QUICK STATS:
Egg Production: 200+ per year
Eggs: Large – Dark Chocolate to Reddish Brown
Mature Weight: Hens 6½ lbs. – Roosters 8 lbs.
Breed Type: Heritage Dual Purpose
Breed Category: Rare Breed
Temperament: Calm, Docile and Friendly
The French Black Copper Maran is one of the most recognizable varieties of the historic Maran chicken, a breed developed near the port town of Marans on the Atlantic coast of France. Marans have been developed over centuries, with the modern breed appearing at French poultry shows in the early 1900s. The Black Copper was the first Marans variety accepted into the French standard in 1931 and remains one of the breed’s most popular varieties today.
French Black Copper Marans are known for their dramatic coloring. Hens are primarily black with rich copper coloring around the neck, while roosters develop bold copper hackles and saddle feathers against a glossy black body. True French-type Marans also have light feathering along the outside of the shanks and outer toes, a characteristic retained in the American breed standard.
Known for their calm, docile, and generally easygoing temperament, French Black Copper Marans are well suited for backyard flocks, homesteads, and small farms. They are sturdy dual-purpose birds that enjoy foraging and exploring but can also adapt well to a secure coop and run. Their manageable temperament and substantial body size make them an attractive addition to mixed flocks.
French Black Copper Marans hens are dependable layers, producing approximately 200 or more large eggs per year under good conditions. Their greatest attraction is their egg color, which can range from rich reddish brown to deep chocolate brown, sometimes with darker speckling. Egg color is often deepest at the beginning of a laying cycle and may gradually lighten as the hen continues laying.
With their glossy black plumage, fiery copper accents, feathered legs, and famous chocolate-colored eggs, French Black Copper Marans bring both beauty and function to the flock. They may not match the production of commercial laying hybrids, but their combination of striking appearance, useful body size, calm temperament, and exceptional egg color makes them one of the most sought-after dark egg layers.
QUICK STATS:
Egg Production: 200+ per year
Eggs: Large – Dark Chocolate to Reddish Brown
Mature Weight: Hens 6½ lbs. – Roosters 8 lbs.
Breed Type: Heritage Dual Purpose
Breed Category: Rare Breed
Temperament: Calm, Docile and Friendly
The French Black Copper Maran is one of the most recognizable varieties of the historic Maran chicken, a breed developed near the port town of Marans on the Atlantic coast of France. Marans have been developed over centuries, with the modern breed appearing at French poultry shows in the early 1900s. The Black Copper was the first Marans variety accepted into the French standard in 1931 and remains one of the breed’s most popular varieties today.
French Black Copper Marans are known for their dramatic coloring. Hens are primarily black with rich copper coloring around the neck, while roosters develop bold copper hackles and saddle feathers against a glossy black body. True French-type Marans also have light feathering along the outside of the shanks and outer toes, a characteristic retained in the American breed standard.
Known for their calm, docile, and generally easygoing temperament, French Black Copper Marans are well suited for backyard flocks, homesteads, and small farms. They are sturdy dual-purpose birds that enjoy foraging and exploring but can also adapt well to a secure coop and run. Their manageable temperament and substantial body size make them an attractive addition to mixed flocks.
French Black Copper Marans hens are dependable layers, producing approximately 200 or more large eggs per year under good conditions. Their greatest attraction is their egg color, which can range from rich reddish brown to deep chocolate brown, sometimes with darker speckling. Egg color is often deepest at the beginning of a laying cycle and may gradually lighten as the hen continues laying.
With their glossy black plumage, fiery copper accents, feathered legs, and famous chocolate-colored eggs, French Black Copper Marans bring both beauty and function to the flock. They may not match the production of commercial laying hybrids, but their combination of striking appearance, useful body size, calm temperament, and exceptional egg color makes them one of the most sought-after dark egg layers.
