Black Copper Marans

The Black Copper Maran is a breed of chicken from the port town of Marans in southwestern France. It was created by feral chickens descended from different crosses, between strains of local hens and old breeds like the English fighters, imported by the sailors who stopped at this port and from whom they inherited robustness and some of the colors of their plumage. They were later crossed with heavier breeds, which were imported into French territory in the late 1870s.

Bred for Dark Colored Eggs

They were then selectively bred to strengthen the dark color of their eggs. Their body composition is a favorite at poultry shows. It is a dual-purpose type known both for its extremely dark eggs and fine meat qualities. Black Copper Marans should have orange eyes. The shanks are usually slate or pink the soles of the feet should always be white as Marans have white skin not yellow. Though the original Marans could also be feather legged birds, British breeders preferred the clean legged version and thus feather leg Marans are now mainly found in France and the United States. The Australian Poultry Standard recognizes both feather and clean legged, the American Poultry Association only recognizes feathered.

Great Mothers and Egg Layers

Black Copper Marans go broody quite frequently and are good mothers. This is ideal for breeders and homesteaders interested in natural brooding. The chicks are mostly black and grey with slight yellowing to the underbelly the Black Copper Maran breed is quite sociable and rather peaceful and calm it does not fly very high in general they are docile and never nervous.  Behavior that is too lively or wild would be a fault for the breed. They are excellent foragers and well suited to free-range and pasture-based systems.

 Black Copper Marans lay around 150 to 200 large dark brown eggs each year they are the darkest colored eggs of any of the chicken breeds with colors ranging from mahogany to dark chocolate brown. Black Copper Marans were considered exotic and hard to find in North America, but the popularity of their dark-colored eggs has made them readily available.