Marans Chickens and Eggs

This breed, which originated in western France in the town of Marans, is best known for its dark chocolate-colored eggs. It is a fast grower and does well in damp areas, having been developed in a marshy portion of France. The original French birds have feathered legs, but this characteristic has been bred out of the British and many American lines. Mike and I raise the French feather-legged Marans.

When our local Farmers Market is open we sell eating eggs. (We also sell hatching eggs to folks but those eggs cost more). We like for a carton of our eggs to have color contrast with mostly the Marans, Cuckoo and Wheaten, eggs but also some Ameraucana and Faverolle eggs and we presently need a few hens that will lay white eggs. We always stick a Bourbon Red Turkey egg in each carton too. We get $3.50 per dozen and sell out in a matter of a few minutes. We don't make money at our hobby but selling eggs helps pay for some feed and we really enjoy being a part of the Farmers Market environement

For those you interested in Marans eggs, here's some info.
Click here and go to Bev Davis site, she the Marans guru.
According to Bev - To even qualify as a Marans specimen, a layer must be able to produce a #4 or darker egg reliably for a period of her laying season. If the flock cannot produce #4 eggs at some time, they simply are not Marans, regardless of the breeding. This is how the French begin by defining the breed.

Wheaten Marans

Wheaten Hen

My girls aren't producing many eggs now, I keep giving them pep talks but...

My Marans mentor is Ron Presley in Athens, Tenn