost black, in color.

The shells of maran eggs acquire a characteristic color as they pass through the oviduct. If the surface of the egg is scratched, the light shell is exposed. An additional pigment jacket helps thicken the shell.

According to some poultry farmers, it is possible to influence the color of the shell by introducing dark-colored feed into the chickens’ diet: beets, carrots, onion skin decoction, and other vegetables with dark pigmentation. Others note that when crossing a Maran rooster with chickens of other breeds, dark-colored eggs appear.

Maran eggs in France are often judged by their appearance (shape, brightness, shell color) in special competitions. Their peculiarity is their almost regular oval shape, when it is quite difficult to distinguish between a blunt and a sharp end.

In addition to their attractive appearance and excellent taste, maran eggs have another valuable property: their shell is extremely strong and thick.

This ensures that they almost never become infected with salmonellosis. Due to their unusual color and size, maran eggs are in great demand among buyers. A strong shell makes the storage and transportation of valuable products safer.

Breeding Maran chickens

Despite their peaceful, calm nature, marans are quite mobile, so keeping them requires a free, spacious enclosure. The best option for marans is walking.

Laying hens that spend a long time in the fresh air lay eggs much better. These birds do not like high humidity, despite their resistance to disease and unpretentiousness.

The chicken coop for Maranas must be dry. It is recommended to ventilate the room as often as possible, and, if necessary, install a fan or provide heating.

For maranas, a high-quality light regime is important: in winter, for full growth and development and good egg laying, it is necessary to provide them with lighting for 10-11 hours a day.

Trying to preserve hereditary qualities, the darkest and largest eggs weighing 65 grams or more are selected for incubation. It is desirable that the parents have a good conformation that meets the breed standards.

When incubating marans, one has to deal with the main problem - the thick shell and dense shell of the eggs. Weakened chickens are often unable to break the shell or peck through the shell. If you do not help the chicks to hatch in time, this can lead to their death.

To prevent the chicks from dying from lack of oxygen under a thick shell, they try to ventilate the eggs well in the second half of incubation.

To prevent the embryo from drying to the shell, it is recommended to turn the eggs more often. In the last period of incubation, to maintain air humidity, they are sprayed once a day with a spray bottle. In recent days, the humidity should be around 75%.

To avoid overheating of the embryos and the appearance of such defects as crooked fingers, from the 16th day, experienced poultry farmers recommend reducing the temperature by 0.2 ° C per day so that it is 36.8-36.9 ° C at the time of hatching.

Maran eggs, like other birds with large eggs, are placed quite freely on their sides. After biting begins, you need to make sure that its place does not rest against a wall, floor or another egg. Many people prefer to help the chicks by breaking the shells carefully in a circle from the point of pecking.

On the 21st day, if the incubation rules are followed, the maran chicks hatch quite amicably. Naturally, you can solve all the problems associated with hatching chickens if you entrust the hatching to a reliable hen.

Feeding and maintenance

Raising chickens

Caring for Maran chickens is no different from other breeds. The first days you need to keep them in a box lined with a towel at a temperature of 30°C. Chicks should not be allowed to crowd together due to the cold. It is recommended to reduce the temperature by 2°C every day.

Week-old chicks need to be taken outside for several hours. After 2 weeks, they can be kept in the barn all day and brought into the house at night. From the age of one month, it is recommended to permanently transfer chickens to the barn. Until 2-3 months, chickens should walk under supervision. The breed as a whole is quite unpretentious and hardy.

Chickens need to be fed 5-6 times a day and ensure that the portion is completely eaten. From the sixth day, it is recommended to introduce ash, finely crushed shells, and grated shells into the diet.

From ten days of age, chickens can be fed 4 times a day. The diet is enriched with grated carrots, finely chopped clover and alfalfa, which at first are recommended to be scalded with boiling water. T

Chopped beets can be added from the age of one month, as earlier complementary feeding can lead to digestive problems.

Twice a week, chickens need to be fed with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate. For better grinding of food, fine gravel or sand should be available to them. Grown-up chickens from the age of three months can be transferred to an adult diet.

The diet of adult marans is similar to that of other chicken breeds. For good weight gain and high egg production, birds require balanced, nutritious feeding.

In no case should you underfeed or overfeed laying hens: improper feeding in any case leads to a decrease in egg production.

Experienced poultry farmers carefully calculate the feed intake rate for their pets. During the day, one laying hen should consume about 75 grams of feed, if she eats only feed.

Feeding should be divided into 2 times. In addition to dry food, birds need various greens and vegetables: green grass, rutabaga, turnips, finely chopped cabbage. For a laying hen, such feeding is mandatory.

It must be given 3-4 times a day. The quantity and quality of fresh greens in a chicken’s diet is responsible for the brightness of the egg yolk.

You can buy ready-made feed or prepare it yourself. The standard feed includes the following components:

• wheat grain - 12%;
• corn grain - 45%;
• peas - 8%;
• sunflower meal - 7%;
• barley meal - 7%;
• limestone, shells, chalk - 7%;
• meat and bone, fish and grass meal, feed yeast - 4-5%;
• salt - 0.3%.

About 70% of the chickens' diet should consist of carbohydrate feed, the rest - protein. Standard feed contains 15-18% proteins, 4-6% dietary fiber, 3-5% fats. Growing young chickens who have already started laying eggs need a more nutritious diet.

Ready-made feeds already contain the additives that birds need, but their quantity may not be sufficient. Since calcium is required to form strong eggshells, it is recommended to feed chickens with calcium supplements.

Bone meal, crushed chalk, large shell rock, and crushed eggshells contain calcium. Calcium supplements are sometimes given separately, and sometimes mixed with the main feed. Calcium-containing additives can be poured into the feeder in any quantity, since the bird is able to determine the amount it needs.

Diseases and their treatment

Maran chickens most often suffer from the following diseases:

Hydrocele of the abdominal cavity

The disease develops due to disturbances in the functioning of the heart, liver, kidneys, and water-salt metabolism. Its symptoms are lethargy, a tense, heavy gait, an enlarged abdomen, and a tense abdominal cavity.

Heterokidosis, ascariasis

Birds affected by worms are treated with hygromycin, piperazine, phenothiazine, mixing the drugs with food in the doses indicated in the instructions. The room must be cleaned regularly, feeders and drinking bowls must be washed with boiling water. The chicken coop should be regularly cleaned of droppings.

Scabies

A contagious disease in which healthy birds quickly become infected from sick ones. If left untreated, chickens can suffer from mange for years.

To treat the disease, it is necessary to keep the paws of the affected chicken in warm, soapy water for 30 minutes, and then lubricate them with creolin.

Down-eaters

Chickens are infested by wingless insects that feed on growing feathers and shed skin particles. These pests can usually be found on a sick chicken under the wings and in the cloaca area.

To prevent and treat the disease, install a box in the chicken coop with a mixture of wood ash and fine sand. The down and feathers of chickens affected by the disease must be burned.