Our chickens are mostly for our own use and consumption. We were looking for a breed that were great laying hens but that would also double for food. We read about the Marans and were facinated with the fact that they laid a very dark Chocolate egg. Marans originated in France and the one thing that sets them apart from all other chickens is the Chocolate colored egg that the hens lay. We have enjoyed them and how docile they are and they seem to never stop laying. The few hens that we have set eggs under have been great moms.

The eggs to the right will give you an idea of the difference in egg color. The darkest eggs are from our marans with the lighter egg (back left is from a buff orphington and the white egg is from a cochin