Marans at a glance
| Egg production | 150–200 eggs/year |
|---|---|
| Egg color | dark chocolate brown |
| Size | large |
| Temperament summary | Reserved to flighty |
| Housing class | large chicken |
Strongest documented traits
Egg-color uniqueness
Very distinctive egg color
dark chocolate brown eggs
Source confidence: High
Broodiness
Often broody
Source confidence: High
Things to consider
These are traits that may be a drawback depending on what you want from your flock. Individual birds can vary.
Egg production
Moderate egg production
150-200 eggs/year
Source confidence: High
Temperament
More reserved or active
reserved / flighty
Source confidence: Medium
Foraging
Poor forager
Source confidence: High
How the planner uses this breed
The flock planner does not rank Marans from a single overall score stored in the database. Instead, it weights individual traits differently for each household. Cold hardiness matters more in harsh winters; heat tolerance matters more in hot climates; docility receives additional weight when children will handle the birds; and housing size can prevent a breed mix from being recommended even when its preference score is strong.
Sources used for this record
- Utah State University Extension: Managing Chickens From Chicks to Peak Egg Production
- Mississippi State University Extension: Poultry Beginnings: Raise Your Own Backyard Chickens
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Maine Poultry Facts: Match Your Need to the Right Breed
Last database review: 2026-10-03. Trait values are normalized to a 1–5 planning scale; see the methodology for how uncertainty is handled.