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Breeds > Chickens > Maran
Female
Male
Breed Rating (24 reviews)
Appearance:
4.5 Out of 5 Stars
Friendliness:
3.5 Out of 5 Stars
Hardiness:
4 Out of 5 Stars
Egg:
3.5 Out of 5 Stars
Garden:
3 Out of 5 Stars
History
The Maran was one of the last breeds to be introduced to the UK. It was developed in France in the town of Marans in the mid 1800s. It was developed for both its meat and eggs. The eggs started to be imported to the UK by a London wholesaler. The dark brown eggs soon caught on and became very popular which led to English farmers breeding the Maran.
Behaviour
Marans can be lazy birds. They will get fat very easily if allowed to therefore it is best to keep them as free range as possible to prevent this. Marans are easy to look after and if given the space will be active. They are a disease resistant breed. Marans will produce deep brown eggs and are quite placid in nature.
Varieties
The majority of the Marans we see today in the UK are cuckoo coloured, ranging from a very dark grey colour down to silver. They have bright orange eyes and white legs. Best of all they produce an almost chocolate brown egg and very succulent meat. They were popular as show birds in the 1940s where there were far more colours including a gold colour cuckoo.
Maran Chickens for sale
Please Note: All Chickens listed here are for collection only. They cannot be delivered by the Seller or by Omlet. Once you have purchased the Chickens you will be emailed the Seller's contact address details.
Breed: Maran
Description: Maran - Point Of Lay Hen
Variety: Bluebelle
Age in weeks: 36
Seller:
Kathybaldwin
Rating: 
No Feedback!
No Feedback!
Comment: We have two beautiful hens sadly for sale. This one is a stunning Bluebelle with lavender colouring. She comes to call, fine with cats and lays once a day. The other is a Columbian Blacktail (see other ad). Lavender is very vocal and bossy and lays beautiful eggs. They were bought at the same time and are approx 6 months old. The reason for selling them is their destruction of the garden and the dog next door who is slowly digging it's way under the fencing to get them. My partner is slowly going insane with rage and so to rescue the relationship the hens need to go. £22 each. Good home wanted and must have free range most of the day. Buyer collects.
Location: Berkshire
Delivery: Collection
£22.00
Collection Only
Collection Only
Breed: Maran
Description: Maran - Cockerel
Variety: Cuckoo
Age in weeks: 9
Seller:
TheBaron
Rating: No Feedback!
No Feedback!
Comment: friendly healthy birds from unrealated parent birds. Parent birds can be seen
Location: Cheshire
Delivery: Collection
£5.00
Collection Only
Collection Only
Breed: Maran
Description: Maran - Cockerel
Variety: cuckoo
Age in weeks: 15
Seller:
chick mania
Comment: A lovely little cockerel. needs to go because of excess cockerels.
Location: Hampshire
Delivery: Collection
£5.00
Collection Only
Collection Only
Breed: Maran
Description: Maran - Pullet
Variety: wheaton
Age in weeks: 20
Seller:
Cathyn
Comment: vaccinated and wormed.
Location: Hampshire
Delivery: Collection
£10.00
Collection Only
Collection Only
Breed: Maran
Description: Maran - Pullet
Variety: BLUE SPLASH
Age in weeks: 14
Seller:
feathers
Rating: No Feedback!
No Feedback!
Comment: WE HAVE A VERY NICE BLUE SPLASH COPPER MARAN,SHE HAS VERY STRIKING APPERANCE,OF WHITE WITH A FEW GREY/BLUE FEATHER,AROUND HER BODY,A VERY NICE LITTLE HEN TO BE,WHEN SHE HAS GROW TO FULL SIZE,AND WILL LAY WONDERFUL DARK BROWN EGGS.
Location: Gwynedd
Delivery: Collection
£10.00
Collection Only
Collection Only
Breed: Maran
Description: Maran - Cockerel
Variety: FRENCH BLUE
Age in weeks: 14
Seller:
feathers
Rating: No Feedback!
No Feedback!
Comment: HERE WE HAVE A VERY NICE COCKERAL VERY FRIENDLY ,HATCHED FROM GOOD QUALITY DARK EGG LAYING STRAIN,VERY NICE YOUNG BIRD
Location: Gwynedd
Delivery: Collection
£5.00
Collection Only
Collection Only
Breed: Maran
Description: Maran - Cockerel
Variety: BLACK COPPER
Age in weeks: 14
Seller:
feathers
Rating: No Feedback!
No Feedback!
