Introduction
The Black Copper Marans (sometimes called the Copper Marans) are a fairly popular chicken breed that has grown in popularity among poultry keepers and in the backyard chicken community. If you are a poultry lover, then you probably have heard of the Black Copper Marans and have seen their exquisite dark chocolate eggs and beautiful plumage. They are a great chicken to have, especially if you need some eggs to sell or whether you just love their look! In this article, we will explore everything there is to know about the Black Copper Marans including how many eggs they lay, what colour legs and feet they have, the Breed standard, their origin and more! Any chicken keeper or novice backyard chicken farmer will benefit from this in-depth look at this breed.
History and Origin
The Black Copper Marans from Marans, a town in the northwest of France on the Atlantic coast, was a dual-purpose breed developed in the late-19th and early 20th centuries by crossing local feral chickens with imported gamecocks from India and Indonesia, and then crossing with Croad Langshans, Brahmas and other breeds to further improve the breed’s egg-laying qualities and meat qualities. The result was a dual-purpose bird with dark brown eggs and fine meat qualities.
Appearance
The Black Copper Maran is a richly coloured fowl, a medium to large-breed chicken that is black with a vibrant, iridescent green sheen. Males are stunning, with neck and back feathers of red and copper, called hackles, falling in a glorious cascade. Hens are more restrained, with black feathers and copper flecks. No rooster is complete without an impressive lobster-red comb.
Leg Color
A characteristic of the Black Copper Maran is its leg colour. The shanks that connect their legs with their feet can be slate or pink. The frosting on the cake are the white soles on the feet. This white shank, or the White Leghorn gene (as it’s referred to in the nomenclature of scientific genetics), is part of the fabric of the Black Copper Maran, like thread in a woven cloth. While the plumage standard of the American Poultry Association requires feather-legged Marans, other standards permit leg colour.
Egg Laying Capabilities
How Many Eggs Do Black Copper Marans Lay?
Black Copper Marans lay eggs that are distinguished by their dark chocolate colour. It is estimated that a Black Copper Marans hen will lay around 150 to 200 eggs a year, which equates to around 3 to 4 eggs a week. They’re not the most productive of layers, but who cares, their eggs are the best!
Laying Rate
So the answer to her question will depend quite a bit on a variety of variables, including genetics, feed, environmental conditions, etc. But, on average, you’ll typically see the first egg from a Black Copper Maran hen between about 5 and 6 months of age, with some taking an extra two months to get going. Assuming that everything goes well, production is generally steady until it tapers down a little in the winter months and perhaps tapers off during hens’ annual molting seasons.
Egg Color and Size
Photo by Katherine-Burns / Unsplash The Black Copper Marans hen is known for producing dark chocolate eggs that range in colour from a deep brown to nearly black. Egg colour varies throughout the laying cycle, with the darkest eggs being laid towards the beginning. Egg size is medium to large and older hens lay larger eggs than younger ones.
Factors Affecting Egg Production
Several factors can influence the egg production of Black Copper Marans:
Genetics: the hen has a hereditary factor that controls the laying of the egg. If the hen with good hereditary factor is selected from high quality breeding to lay eggs, then it will lay more eggs.
Diet: A good balanced diet having protein, calcium, other nutri-ents maintain and support egg production. Providing good quality layer feed and fresh greens and insects improve the egg quality.
Environment: Provide an environment that is not overly stressful and that allows for adequate space, clean water, and air flow. Predator-proofing the coop and providing nesting boxes can also promote laying.
Egg colour: They lay black eggs! Black Copper Marans are sometimes called black egg layers, though bear in mind that they, too, can be seasonal layers, meaning that their laying can drop off once the days get shorter in fall and into winter. Supplemental lighting in the coop will help hold them steady.
Care and Management
Housing
Black Copper Marans are kept in an accommodating and draft-free coop with proper ventilation and dry conditions. Roosting bars are necessary provided, as well as nesting boxes for laying eggs. These birds should be oriented to free-ranging and foraging. They are best kept with a safe and spacious run in a place containing fresh grass and vegetation.
