Everything About French Wheaten Marans Chickens

 

Have you ever tasted the rich chocolaty eggs from French Wheaten Marans chickens? Wheaten Marans are prolific egg-layers with a docile and friendly personality.

 

This article covers everything about wheaten Marans chickens and some important things you should know about these beautiful birds.

 

Let’s dive deep into their guide.

 

Quick Overview

Origin	France
APA Class	Continental
Hybrid	No
Purpose	Dual-Purpose
Lifespan	Up to 8 years
Eggs Per Year	200 to 250
Eggs Per Week	4 to 5
Egg Color	Dark Brown
Egg Size	Medium/Large
Laying Maturity	16 to 20 weeks
Broodiness	Don’t Often Go Broody
Hardiness	Cold and Heat Hardy
Time to Maturity	5 to 6 Months
Mature Weight	Hens 6 to 7 lbs, Roosters 7 to 8.5 lbs
Temperament	Calm, Docile, Friendly, Easy to Handle
Comb Type	Single Comb
Lobes	Red
Adult Coloration	Wheaten
Skin Color	White
Legs	Feathered Legs
Leg Color	Pinkish White
Crest, Muffs, Beard	No

 

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Why is the Word ‘French’ Used in their Name?

The word “French” is used with Marans chickens because they come from France, especially from a town called Marans in the Poitou-Charentes region. 

 

The chickens are named after this town. So when folks talk about Maran chickens, they often say “French” to show where they’re from. 

 

It’s like how other chicken breeds are named after where they’re from, such as the Rhode Island Red or the Plymouth Rock.

 

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Why is it Named Wheaten Marans?

“Wheaten” in Wheaten Marans chicken means the color of the chicken’s feathers, they have wheat-colored or straw-colored feathers. 

 

Marans is a town in France where Marans chickens originated. “Marans” honors this place and the people who created the breed.

 

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How to Pronounce the Word Marans

You might think “Maran” is for one chicken and “Marans” is for more than one, but that’s incorrect.

 

“Marans” is always spelled in the plural. One chicken is a “Marans,” and two chickens are also “Marans.” The “s” in “Marans” is silent. It’s spelled with an “s” but pronounced “Muh-ran.”.

 

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Brief History of French Wheaten Marans

The Marans chicken originated from a town called Marans in western France in the region La Rochelle and was originally developed in the 19th century.

 

In the early 1900s, breeders worked to make the breed the same, especially caring about the color of its eggs and their appearance.

 

This breed was brought to the US and standardized there. The American Poultry Association now recognizes this breed.

 

The breeders also made the English Marans along with the French Marans. The main difference between them is French Marans have feathers that go all the way to their feet, but English Marans don’t.

 

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French Wheaten Maran Appearance

Wheaten Marans are medium-sized to large-sized birds with medium-sized heads. They have a single reddish comb and amber-colored eyes.

 

Their wattles are smaller, and they have red-colored earlobes. The red earlobes also indicate their egg color.

 

Wheaten Marans have a V-shaped feather pattern, pearl-colored beaks, and pinkish-gray feathered legs.

 

Wheaten Maran chickens have plumage with soft cream and light golden-wheat coloration, resembling wheat grains and giving them a robust appearance.

 

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French Wheaten Marans Temperament 

French Wheaten Marans have a calm and friendly temperament. They tend to be docile birds and are easy to handle and care for.

 

They love to be around humans and enjoy human company. That’s why they are so good with your children. They’re good foragers and do well roaming around freely.

 

Wheaten Marans roosters are usually calm and friendly, but they might get aggressive when they feel threatened or in danger.

 

While Wheaten Marans are friendly and active birds they don’t usually sit on eggs or become broody.

 

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French Wheaten Marans Egg Production

Wheaten Marans are prolific egg layers, a healthy and happy hen produces 200 to 250 medium/large dark brown color eggs per year or 4 to 6 eggs per week.

 

Some people think that as Wheaten Marans hens lay more eggs, their eggs start to get lighter in color.

 

Their egg-laying ability can change based on things like their diet, health, and the environment where they live.

 

Giving your wheaten Marans chickens balanced food, enough light, and a comfortable and safe place to live can increase their productivity.

 

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Lifespan Of French Wheaten Marans chickens

French Wheaten Marans chickens approximately can live for 5 to 8 years or more with proper and appropriate care. 

 

Things like genes, diet, health care, and the environment where they live can affect their lifespan and also their productivity.

 

Providing a balanced diet, taking them to the vet, and making sure they have a good environment to live in can increase their lifespan.

 

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Things You Should Know About Wheaten Marans

• Wheaten Marans Need Extra Care

Wheaten Marans need extra care and attention because they have feathered legs, maintain feather quality, and can easily get sick.

 

Chickens with feathered legs can have trouble with cleanliness as mud and dirt tends to cling to their feathers. Additionally, feather-footed breeds are at risk of frostbite.

