Mumsnet Talk

I am thinking of getting some Marans to lay eggs over the Winter as most of my chucks have shut down now 'till the Spring! Has anyone on here got Marans and do they lay a few eggs over Winter? If not what do you recommend? Would rather have pure than hybrid...thanks

We have some marans, lovely things. If a little moody!

Most chickens will lay their first year through the winter until they are a year old and have their first full moult. So you could realistically get any breed of hen.

In terms of eggs, when they are laying they are reliable and have wonderful dark brown eggs and thick shells.

However, and this may just be mine, they are moody temperamental buggers and will go broody at the drop of a hat. And then bite you as soon as look at you. But they are lovely birds, heavy and very neat looking when they are not moulting! one of mine looks like a very scraggly mop at the moment.

They are a lovely bird and nice to look at.

Thanks for your reply, that is very useful :-)
Ideally I want something that will keep laying a bit over Winters generally, not just the first one; doesn't have to be many- just enough to keep me in omelettes! I can cope with moody and being bitten, not a problem! It is the dark brown eggs that appealed too.. do you know if they are good mothers? My Welsummers love being broody but then squash the chicks!

Earthdog if you find a chicken that carries on laying all winter year after year then tell us all because i have around 20 different breeds (including Marans) and none of them have ever done this! They stop laying because of the reduced light levels and it is good for them to have a rest. the only hens that lay all the time are battery and we all know why!!

I have some Marans. Amazing eggs,especially the yolk. They do go broody easily, but make by far the best mothers in my experience. Very reliable sitters and take care of the chicks until they are about 8-10 weeks old.
However I am getting no eggs at all now-they tend to restart around Christmas day.
You can get a solar panel which will increase their light levels enough to get them laying. I haven't tried it but have considered it. I am not totally convinced by the argument that they need a 'rest'. They are 'Jungle fowl', after all and if they lived nearer the equator would lay all year round. Plus, they all have a 6 weekish rest when they moult.
I think ex-batteries might be good for almost year round laying. They are,after all bred for it. It isn't just the way they're treated.

I had copper and blue marans. The noisiest birds I have ever had but good layers. The younger birds were laying in snow.
I think for reliable winter laying the red commercial breeds are going to be the best bet.

My new Minorca is laying daily tho this is her first winter, the cuckoo maren laid yesterday for the first time since Oct as she lost a coop mate and then moulted, the mottled may have laid yesterday to.