Feeding
It also needs access to a good, consistent, balanced lay feed that’s properly formulated for a laying flock. A good supply of grit and additional calcium nutrients should be available for the Marans to keep their digestive systems strong and their eggshells robust as its the black pigment in the shell that is the most prone to cracking.
Health and Common Issues
Black Copper Marans are generally healthy and robust, and resistant to many of the common chicken diseases, but will still be prone to external parasites such as lice, mites and worms. Regular health checks, routine vaccinations and parasite treatments will help you to maintain your flock in the best condition.
Breeding Black Copper Marans
If you are going to breed Black Copper Marans, make sure you choose high-quality breeding stock that adheres to the breed standard. While selecting healthy, well-conformed birds will not prevent all flaws or anomalies from appearing in your future chicks (that’s not possible!) it will help maintain the breed’s unique characteristics that make them attractive. Incubation and hatching can be exciting and rewarding experiences, but you will want to make sure your incubator is set at the correct parameters (temperature and humidity levels) in order to be successful. Once your chicks hatch, allow them to stay in a safe, warm, and clean brooder where they have room to move and get exercise and have access to good quality chick starter feed with no medication added (never medicate chickens without the advice of a veterinarian).
Uses and Benefits
They are traditionally dual-purpose birds bred for both eggs and meat and their eggs are very highly appealing for their looks and taste, being much sought after by chefs and kitchen gourmands. They are also good exhibition or show birds, thanks to their looks and attributes. Very friendly and calm, they do make great pets for a family or a person in search of an interesting and educational hobby.
Health and Common Issues
Common Health Problems
Black Copper Marans are a hardy breed in the main, often developing healthy immune systems. But they are still chickens and can suffer from the problems that afflict all chickens from time to time. These include:
Parasites: lice, mites and worms can all snatch Black Copper Marans regular health checks and preventative treatments will help to avoid this.
Respiratory problems: Inadequate ventilation within the coop can result in respiratory problems. Be sure that your coop is well-ventilated and dry.
The big rooster combs are also susceptible to frostbite in winter in colder climates. Thoroughly coat the combs of roosters with a petroleum jelly to lay down a protective coating over the comb could be done.
Preventive Measures
To maintain the health of your Black Copper Marans, consider the following preventive measures:
Regular Health Checks: Conduct regular health inspections to catch any issues early.
Clean Environment: Keep the coop clean and dry to prevent the spread of diseases.
Balanced Diet: Provide a balanced diet with necessary supplements to boost their immune system.
Vaccinations: Ensure your flock is vaccinated against common poultry diseases.
Breeding and Genetics
Selecting Breeding Stock
Exercise particular care when using these chickens to breed Black Copper Marans be sure to choose a good breeding stock, staying as far as possible from the breed standards.
Correct Plumage: Black feathers with an iridescent green sheen and copper hackles.
Proper Leg Color: Slate or pink shanks with white soles.
Good Health: Strong, healthy birds free from genetic defects.
Incubation and Hatching
Keeping a flock of Black Copper Marans alive and laying eggs can be a very rewarding experience. To successfully incubate and hatch some, start by:
Seed: Learn how to artificially incubate your eggs before you have fertilised any eggs. This allows you to find abrupt increases in temperature and humidity. Rebecca’s tip: Always keep the temperature around 99.5°F and the humidity at 50-55 per cent during the first part of incubation. The last three days before hatching should be humidity up to 65-70 per cent.
Egg Selection: For the richest egg colour in future generations, pick the darkest brown eggs for your birds to sit on.
Brooder Setup: Provide lots of space, a heat source, and chick starter from the first to about the fourth week.
Maintaining Egg Color
To maintain the dark egg colour, breed stock from hens that continue to lay the darkest eggs. Protoporphyrin, the pigment causing the brown colour, is near the surface of the eggshell. Breeding from hens that consistently lay dark eggs will preserve the trait.
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Conclusion
Black Copper Marans are a wonderful breed with a long rich past and plenty of personality, as well as beautiful dark chocolate eggs. These birds have a striking appearance, and while they are wonderful layers, they can also be very friendly and can make great pets. With good care, nutrition and with a stress-free environment your Black Copper Marans will surely bring you a lot of enjoyment.
