Black Copper Maran

According to The Marans Club:

“They are beauty, grace, purpose, and figures of strength all wrapped in one productive package. Combine this with their usually friendly temperaments and you have the perfect chicken. Their title of being the darkest egg-laying breed of chicken in the world is the icing on the cake. They’re always performing better when allowed to have large spaces to free-range where they may seek out alternative food sources. Such as vegetation, insects, or scraps. They enjoy scratching in soil or bedding as ways to care for themselves and stay busy. Temperament is hereditary and an attribute serious breeders work towards. They should be calm, mellow, curious, and easy to handle. So much a child can care for them, ESPECIALLY OURS! While there are always exceptions to the rule, this is a trait of the Marans that should be looked after as much as physique and egg color. They were designed for both meat and egg production. Their body style is longer in the back, but wide and well filled out. Giving both the males and females a full, well-rounded look in the breast. The males should mature rather quickly, dressing well for table use by 6 months. Their fine texture and flavor of meat were what made them very popular in France – who have a flair for finer qualities in life. Females begin laying later than most other breeds, however, once they begin they should lay steadily for several years. While the Marans hold the world record for the darkest laying breed of chicken, egg color within all the Marans varieties greatly vary depending upon genetics, stress levels, and laying cycles. You can get variances from more of a tan, to terra-cotta, to chocolate to a deep russet red. They can be solid, or covered in darker spots. Matte to glossy. Some have more of a frosted “bloom” giving them a purplish appearance. All the above are common. The ultimate Marans egg that we all strive for however is the deep, dark, solid, chocolaty-red. These are the “Holy-Grail” of eggs that are constantly being sought for by beginning enthusiasts, but few people have ever seen.”