French Wheaten Marans

French Wheaten Marans Chicken

The French Wheaten Marans are a recognized breed in the Continental Class by the American Poultry Association, with official recognition of the Wheaten variety in October 2011. These birds are known for their light wheaten-colored feathers, feathered shanks, and amber eyes. They are friendly, sociable, and active, making them a great addition to any flock. Roosters are calm and can peacefully coexist with each other.

French Wheaten Marans are prized for their large, dark chocolate-colored eggs, often considered gourmet. While the egg color lightens slightly as the laying season progresses, these birds still produce beautiful mahogany brown eggs, though not as dark as the Black Copper Marans variety. Their eggs typically range from 2.3 oz for pullets to 2.8 oz for hens, with shell colors ranging from 5 to 8 on the French Marans Egg color chart.

This color variation of the Cuckoo Maran features an attractive

 wheaten body, darker neck feathers, and black tail feathers. Although they may not lay as prolifically as the Cuckoo variety, they can still produce up to 180 chocolate brown eggs annually. With their lightly feathered legs and hardy nature, these birds will enhance the beauty and diversity of any flock.

What color eggs do French Wheaten Marans lay?
French Wheaten Marans are renowned for producing rich, dark chocolate-colored eggs, which are often prized as gourmet. While their eggs start off very dark at the beginning of the laying season, you may notice a gradual lightening of the shell color as the season progresses. These striking birds are not only a beautiful sight on any farm but also a valuable addition to any flock.

What is a Wheaten Maran chicken?
The Maran breed, originating from the town of Marans in France, is known for its hardiness and gentle nature. These chickens are typically more active and enjoy foraging and free-ranging compared to other breeds. Marans hens are particularly famous for laying eggs with a dark chocolate hue.

Why are Marans chickens so expensive?
The high cost of Marans chickens can be attributed to the selective breeding process. Breeders focus on hens that consistently produce eggs with a deep, rich color throughout their laying cycle. This meticulous breeding effort requires significant resources, which drives up the price of both the chickens and their eggs. The unique genetics that result in the dark egg color further add to the breed's value.

Are Wheaten Marans friendly chickens?
Yes, French Wheaten Marans are known for their calm and friendly demeanor. Even the roosters are generally peaceful and coexist well with one another. The hens, with their wheat-colored plumage accented by black tail feathers, are particularly striking and make great additions to a backyard flock.

Are Marans good egg layers?
Marans hens lay around 3-4 eggs per week, totaling approximately 200 eggs per year. While they may not be the most prolific layers, their egg production is quite respectable for backyard chickens, especially considering the large size and distinctive color of their eggs. Most Marans hens begin laying at about 5-6 months of age.

• Poultry Show Class: Continental Class
  
• Weights: Hen ——-6 1/2 lbs
  
• Rooster—8 lbs
  
• Pullet——5 1/2 lbs
  
• Cockerel—7 lbs
  
• Purpose and Type: Dual, Egg Laying and meat; Production
  
• Egg Shell Color: Dark Brown #5 to #8 Range
  
• Egg Production: Good 200+ ( (estimates only)
  
• Egg Size: Large
  
• Temperament: Docile
  
• Gender Accuracy: 75-80%
  
• Fertility Percentage: 55-70%
  
• Broody: Setter
  
• Mating Ratio: 8 Females to 1 Male
  
• Roost Height: 2 to 4 feet
  
• Country of Origin: France
  
• APA: Yes, Recognized by American Standard of Perfection in 2011.
  
• TLC: Not Listed
  
• Breeder Farm Source: Poultry Breeding Farm has been developing our bloodline/strain of French Wheaten Marans since 2015.