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View Over 1,400 Different Types of Chicken Coops, and More

Which coop is right for your needs? That’s a question only you can answer. The only perfect coop is the one that’s suitable for your specific needs. You’ll need to take into consideration the climate where you live, how much space you have for a coop, and how large it needs to be to comfortably house your birds.
I’ve said it many times, but I’ll say it again, the more coop space the better. Always build bigger than what you think is adequate, especially if your chickens will be confined. Remember, happy chickens fill the egg basket!
Keep in mind that a coop should be convenient for you to clean. One you can stand up in is a huge plus. At the very least, a coop should have easy access to drinkers, feeders, and of course, fresh eggs. Bedding material should be just as easy to remove as it is to refresh. That means your coop door should be large enough for a standard-sized rake to fit through.
Follow the links below to view a collection of over 1,000 different types of chicken coops. I’ve also collected 100’s of drinkers, feeders, roost types, brooders, and nest box ideas.

Chicken Coops

Chicken Keeping Essentials

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About the Marans

The Marans originated in Marans, France, and were imported into the United Kingdom in the 1930s.
The hens lay on average around 150–210 dark brown eggs per year.  Marans are considered a dual-purpose bird, meaning they’re appreciated for their eggs and table qualities.
Recognized Colors:
White, Wheaten, Black Copper.
Not recognized:
Birchen, Blue, Salmon, Blue Silver Salmon, Silver Cuckoo, and Golden Cuckoo.
Egg Laying Facts
Expect an average of 3-4 eggs per week.
Color: Dark brown/or chocolate
Size: Large
About:
Class: Continental (French)
Size: Heavy, 7-8 pounds
Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
Features:
Comb Type: Single
Number of Toes: 4
Crested: No
Feathered Legs: In the United States, mostly no
Suitability:
The Marans are cold hardy birds, but not especially heat tolerant.
Broody: Yes / Average
Personality: Varies, however, generally docile, and very active.
Interesting Fact: Cuckoo Marans hens can be mated with an unbarred cock to produce sex-linked hybrid offspring.

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Chickens, History and Ancestry

The Domestication History of Chickens 

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) in Kaziranga National park in Assam, India
by K. Kris Hirst

The history of chickens (Gallus domesticus) is still a bit of a puzzle. Scholars agree that they were first domesticated from a wild form called red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), a bird that still runs wild in most of southeast Asia, most likely hybridized with the gray junglefowl (G. sonneratii). That occurred probably about 8,000 years ago. Recent research suggests, however, there may have been multiple other domestication events in distinct areas of South and Southeast Asia, southern China, Thailand, Burma, and India… Continue Reading

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