Backyard volaille keeping is an progressively popular hobbyhorse that is experiencing a revival . More and more cities are rolling back ordinance that forbid keeping chicken on your place , leading to an uptick in interestingness . There are hundreds of dissimilar type of chickens to choose from – loan-blend , inheritance breeds , crosses . One of those breeds is the Maran crybaby , one I ’ve personally keep on my little farmstead before and emphatically a chicken that I would commend .
All aboutMaran chickens
When it comes to picking the proper strain of chicken for your dwelling or farm , knowing the basics of the Maran breed will assist you make that decision .
Maran poulet , sometimes called Poule de Marans , are declamatory , trapezoidal - shaped crybaby cognize to be freehanded , meaty , and rather colorful . They hail from Marans , France , and are by and large docile . Some say that Marans are quiet , but it has been my experience that they are not . Maran hens in particular can make quite a turn of stochasticity and have presented problems for some in urban areas . They are a dual aim bird , good for both meat and egg . They maturate at 35 week sure-enough .
Marans come in a smattering of color multifariousness , include Cuckoo , Golden Cuckoo , Black , Birchen , Black Copper , Wheaton , Black - tailed Buff , White , and Columbian . They lay 150 - 200 tumid , very dark brown egg per twelvemonth . hen top out at about 6 pounds while cock can grow to 8 pounds . They can live more than 7 years . This breed was recognise by the American Poultry Association in April , 2011 .
Temperament
Marans are generally pretty docile chickens . I ’ve regain they can be a moment aloof too . If they know you ’re bringing treat , all stakes are off . They ’ll be your best champion .
When it comes to cock , and this use to just about every stock of poulet , if you treat them with esteem and are kind , they will typically return the favour . Knowing their boundaries and say their body terminology is important . If , despite all your best efforts , your Maran rooster wo n’t stop being belligerent , it may be good to remove him from the quite a little and wait for a nice cock .
Purpose
The Maran chicken is a dual - use chicken , bred for both gist and eggs . They lay as many as 200 large , browned egg per year . Once mature , hens librate about 6 pounds and roosters weigh about 8 pound sign .
Coop and run
Chickens tend to foot up bad behavior when their coop and run are n’t up to their standards , so making trusted you have the appropriate coop and run for your Maran chicken is vitally of import .
Marans care to have mountain of coop and black market space to go about the business of being a good chicken . The more space you may render them , the happy they ’ll be and the more egg they ’ll lie in . Maran chicken should be provided 10 or more solid feet of barren range expanse per dame .
poulet runs and coops should be keep the right way cleaned out and provided fresh chaff regularly . At least one nest box per set biddy is prefer , although they can tolerate “ buddying up ” and put down eggs in the same nest box . These chickens are known to roam some and will occasionally retrieve creative places to lay their egg .
Common Maran chicken problems
The Maran wimp is fairly hardy , though one breed - specific problem they see is sordid leg feathers . Breeds with prospicient stage and groundwork feathers incline to experience a mickle more filth buildup around the leg and feet , which can run to various wellness problems .
Viral diseases
Chickens are susceptible to a number of viral illnesses , include Marek ’s disease , vaian flu , poultry pox , Newcastle disease , and bronchitis . Some of these conditions are more common than others . foretoken of a viral contagion among your volaille admit sneeze , coughing , reduce egg production , reduced feeding , lethargy , exhaust around the optic and sinuses , sore , and palsy in the case of Newcastle disease .
Most chicks acquired from a reputable stock breeder or hatchery are vaccinate against the more common viral infections , like Marek ’s . wench grow from small - graduated table sellers may not be vaccinated . Always ask if your chicks have been vaccinated and what they ’re immunise for .
Bacterial illness
Bacterial infection are a real worry for chickens , as coops , runs , and the outdoors , in ecumenical , can be haven for bacteria . The most vulgar bacterial transmission for chickens are salmonellosis and colibacillosis . These infections can be tight spreading and infect entire spate .
polarity your volaille may be struggling with a bacterial transmission include subjugate nut laying , ventilation problem , bring down appetite , and death . Salmonellosis does n’t always present symptoms in chickens .
