MARANS

Want to know more about this rare breed of bird? then click on this link to read  

I have now built my flock to a sizable number over the past 2½ years and have hatching eggs and chicks available. This page is a documentation of how I got started. 

E-Mail for availability of chicks and eggs

My adventure with Maran Chickens started June 2002 when a friend from Texas convinced me I should buy a pair of young birds from her. In October my "girl" laid her first egg and I was anxious to start hatching so I purchased 2 dozen eggs to help fill my Hovabator. I received 14 eggs in the mail from Texas and 12 eggs from Illinois. My "gal" laid 10 eggs for me. All went in the incubator on Oct. 31st 2002. 

I believe my original hen & roster came from Bill Braden via my TX connection. The Texas eggs were from the Fugate & Fitch lines. I am unsure of the Illinois background. (something I have later learned is important to know)

This was my very first unsupervised hatch and I was so egg-cited to hatch 20 chicks. Back then I hadn't a clue what I was doing so was not smart enough to separate my eggs before they hatched so I had no idea what chick came out of my darker eggs.

Since that hatch I have learned just how many mistakes I made. I now make sure the eggs I hatch are only the darkest and I keep all separated so I can mark and tag each chick.

Because of my inexperience with hatching and lack of knowledge about this breed I compromised the dark colour of my eggs. Instead of going forward with a darker egg in the next generation I lost egg colour and am now in the process of building back to where I was with my first hen.

The males are a lighter gray tone with more white or yellow on the body, the spot on the head may be larger and the chick has a heavy boned appearance in one week with the comb growing rapidly. Eats very heavily. (That is an understatement)

The female is darker almost true black, spot on head may be smaller and brighter, smaller boned, shorter body length. Looks to have a gray or black streak down the outside of the leg and toes, they don't eat as much and seem less aggressive when food is placed in brooder.

These pictures are of my first hatch. All my chicks start out in a plastic box with paper towels for flooring and the rubberized shelf liner for non slip grip. I have discovered this really reduces the chance of splayed legs. After a week in the plastic box I move them outside to wire cages on an angle iron frame my husband built for me.  

racks

This is thumbnail pictures of my chicks at 2 months old

thumbnails of fully grown hens & rosters

All my Roosters are friendly and very laid back this is my granddaughter Nina carrying an 8 pound rooster around.

Lighter eggs are Easter Eggers	Smaller eggs are Silkie's

Chicks are available for local pic up only. I ship eggs on Mondays and Tuesdays

Email for pricing and availability

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Page last updated 02/5/06