Cuckoo Marans are a Continental Class, cold hardy, dual purpose chicken breed. The French Cuckoo Maran is also classified as a Heritage Breed. Hens lay approximately 180 large dark brown chocolate colored (sometimes speckled) eggs per year.
Cuckoo Maran Chicken Breed Information-rooster (left), hen (right). Photo Courtesy of Karen Stancil.
Class: Continental
Origin: Marans , France
during the mid 1800's
Arrived in England: Early 1900's
"The breed made their way to England in the early 1900s and quickly became very popular for their rich, dark brown eggs — a trait they are still known for today. These beautiful birds were first exhibited in 1929 in Paris by the Poultry Breeders Society of France, and since then have become popular around the world.
The Cuckoo variety of Marans resembles the Plymouth Barred Rock — with its dark feathers barred with irregular dark and light slate colored bars. Unlike the French Black Copper Marans which has lightly feathered legs, the Cuckoo Marans has clean, pinkish white legs" Murray McMurray Hatchery - Cuckoo Marans. (2019). See facts about cuckoo marans below.
Origin: Marans , France
during the mid 1800's
Arrived in England: Early 1900's
"The breed made their way to England in the early 1900s and quickly became very popular for their rich, dark brown eggs — a trait they are still known for today. These beautiful birds were first exhibited in 1929 in Paris by the Poultry Breeders Society of France, and since then have become popular around the world.
The Cuckoo variety of Marans resembles the Plymouth Barred Rock — with its dark feathers barred with irregular dark and light slate colored bars. Unlike the French Black Copper Marans which has lightly feathered legs, the Cuckoo Marans has clean, pinkish white legs" Murray McMurray Hatchery - Cuckoo Marans. (2019). See facts about cuckoo marans below.
Facts About Cuckoo Marans
Facts About Cuckoo Marans. Photo submitted by Karen Stancil.
Cuckoo Maran rooster weight: Approx. 7-8 lbs.
Cuckoo Maran Hen weight: Approx. 5 1/2.
Breed type: Dual purpose (used for eggs and meat).
Personality: Docile/chatty
Comb type: Single
Hardiness: Cold hardy
Confinement: Bears confinement well.
Egg color: Dark Brown-"The brown egg color can vary in darkness as the hens go through their laying cycles. Vitamin K and calcium can have some limited help with keeping the dark brown egg shell color" (Cackle Hatchery. 2019).
Comb type: Single
Leg color: Pinkish white legs
Egg size: Large
Egg color: Varying shades of dark chocolate colored eggs, can be speckled.
How many eggs a Cuckoo Maran hen can lay per year: A productive Cuckoo Maran hen can lay between 275-300 eggs per year.
Age Cuckoo Maran hens start laying eggs: 8-9 months of age.
Cuckoo Maran Hen weight: Approx. 5 1/2.
Breed type: Dual purpose (used for eggs and meat).
Personality: Docile/chatty
Comb type: Single
Hardiness: Cold hardy
Confinement: Bears confinement well.
Egg color: Dark Brown-"The brown egg color can vary in darkness as the hens go through their laying cycles. Vitamin K and calcium can have some limited help with keeping the dark brown egg shell color" (Cackle Hatchery. 2019).
Comb type: Single
Leg color: Pinkish white legs
Egg size: Large
Egg color: Varying shades of dark chocolate colored eggs, can be speckled.
How many eggs a Cuckoo Maran hen can lay per year: A productive Cuckoo Maran hen can lay between 275-300 eggs per year.
Age Cuckoo Maran hens start laying eggs: 8-9 months of age.
Cuckoo Maran hen. Photo submitted by Karen Stancil.
"The Cuckoo variety of Marans resembles the Plymouth Barred Rock — with its dark feathers barred with irregular dark and light slate colored bars. Unlike the French Black Copper Marans which has lightly feathered legs, the Cuckoo Marans has clean, pinkish white legs" (Murray hatchery, 2019).
"The APA recognizes the White, Wheaten, and Black Copper, but there's also the Birchen, Blue, Salmon, Blue Silver Salmon, Silver Cuckoo, Golden Cuckoo, and even others that are less documented. Silver Cuckoo is the most common variety in North America.They are single combed, have winter hardiness, deal with confinement well, and are not especially docile, although they do exhibit brooding behavior well" (Department of Animal Science . 2019).
"The APA recognizes the White, Wheaten, and Black Copper, but there's also the Birchen, Blue, Salmon, Blue Silver Salmon, Silver Cuckoo, Golden Cuckoo, and even others that are less documented. Silver Cuckoo is the most common variety in North America.They are single combed, have winter hardiness, deal with confinement well, and are not especially docile, although they do exhibit brooding behavior well" (Department of Animal Science . 2019).
References:
- Murray McMurray Hatchery - Cuckoo Marans. (2019). Mcmurrayhatchery.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019, from https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/cuckoo_maran.html
- Backyard Breeds Part 3/4: The Cuckoo Marans. (2019). YouTube. Retrieved 3 March 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk_KwJ9p8YA
- Cuckoo Maran Chickens For Sale | Dark Brown Egg Layers | Cackle Hatchery. (2019). Cacklehatchery.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019, from https://www.cacklehatchery.com/cuckoo-marans.html
- Breeds of Livestock - Marans — Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science . (2019). Afs.okstate.edu. Retrieved 3 March 2019, from http://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/poultry/chickens/marans/breeds-of-livestock-marans
