Marans
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fait Amusant
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.
🏷️ Race
Marans
💭 Tempérament
Calm, docile, active, easy to handle, good forager
📏 Taille
Large (3.2-3.6 kg)
⏳ Espérance de vie
5-8 years
🎨 Couleurs
Cuckoo (most common); also black copper, wheaten, black, white, silver cuckoo
🌍 Origine
France — Marans, Charente-Maritime; developed late 19th century
🏠 Habitat
Free-range or enclosed run; originally adapted to marshy terrain
🍽️ Alimentation
Layer pellets; good forager on pasture
🎯 Usage
Dual Purpose
🥚 Couleur des œufs
Dark Brown
👑 Type de crête
Single
🏅 Classe EE
Large Fowl