Comment: VERY NICE BLACK COPPER MARAN COCKERAL,NICE AND FRIENDLY,WILL FEED OUT OF YOUR HANDS,HATCHED FROM GOOD QUALITY BIRDS
Location: Gwynedd
Delivery: Collection
£5.00
Collection Only
Collection Only
Breed: Maran
Description: Maran - Chick
Variety: Cuckoo
Age in weeks: 11
Seller:
Chickenlicken
Comment: lovely maran chicks for sale will lay lovely brown eggs wormed very healthy birds
Location: Angus
Delivery: Collection
£8.00
Collection Only
Collection Only
Breed: Maran
Description: Maran - Breeding Trio
Variety: coucou
Age in weeks: 38
Seller:
Chickenlicken
Comment: 3 hens and one cockeral lovely young birds lay mahogany brown eggs
Location: Angus
Delivery: Collection
£40.00
Collection Only
Collection Only
Breed: Maran
Description: Maran - Pullet
Variety: Cuckoo
Age in weeks: 16
Seller:
chicks and bits
Comment: great young pullet readt too start there carreer in laying easy too do and keep
Location: Yorkshire
Delivery: Collection
£15.00
Collection Only
Collection Only
Latest Breed Reviews
4 Out of 5 Stars Great birds - 24 Aug 2010
We have 8 chooks. 1 light sussex and 7 marans a mixture of cuckoo, copper black & copper blue.
They are fantastic birds. Very friendly and keen to be around us when we're in the garden. They're also happy to mix with our patterdale terrier (she adores them) and have no fear of her. Very greedy. Good with our garden plants and herbs, not touching them at all.
They free range over our garden which is approx 1/4 acre and never fail to take themselves in a night.
We will definitely be adding to our maran army :o)
They are fantastic birds. Very friendly and keen to be around us when we're in the garden. They're also happy to mix with our patterdale terrier (she adores them) and have no fear of her. Very greedy. Good with our garden plants and herbs, not touching them at all.
They free range over our garden which is approx 1/4 acre and never fail to take themselves in a night.
We will definitely be adding to our maran army :o)
3 Out of 5 Stars Viscious cockeral - 6 Aug 2010
We have 5 copper manran hens and Apollo the extremely large copper maran cockerel - the hens are lovely natured birds although they do have a tendency to be greedy. They will eat out of your hand but are not adverse to having a peck at any stray finger that might be poking through the fence either!
Apollo is a very handsome boy and a very good cockerel - he keeps the girls in order and is constantly on guard.
He has never bothered me and will even eat out of my hand - however I would not turn my back on him as he absolutley hates my husband and has attacked him on several occasions, even piercing the leather of his trainers with his spurs! Now he evens jumps at him through the fence - he has also attacked my Dad more than once! So unfortunatley we can't let the kids go in there anymore - I am the only one brave enough!
So beware - although they are fab looking birds - you may need a riot shield to go and collect the eggs!
Apollo is a very handsome boy and a very good cockerel - he keeps the girls in order and is constantly on guard.
He has never bothered me and will even eat out of my hand - however I would not turn my back on him as he absolutley hates my husband and has attacked him on several occasions, even piercing the leather of his trainers with his spurs! Now he evens jumps at him through the fence - he has also attacked my Dad more than once! So unfortunatley we can't let the kids go in there anymore - I am the only one brave enough!
So beware - although they are fab looking birds - you may need a riot shield to go and collect the eggs!
4 Out of 5 Stars great birds - 24 Jul 2010
I have three blue marans a three cuckoo, great eggs lovely and dark, pretty friendly. Quite boustrous when it comes to food and very in charge. My broody's hatching out some chicks, great mother very instinctive. I have a lovely copper black maran rooster. Good all rounders.
4.5 Out of 5 Stars Friendly cockerel - 30 May 2010
We hatched our first batch of cuckoo Marans in August 2008, we had two hens and four cockerels. We found homes for three cockerels and kept the two hens and one cockerel. We wanted to have a friendly cockerel and we made sure we handled him every day as he grew up. This allowed him to get used to us and feel comfortable even to the point of him sitting for hours on our laps, arms, shoulders and even on our head! It was a bit time consuming but well worth it! He is an amazing bird, great with people, children and his hens. He goes to shows and enjoys a good wash and grooming session. Because it was so successful we now hand rear all the birds we breed and sell much the same way!
3.5 Out of 5 Stars Greedy guts but good looker - 16 Feb 2010
Our Cuckoo Maran is always the one who barges about when food is thrown for our hens. Although larger than Gingernut or Pepperpot her eggs are smaller / prettier and about fewer eggs (4 eggs a week since starting in November). She is also the most nervous about being picked up/ approached but has very soft downy feathers. Loves garden plants, digging in soil and the compost heap. Provides an interesting contrast to the two others.
