Brahma Thread

[BGMatt]

So, I'm getting in the mood to set up the incubator and am trying to decide what I want to buy. If I put a blue/gold partridge over a dark, what would I get? What about the opposite, a dark over a blue/gold partridge? I'm sure that big medicine will be able to answer my question, he's the bomb when it comes to breeding.

Also, which of the colors tend to have the best breed characteristics? I've read that darks tend to have vulture hocks, lights tend to be lighter and that the buffs are the best for type. Any thoughts?

I'm not big medicine, but know the book answer to your questions.

When crossing a Gold based bird to a silver based bird the first generation is sex linked based on the male. So a gold partridge male to a dark female would give you gold partridge pullets and Dark cockerels. and vice versa for a Dark male over Gold Partridge pullets. If you use a Blue Gold Partridge, the results would be the same except 50% would be the Blue variant (Either Blue Gold Partridge or Silver Blue Pencilled or whatever you would call a Dark with the blue gene added) and 50% would be the "black variant" (Either Gold Partridge or Dark)

As a whole it seems right now, judging from show reports and such across the country, in Large Fowl the Light and Dark are both pretty good, in bantams the Light and Buff are doing well. It's the Bantam Darks that are famous for vulture hock problems. I can't recall the last time I saw a large fowl of the recognized colors with vulture hocks.

 

[Tim63]

Bantam Darks have had issues with VHs. Not really and issue with the big birds. Lights are far and away king in the big birds. They typically have much better type than the Darks and Buffs. Big birds type wise: 1 lights, 2 darks, 3 buffs. In the Bantams it is a toss up between the Lights and Buffs, darks are a distant 3rd at the present time.

As far as temperment difference between bantam and large, I would have to say line dependent. My Ks are a bit truculent but typically grow out of it by the time they mature to cock-birds. Females are typically sweet natured.

Tim

 

[dak]

I have 13 females right now, 4 hens and 9 pullets. I got my first egg in about a month yesterday. My birds do take a break in the winter. Laying should start to pick up now with the daily increase in photo-period. I don't use lights for earlier laying. Many people do. My bantam pullets are "prime" at 5.5-6.5 months, cockerels a bit later, 6-7 months. Anyhoo....March to May hatching is soon enough for most of the Fall shows I attend. I usually get in too big a hurry to start hatching. I don't think I'll set any eggs till the first of Feb. Instead of setting every week, I think I'll hold eggs on a turner and set every two weeks. I hope the over-all quality of my line will allow for fewer birds hatched. Its easy to hatch TOO many. I'm thinking 25 of both varieties, MAYBE 35.

Tim

I have about 7 Buff bantam pullets I plan to use this year. Doubt I'll use the hens. I have males coming out my ears right now. Debating using the older guy who produced so well last year over his daughters, or using a half brother. I may do both, switching midway through.

Light bantams are tougher. I will use my Light cockerel over the Buff pullets from last years Buff x Light cross. I am very sparse on Light females.

My LF Lights hatched last May have not shown any sign of laying and I still have to cull males. They are such big goofs that I hate to part with any.

I am holding off on setting and bantams yet, like Tim, but I need to get a move on it with my LF Cochins.

 

[Tim63]

Well I guess great minds think alike Matt! I must have been typing while you had already answered.

Tim

 

[BGMatt]

Well I guess great minds think alike Matt! I must have been typing while you had already answered.

Tim

Certainly do! Glad to have my thoughts confirmed though.

 

[bumpercarr]

Certainly do! Glad to have my thoughts confirmed though.

Thanks to both of you. I'm only interested in LF. So, you think the lights have the best form/temperament in the LF? I wonder if that is because they seem to be more popular and thus there are more specimens around? Anyway, thanks for the input. Still trying to decide what I want to get. I will definitely get some more partridge (blue/gold) to hatch out this spring. I haven't found anyone who is expecting any eggs until March though, and I'd like to fire up the incubator a little earlier than that. Thanks again!

 

[BGMatt]

Thanks to both of you. I'm only interested in LF. So, you think the lights have the best form/temperament in the LF? I wonder if that is because they seem to be more popular and thus there are more specimens around? Anyway, thanks for the input. Still trying to decide what I want to get. I will definitely get some more partridge (blue/gold) to hatch out this spring. I haven't found anyone who is expecting any eggs until March though, and I'd like to fire up the incubator a little earlier than that. Thanks again!

There are some really good Lights out there, there are some excellent Darks too, they're not as popular and harder to find though. No idea on temperament since that can vary by line. I can only say that back when I had my Brahmas their temperament was very docile, not to the point of near lethargy like a Cochin, but close.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Thanks to both of you. I'm only interested in LF. So, you think the lights have the best form/temperament in the LF? I wonder if that is because they seem to be more popular and thus there are more specimens around? Anyway, thanks for the input. Still trying to decide what I want to get. I will definitely get some more partridge (blue/gold) to hatch out this spring. I haven't found anyone who is expecting any eggs until March though, and I'd like to fire up the incubator a little earlier than that. Thanks again!

If you want to go with darks get some from Diana Delaney. She has the best darks that I know of. Lights have quite a few options.

 

[Apdeb]

How are the banty buffs as broodys??? Whats you guys experience with them?

 

[bumpercarr]

If you want to go with darks get some from Diana Delaney. She has the best darks that I know of. Lights have quite a few options.

Do you have any contact information for her? You can pm it to me if you have it. Thanks!