Marans
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fun Fact
Marans eggs are so dark and distinctive that James Bond's creator Ian Fleming specified that 007 ate Marans eggs for breakfast — a detail confirmed in the novels. The eggs grade 7–9 on the Marans egg colour scale (1-9), with 9 being near-black.
A French dual-purpose breed from the port town of Marans in the Charente-Maritime, celebrated for producing the darkest eggs of any breed — deep chocolate-brown shells so dark they look almost mahogany. Marans were developed through crosses of local marsh hens with fighting cocks brought by English sailors and later with Langshans. The French standard requires feathered legs in most colour varieties. Marans eggs are coveted by chefs and gourmets across Europe.
🏷️ Breed
Marans
💭 Temperament
Calm, docile, active, easy to handle, good forager
📏 Size
Large (3.2-3.6 kg)
⏳ Lifespan
5-8 years
🎨 Colors
Cuckoo (most common); also black copper, wheaten, black, white, silver cuckoo
🌍 Origin
France — Marans, Charente-Maritime; developed late 19th century
🏠 Habitat
Free-range or enclosed run; originally adapted to marshy terrain
🍽️ Diet
Layer pellets; good forager on pasture
🎯 Purpose
Dual Purpose
🥚 Egg Colour
Dark Brown
👑 Comb Type
Single
🏅 EE Class
Large Fowl