4 Out of 5 Stars maran - 16 Feb 2010
In my experience I find the maran a delightful bird however I had one hen who started to clock(broody) and she was fierce to go near during her sit . Apart from this they are a good productive breed .
3.5 Out of 5 Stars Beware Maran cockerels! - 7 Feb 2010
I had two marans from six hatching eggs...They are beautiful birds, and mix well with my other hens (bantam sussex and rescue hybrids). BUT, now they are maturing, I'm finding the cockerel really aggressive, definitely not suitable for being around children. The hen is lovely though; just starting to lay lovely dark brown eggs.
4 Out of 5 Stars Nice birds - 10 Jan 2010
I have 2 Marans bantam hens (also 2 Pekin bantam hens and 2 pilkie [Pekin x silkie] hens). I have had all of these together from mid Sept 09, they all was around 10-12 weeks old when I purchased them. They are lovely looking birds glossy black feathers and a bright red comb and orange eyes and a good solid body. They're quite bossy thought esp with the Pekins. They give me a deep brown egg every other day (1st egg was laid New Year's Day!). Marans aren't that flighty as their quite chunky and solid but mine do jump to about 3 feet or so when their coop gate shuts on them and they want to get back in from the garden. They do like a good scratch in the flower beds or a dust bath in my wishing well planter, but I don't mind I really enjoy watching them, but they are scared of the snow haven't (won't more like) been out in over a week! They do flap a bit and a squawk when picked up but not too bad. An all round excellent pet chicken in my opinion.
3.5 Out of 5 Stars What fantastic birds. - 5 Jan 2010
Marans are a great breed as far as eggs are concerned. Their rich dark brown eggs come in good numbers. My cockerel is a bit on the aggressive side but he does his job fair enough. Very hardy, quick-witted birds. I like their compactness.
Decent breed for hobbyist egg producers.
Decent breed for hobbyist egg producers.
4 Out of 5 Stars What a Character - 17 Dec 2009
I got my first Cuckoo Maran this year and fallen in love with her she is such a character. I found mine very boisterous and friendly but can be aggressive/over enthusiastic when it comes to food and treat. My Maran is top dog in the flock and is aggressive to newcomers.
3.5 Out of 5 Stars viscous - 23 Nov 2009
About two years ago i bought a small group of marans; 1 cockerel and six hens. I introduced them to a group of my other birds, they soon became 'top chickens' and pecked and faught with my other hens. Moreover, this spring the cockerel attacked my black cochin cockerel ( i find cochins very friendly) and blinded him then killed him, after this i sold all the marans and my chickens have began to recover. Don't mix marans with other hens!
4.5 Out of 5 Stars lovely bird - 18 Nov 2009
I have recently bought one Maran, 2 light sussex, one rhode rock and a silver sussex. My maran Jazz is by far the friendliest and most inquisitive, not scared of anything. She has not yet been let out of the coop as only been with us a couple of days but she follows me all over the coop. Overall a lovely bantam
3 Out of 5 Stars Super hens - beware of the cock though! - 27 Oct 2009
Amongst my lot I have 2 Maran hens & a Maran cock. The hens are super. they are really lovely, healthy and hardy and very good layers. They don't like being picked up and handled like some breeds but they are friendly and inquisitive and will happily eat blackberries from your hand when offered! Beware of the cock though - he is very protective of his ladies! This shows as aggressiveness. He is vicious - he 'launches' at you with his feet (and spurs) and this hurts! I have not seen this written in any book so I only found this out when we got him.
I wouldn't reccommend this breed of cock if you have young children.
I wouldn't reccommend this breed of cock if you have young children.
3.5 Out of 5 Stars good allrounders - 21 Oct 2009
I have 1 copper black, 1 cuckoo, 1 blue marans all good-ish layers. the blue gives an egg almost every day, the copper black is an escape artist and we regularly collect from neighbours gardens. The cuckoo went broody this autumn and has now hatched 4 chicks from cuckoo maran eggs we bought. good mother. 2 chicks are cocks so I will know what they taste like in a few weeks. They are really friendly and outgoing. One warning if you have any plants in your garden that you want to keep, do not keep marans, they eat everything.
3.5 Out of 5 Stars Great little companions ! - 1 Aug 2009
I have got three pure breed cuckoo marans i got them at 6 days old and they were extremely cute and fluffy they are know nearly 7 weeks old and have grown very fast. They were shy to start with as expected but now come up to me to see if i have any food they can be a bit flighty especially when i let them out of the run into the garden, they like scratching around trying to find the odd worm. I am hoping now not to be woken up one morning with a cock-a-doodle-doo, as i am hopeing for all hens !
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