Fungal diseases
The two most rough-cut type of fungal diseases are incubator pneumonia and ringworm . tinea can be circularize to mankind as well , so if you suspect your chickens have ringworm , handle them carefully and wash your hand and clothes immediately .
Brooder pneumonia tends to only taint young skirt spending their first few weeks in a incubator . roundworm commonly clears up on its own with prison term . maintain brooders and henhouse clean is key to invalidate these fungous infections .
Parasitic infection
Like most of our pets , chickens can know parasitic infections . Worms , tick , lice , and hint are some of the more uncouth ones . Symptoms of these parasites include loss of appetite , lethargy , hide irritation , and unexpected release of feathers outside of normal molting .
Be wary of used cage . Always disinfect them thoroughly before insert your chickens . Replace coop bedding often and sporadically disinfect chicken coops to reduce the presence of parasites .
Injuries
It can be a jolting and tumble life for poulet as they go about establish pecking orders and forage for food . Injuries , particularly foot injury , are n’t uncommon . Most surface - stage injuries will net up on their own , but animal foot injury are particularly concerning as the poulet ’ talon tend to arrive into striking with their own manure as well as other pathogen in the soil and on the footing .
Common signs of a foot injury are difficulty walking or couch weight on the base as well as lethargy . In the case of bumblefoot , a type of staphylococci infection , both the chickens ’ digit and sometimes entire feet can become self-conceited with pus - filled abscess . Foot accidental injury should be treat and bandage as soon as they are notice .
Egg binding
ballock binding is an often tragic issue for chickens . It ’s caused when an egg becomes stuck between the hen ’s uterus and cloaca . sign of ballock binding admit weakness , inability to alight , often choosing to seat or lay on the earth , straining , and a lack of egg lay . bollock binding can quick become a black shape and will generally need a misstep to an avian veteran to fix .
“Pasty butt”
Pasty hind end , sometimes ring pasty vent , is a moderately common condition that smite wench . It can quickly become a life - threaten subject if not treat . Pasty vent tends to be make by stress and dehydration . It happens when fatheaded BM block the wench ’s vent , forestall it from die dung .
finally , the doll will become inauspicious and pass up to corrode . Signs of pasty butt include smaller chick size of it and a pasty mat of muck over the volcano . This condition is easily regale by houseclean the affected area and removing the stuck muck .
BreedingMaran Chickens
cover your Maran volaille does n’t dissent importantly from breed other type of inheritance chickens . provide your Maran hens memory access to a Maran cock and allowing nature to take its course will yield healthy , strong chicks . A proportion of 10 biddy for every rooster will typically grant good fertility rates . you’re able to allow a broody biddy to sit on her eggs or hatch them in an incubator . A ready template to cover :
For more entropy , check off out ourcomprehensive scout on brood chicken egg .
What to feedMaran chickens
Up until about 16 weeks old , your Maran dame should be fed a commercial wench dispatcher feed with 18 % protein . This added protein will help your immature chick grow and modernise into healthy birds . After 16 weeks , they can be switched to a 16 % protein level feed to support healthy feather and safe egg production . Chickens love being put out to crop where they can eat grass , bugs , and other industrial plant . They will also fain eat some fruits , vegetables , grains , and leafy greens . Free - ranging your birds will also make out down significantly on your feed costs .
For more information , check out ourcomprehensive guide on what nutrient chickens can and can not use up .
History of Maran chickens
The Maran crybaby , also know as thePoule de Marans , acclaim from the port city of Marans , France . It was bred from ferine Gallus gallus found locally and queer with secret plan chicken from Asia . These original “ Marandaise ” chickens were then crossed with Croad Langshans to improve the meat and egg egg laying of the bird .
