Black Copper Marans chickens! Ever heard chicken keepers brag about their “chocolate egg machines”? Well, now you know what they’re talking about!
You’re here hunting for something special. Those ridiculously dark eggs that make your neighbors jealous.
Listen, if you want chickens that lay eggs so dark they look fake, Black Copper Marans are your answer. These French beauties don’t mess around when it comes to egg color.
Here’s the thing – your Instagram feed is about to get way more interesting.
These birds aren’t just pretty faces either. They’re tough, friendly, and honestly? They make other chickens look boring. Black Copper Marans have this “I’m too cool for school” vibe that chicken lovers can’t resist.
Ready to discover why everyone’s obsessed with these dark egg layers? Let’s dive in!
What are we going to discuss today?
What is the History of Black Copper Marans?
Black Copper Marans were developed in France during the late 19th centuries – originally prized for meat. These stylish birds became famously known for their dark brown eggs instead.
Their debut in North America happened in the 1990s and quickly won over keepers.
This is the only breed in Marans family that was officially recognized by American Poultry Association (APA).
Why Black Copper Marans so popular?
Black Copper Marans lay the darkest, chocolatiest, most beautiful brown eggs you’ll ever see. This chicken breed literally wins the war when it comes to egg color variation – nothing else comes close.
French chefs prefer these chickens highly and cook using their eggs in top restaurants worldwide. I’ve seen breeders agree that their exceptional flavor and striking appearance make them well worth the cost.
The very dark eggs from free-range Marans chickens that look fresh and have this flavor that your homegirl’s regular eggs just can’t match.
What Makes Black Copper Marans’ Eggs So Dark?
A dark brown pigment is added to eggs in the time of egg laying, and this is give the chocolate-colored eggs of black copper marans.
All Marans lay eggs with a similar marking, but because the Black Copper hen is slightly less productive than other Marans varieties, she deposits more pigment on each egg—resulting in a deeper, richer cocoa-colored shell.
How to get Maximum Dark Chocolate Eggs from Your Marans?
Picking the right Black Copper Marans lineage is your first step – pay a quality breeder for heritage birds with proven dark brown egg records. Your chances of hitting the chocco-lotto improve dramatically when you know the chicken’s darker hatching odds from certain bloodlines.
Watch your hen closely during her laying cycle – she lays smaller, darker eggs when younger and they get lighter as she gets older. The pigment tends to stretch thinner on larger eggs, so those 65g beauties might sacrifice some color nature gave them.
Keeping your girlies stress-free during cooler seasons helps maintain the darkest eggs possible – warmer weather and broody periods mess with hormone levels. My husband learned this the hard way when our harvest went from chocolate to medium brown during molt time!
How Dark Are Black Copper Marans Eggs, Really?
Black copper marans eggs are in the list of darkest brown eggs. They got the most chocolate eggs title, and scored 6-9 in the colour chart of dark brown eggs.
Colour charts show the dark brown eggs colours by giving them a number from 1-9, number 1 is the most lighter brown while number 9 is the most dark brown egg.
How Rare Are Black Copper Marans Really?
Black Copper Marans are found to be rare in the U.S. compared to common breeds, as they originate from France where this color variety is more established. Finding a good bloodline feels like trying to get your paws on the newest Xbox the week before Christmas!
These cocoa egg layers rank among the rarest varieties but they’re getting more popular as backyard chicken keepers discover their magic.
How Big Are Black Copper Marans Chickens?
Black Copper Marans hens typically weigh around 6.5 pounds and stand about 20 inches tall, while the roosters can reach up to 8 pounds in weight and grow as tall as 22 inches.
Can You Get Black Copper Marans Bantams?
Yes, also this breed is cute and looks like buttons! Black Copper Marans bantams are small charms hens in coop usually weigh just 24 ounces, and the roosters up to 28 ounces. These “mini Marans” have been around since the 1950s and are just as hardy and easy to care for as the full-sized ones.
What are the traits and temperaments of Black Copper Marans?
Black Copper Marans are basically the chill kids of the chicken world – super relaxed and docile chickens that don’t start fights. They mix really well in a mixed-breed coop and just perch around happily without being drama queens.
