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Brahmas heat tolerant?

post #1 of 11
Thread Starter 

I've seen books and online charts that say Standard Brahmas are het tolerant.
Is that true? The birds looks so chucky and feathery. It seems counterintuitive...

Karin

WAHM to 1 funny little boy (hatched 5/06) and a happy little girl (09/08), living with 3 horses, 3 goats, 4 dogs, 4 1/2 cats, 5 guinea pigs, 3 tortoises, 1 lizard and my poor husband who didn't want pets...
We now have 2 EE chicks, 1 BR chick, 2 Cuckoo Marans
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Karin

WAHM to 1 funny little boy (hatched 5/06) and a happy little girl (09/08), living with 3 horses, 3 goats, 4 dogs, 4 1/2 cats, 5 guinea pigs, 3 tortoises, 1 lizard and my poor husband who didn't want pets...
We now have 2 EE chicks, 1 BR chick, 2 Cuckoo Marans
Reply
post #2 of 11

Mine tolerated last summers heat extremely well.  Brahmas have a habit that I'd read about and then saw with my own flock.  Let em out in the morning and they will forage until the day starts warming up.  Then they find a place with lots of shade (and preferably a good breeze) and they'll stay there, barely moving, until the day starts to cool down again.  Then they're off to forage again.
Mine have picked our carport as their oasis.  Shade all day and usually a good cross breeze.
ETA:  When it starts getting into the 90s I add poultry electrolytes to their water to help them cope.  At those temps I'd add the electrolytes no matter the breed.

If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever - Winnie the Pooh
I'll never develop a thick skin.  Thick skin leads to a hard heart and I never want to be one of those people. 

A slave to LF brahmas, seramas, runner ducks, call ducks, two geese that are my feathered children, and a crossbeak silkie X named Dragon. 

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If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever - Winnie the Pooh
I'll never develop a thick skin.  Thick skin leads to a hard heart and I never want to be one of those people. 

A slave to LF brahmas, seramas, runner ducks, call ducks, two geese that are my feathered children, and a crossbeak silkie X named Dragon. 

Reply
post #3 of 11

I've had mine for years and never had a problem heat wise.  I do add a box fan in the summer at times to help in the henhouse, but that's for all the chickens too.  Always lots of fresh water and in extreme heat they get electrolytes added to the water.

Smith/Giles "project" Lavender Orpingtons, Spring of 2012 Part English "project" Lavenders , Part English BBS Orpingtons, Buff Orpingtons and Bantam Light Brahmas.  Follow me down the yellow brick road!!! 

I'm holding out for the gold star !!!!   

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Smith/Giles "project" Lavender Orpingtons, Spring of 2012 Part English "project" Lavenders , Part English BBS Orpingtons, Buff Orpingtons and Bantam Light Brahmas.  Follow me down the yellow brick road!!! 

I'm holding out for the gold star !!!!   

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post #4 of 11
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the info on the Electrolytes! I'll be sure to get some.

Karin

WAHM to 1 funny little boy (hatched 5/06) and a happy little girl (09/08), living with 3 horses, 3 goats, 4 dogs, 4 1/2 cats, 5 guinea pigs, 3 tortoises, 1 lizard and my poor husband who didn't want pets...
We now have 2 EE chicks, 1 BR chick, 2 Cuckoo Marans
Reply
Karin

WAHM to 1 funny little boy (hatched 5/06) and a happy little girl (09/08), living with 3 horses, 3 goats, 4 dogs, 4 1/2 cats, 5 guinea pigs, 3 tortoises, 1 lizard and my poor husband who didn't want pets...
We now have 2 EE chicks, 1 BR chick, 2 Cuckoo Marans
Reply
post #5 of 11

Mine is a banty hen, though she's done better than most of our birds.

-Has a soft spot for anything with a crest.-
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-Has a soft spot for anything with a crest.-
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post #6 of 11

So you think that they could handle N. Ga. summers, when it's regularly in the 90's July through Aug.?

