Brahmas?? Anyone USING them as a dual-purpose?

[LilyD]

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Sounds like just what to look for in a breeder. Someone who is bringing back what a Brahma should be as a DP bird and returning the breed to what it was meant for while adding her own splash of color lol. Love her buff laced babies they are to die for!!

 

[cbohn80]

i love the gold laced brahma's. makes me want to cross my brahmas and wyandottes to see what happens

 

[Illia]

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They won't look anything like true Gold Laced Brahmas

If you're using hatchery/feedstore stock they'll be much, much smaller, lacking in the feirce/serious facial expression, and the F1 offspring will be more spangled or solid brown than actual laced. Also, hatchery Wyandottes are nothing like true ones and their squirrely/rabbit-like tails will pass on, making the offspring look like a Sex-Link in body type, but with slightly feathered legs.

 

[yinepu]

I have a few heritage light brahmas that I am adding into my DP flock.. so they will be crossed with a delaware roo (also heritage) and my giant mutt roo "Jack"
Jack also has a few heritage orpington girls and some big ol' wyandottes that he is fond of.. so in about a week I will be setting some of those eggs for a late January hatch

 

[cbohn80]

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They won't look anything like true Gold Laced Brahmas

If you're using hatchery/feedstore stock they'll be much, much smaller, lacking in the feirce/serious facial expression, and the F1 offspring will be more spangled or solid brown than actual laced. Also, hatchery Wyandottes are nothing like true ones and their squirrely/rabbit-like tails will pass on, making the offspring look like a Sex-Link in body type, but with slightly feathered legs.

honestly i'm not picky. i plan on taking my favorite birds and incubating their chicks and hatching out my own birds from now on. i think it would be awesome to have my own unique strain of birds to share w my family and pass on to my children. to change up genetics here and there i can get a few birds from the flock i already gave to my sister

 

[RoeDylanda]

We just culled a dark brahma for meanness, and though we don't have a scale she hefts about 4-5 pounds at 9 months old. The breast is not huge but the thighs and legs look pretty good!

 

[Illia]

I wouldn't say I'm using Brahmas purebred for dual purpose because I don't have a good male to do so for, but I will certainly say, they can if from the right stock make great dual purpose. I've got a pullet who easily pushes 6 pounds at just 7 months old, now she's the biggest in the flock even compared to my Goliath (imported stock) Sussex who I'd say weigh at least 8 1/2 lbs. I haven't weighed her yet though. (the Brahma, I mean. She's older than 7 mo. now and is much bigger than I last weighed her)

The thing I love is that they don't grow as slow as so many worry about, and their excess feathering does wonders in cold climates as well as their pea combs.


The thing I don't like is the difference in hatchery vs non-hatchery. I know most of you mainly have access and $ for hatchery birds, but I have a few hatchery-based Brahma hens (McMurray) and they are SHRIMPY and mostly bone. But still, they're excellent pets that I'll always love.

 

[RoeDylanda]

Ours was kind of stringy even after brining for 24 hours and 5-6 hours in the crock pot. I think I'll try another breed for meat (not the cornish crosses. They freak me out).

 

[al6517]

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It's not the breed that you need to change,

 

[al6517]

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I agree with your observations unfortunately the hatcheries will continue their campain of Dual Purpose misinformation and get the general public thinking a scrawney mix bred hatchery bird is good for meat. Oh well ..........we can't change the world nor the hatchery buyers perception of what they read in the catalog.