Honestly, these easy-going birds usually hang out in the middle of your pecking order – not bullies, not victims. The roosters are surprisingly gentle and only occasionally fluff their feathers when they’re trying to impress the ladies.
What really gets me is their stunning plumage – that iridescent green sheen with copper flecks is just gorgeous. My kids love how soft their feathers are and these medium-sized birds actually enjoy a good snuggle (which is a huge bonus if you ask me).
They’re incredibly easy to handle and socialize with humans like they actually want to hang out with you. These breeds live comfortably in both warm and cold climates, makes them the perfect addition to pretty much any flock.
Do Black Copper Marans Chickens Make Good Pets?
Yes, they are friendly in nature and have cold hardy, easy to handle and low maintenance breeds. They can make good pets if you want to keep in your backyard flock.
Should First-Time Chicken Keepers Choose Black Copper Marans?
Black Copper Marans chickens are good for beginners if they want easy care and gorgeous deep-brown eggs. As they are Hardy, cheerful, and easygoing—they’re much less skittish than a lot of other breeds.
Maybe you reach for these as your first breed because they’re honestly perfect for beginners who want something special. When I started keeping chickens, these were my go-to recommendations for new chicken keepers.
Here’s the stuff about breeding through – their thick, dark eggshells mean hatching can have a lower hatch rate if you want to dabble in that later.
How difficult Is It to Keep Black Copper Marans?
Black Copper Marans are honestly fuss-free – just provide a sturdy coop with 10 square feet per chicken and let ’em free-range if you own the space. These hardy birds don’t need much – a basic nest box and roosting bar will keep them happy all day long.
Bless this standard breed for being such a great choice – they’ll peck around your home for endless hours without extensive care requirements. Give them 5 inches of roosting space and they’re good to go through any season!
Do Black Copper Marans Have Health Problems?
Black Copper Marans are generally the birds with few health concerns. Their single combs can get frostbitten during harsh winter weather, so proper shelter is must from cold air.
Feathered feet on some bloodlines make them affected to moisture-related issues if housing isn’t kept dry. Watch their weight management since these heavy birds love foraging and can become overweight without adequate exercise space.
Parasite prevention and regular health checks keep most common poultry diseases at bay. These hardy chickens thrive with basic care and good nutrition throughout their productive lifespan.
What is the average lifespan of Black Copper Marans?
Usually, black copper marans live around 6-8 years and by ensuring clean environment, proper care, and regular health checks can live more than 8 years.
How Many Eggs Does a Black Copper Marans Lay?
Black Copper Marans lay around 150 to 200 eggs per year – that’s pretty decent for backyard chickens. Most hens give you 3 to 4 eggs each week, which is honestly hard to define as high quantity but the quality is amazing.
It’s a little tricky to please humans who want both dark color and tons of eggs.
These mamas start laying later than other breeds at around 32 weeks of age – don’t rush to expect your best layers right away. They pop out lighter colored eggs at first then get darker over time.
My average hen will stop laying well after about five years, giving me roughly 700 eggs total if kept healthy. The objective here isn’t quantity – it’s getting those gorgeous consistent chocolate eggs that make your neighbors jealous!
How Big is a Black Copper Marans Chicken Egg?
Black Copper Marans hens lay medium to medium-large eggs, usually weighing between 75 and 80 grams once they’re fully grown. Just so you know, their eggs can sometimes be unusually round—that’s totally normal for this breed, so no need to call the vet at 6 a.m.!
What is the broodiness behaviour of Black copper marans?
Usually, black copper marans are not broody, but when they sit to hatch eggs, they play an important role as a good mother. They care for their chicks, even other chicks.
Are Black Copper Marans Good Meat Birds?
As they are medium to large in size and have flavourful meat. Black copper marans have a dual purpose breed while they are primarily known for their dark chocolate-colored eggs. They’re better suited as dual-purpose birds than dedicated meat producers.
Want to learn more about Marans Chickens?
You can check out our latest Marans breed guide. In which we discuss all about chicken marans from history to all aspects about their life. We discuss in which is:
“Which of the Marans Lay the Darkest Brown Eggs”
“Are Marans Good for Meat”
“What are the Temperaments of Marans”
“What are the Varieties of Marans Chickens”
“What are Housing and Care Requirements for Marans”