 

We have Buff Orp. already and I put a box fan on them as well as ice cubes in the water and real cultured whey (has electrolytes) in the water, too. They still "pant", though; however, all have survived over the years.

 

So can Brahmas survive, too?

 

Thanks, Rachel

post #7 of 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by messianicmom View Post

So you think that they could handle N. Ga. summers, when it's regularly in the 90's July through Aug.?

 

We have Buff Orp. already and I put a box fan on them as well as ice cubes in the water and real cultured whey (has electrolytes) in the water, too. They still "pant", though; however, all have survived over the years.

 

So can Brahmas survive, too?

 

Thanks, Rachel


I've lived in Florida, Georgia, east and west NC and am now in SW Arkansas.  IMO, Arkansas summers are worse than any of those other places.
 My brahmas do fine with a box fan, plenty of cool water and electolytes if the temps. get really up there. 

 

If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever - Winnie the Pooh
I'll never develop a thick skin.  Thick skin leads to a hard heart and I never want to be one of those people. 

A slave to LF brahmas, seramas, runner ducks, call ducks, two geese that are my feathered children, and a crossbeak silkie X named Dragon. 

Reply

If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever - Winnie the Pooh
I'll never develop a thick skin.  Thick skin leads to a hard heart and I never want to be one of those people. 

A slave to LF brahmas, seramas, runner ducks, call ducks, two geese that are my feathered children, and a crossbeak silkie X named Dragon. 

Reply
post #8 of 11

I have a couple light brahma hens they do great here in the summer. They are easy going sturdy girls.

Tropical Plant Freak with Marans: Bcm,wheaten,golden cuckoo, BBS, blue copper,barred blk tailed buff, blk tailed buff, blue/blk birchen. Lavender, white, buff, chocolate, black Orps, Silkies, Key West aka Gypsy chickens, Ameraucanas, Muscovies, Sebastapol Geese, Guineas,Gobblers, Parrots. Currently working on some exciting Key West, Orp, & Marans projects. 

~Sorry not selling eggs or chicks at...

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Tropical Plant Freak with Marans: Bcm,wheaten,golden cuckoo, BBS, blue copper,barred blk tailed buff, blk tailed buff, blue/blk birchen. Lavender, white, buff, chocolate, black Orps, Silkies, Key West aka Gypsy chickens, Ameraucanas, Muscovies, Sebastapol Geese, Guineas,Gobblers, Parrots. Currently working on some exciting Key West, Orp, & Marans projects. 

~Sorry not selling eggs or chicks at...

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post #9 of 11

I have two 5 yr old Brahma hens, a Lt and a Buff Brahma. They do better in the summer than my Delawares, believe it or not. They are loosely feathered, which may help. Mine are hatchery girls, still laying.

 

~A dog on its owner's property is a pet; A dog on someone else's property is a predator~

 

 

Living the Good Life in the North Georgia Mountains~ Cynthia

 

 

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~A dog on its owner's property is a pet; A dog on someone else's property is a predator~

 

 

Living the Good Life in the North Georgia Mountains~ Cynthia

 

 

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post #10 of 11

I can't believe that my brahma girls will soon be 4 years old.  Seems like only yesterday that they were cute little chicks in the brooder.  Love my brahma girls. 

If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever - Winnie the Pooh
I'll never develop a thick skin.  Thick skin leads to a hard heart and I never want to be one of those people. 

A slave to LF brahmas, seramas, runner ducks, call ducks, two geese that are my feathered children, and a crossbeak silkie X named Dragon. 

Reply

If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever - Winnie the Pooh
I'll never develop a thick skin.  Thick skin leads to a hard heart and I never want to be one of those people. 

A slave to LF brahmas, seramas, runner ducks, call ducks, two geese that are my feathered children, and a crossbeak silkie X named Dragon. 

Reply
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