 

Regularly cleaning the feet of your French wheaten Marans is essential to keep them hygienic and safe from health problems

 

 

• French Maran Chicks Can Be Tricky to Sex

French Marans chickens have a challenge for hatcheries when it comes to venting sexing, sexing is a method used to know the gender of chicks.

 

This means that when you buy French Maran chicks from a hatchery, the hatchery cannot guarantee with certainty whether each chick is male or female.

 

So, the first thing to keep in mind before purchasing these chickens is that the seller and you have no choice whether the chick is male or female.

 

• Wheaten Marans Hens Don’t Often Sit on their Eggs

Wheaten Maran chickens are not sitters, they don’t often sit on their eggs and may occasionally go broody, but many never will.

 

For broodiness, these chickens are not the best choice.

 

• Wheaten Marans Easily get Frostbite and Other Problems on their Combs

Wheaten Marans chickens are also susceptible to frostbite on their combs, which is a common issue with single-comb breeds.

 

A great solution to this problem is a Sweeter Heater. It’s a heater you hang above where your chickens sleep, keeping them warm in winter and stopping frostbite.

 

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How to Care for French Wheaten Marans Chicken

Proper care will ensure the well-being and productivity of your wheaten marans chickens, to take proper care of them you need to follow some of the basic needs:

 

• Feather Care 

To keep the feathers of wheaten marans nice, handle them gently and make sure their living space is clean and dry.

 

Check their feathers often for any damage or signs that they’re wearing out too much. If you see a problem, fix it right away, and trim any damaged or extra-long feathers to stop more issues.

 

• House Managing 

Make sure to provide a comfortable, well-built, ventilated, and safe from-predators chicken coop to live safely and comfortably.

 

You should give each chicken at least 2 to 3 square feet of space in the coop, and about 8 to 10 square feet of space outside for moving and exploring.

 

Try to clean and dry the coop at least twice or thrice a week and make sure to dry the coop after wetting them.

 

Provide nesting boxes filled with clean and soft straws to lay eggs and collect eggs daily to prevent wasting and dirtiness.

 

• Veterinary Care

Regularly checking for signs of illness and injuries and seeking advice from a veterinarian will help maintain their health and well-being.

 

Provide needed vaccination and deworming as recommended by the veterinarian and keep their surroundings and their coop clean to prevent microorganisms and infections.

 

Make sure to give your wheaten marans chicken a chicken friend so they don’t feel lonely and to prevent any mental issues.

 

• Diet and Nutrition 

Provide a balanced diet, including commercial feed, to your wheaten marans chicken to meet all their nutritional requirements.

 

Adding fruits, vegetables, and occasional treats to their diet, to keep them happy and active. Ensure access to clean and fresh water all the time.

 

Make sure to avoid any harmful food like chocolate, avocado skin or pit, coffee or tea, apple seeds, raw potatoes, green potatoes, onions, garlic, or raw eggs.

 

• Maintenance and Grooming 

Regular maintenance is essential to keeping chickens healthy, happy, and gorgeous.

 

Trim any stray and unnecessary feathers and nails to prevent them from becoming overgrown, which could cause mobility and vision problems.

 

Make sure to provide clean and dry soil in their surroundings for dust baths. Dust baths help regulate oil production and keep their feathers healthy.

 

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Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the wheaten marans chickens are well known for their soft golden-wheat feathers, ability to produce chocolaty color eggs, and a docile and friendly temperament.

 

You can purchase French wheaten maran chickens from many hatcheries like MeyerHatchery and HooversHatchery.

 

Feel free to share your thoughts and problems with us. We would love to help you.

 

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FAQs

Are French Wheaten Marans good layers?

Wheaten Maran chickens are popular among chicken keepers for their egg-laying abilities, attractive appearance, and friendly, docile personality. Marans are generally good layers and lay 200 to 250 dark brown eggs.

 

How often do marans lay eggs?

Maran chicken are good layers, producing around 4 to 5 eggs per week on average. Some of them may lay more or fewer eggs than average.

 

When do wheaten marans start laying?

Wheaten Marans chickens may start laying eggs at around 5 to 6 months of age, however, this can vary depending on individual birds and environmental factors.

 

What color eggs do wheaten Marans lay?

Wheaten Marans chickens are famous for the color of their eggs, they lay chocolate or dark brown colored eggs.

 

Which Marans lay the darkest eggs?

Black Copper Marans, which is a variety of maran chickens, can lay the darkest of the dark brown eggs.

 

How big are wheaten Marans?

Wheaten Marans are medium-sized birds, they weigh between 6 to 8.5 lbs.

 

Do French wheaten maran pullets have feathered legs?

Yes, French Wheaten Marans pullets have feathered legs. Feathering on the legs is a characteristic trait of French Maran chickens.