Backyard Brahmas!!

[The Colonel]

My broody mama was soooo mean the entire time. The kids couldn't mess with her at all, but once I hand-fed her for a few days she would let me pick her up, check on eggs, give food and water,( once she was quarantined for the hatch). For the most part she would get up and eat, poo, drink, but only for a few minutes. 10 at the most. I had an excess of eggs under her though :/ so I know that now if I ever decide to hatch again. Good luck and I hope she decides to take care of them for you.

 

[Huntress78]

Some of u guys who have had to cull brahmas: how do they taste compared to other chicken?

I laughed at the reply that it tastes like chicken but it's true. It tastes like chicken....only better!
Many times I will take a couple breasts or legs/thighs from a cockerel and just simmer them till done. Then I take the meat off the bones and refrigerate to use the next day for chicken salad sandwiches or in a pasta salad or casserole. I can't tell you how many times I've snitched some of the cold meat from the bowl and thought 'OMG is this good!' It always comes as a surprise to me and I think that's the true test...I'm not consciously comparing it to store chicken. I don't know if it's the flavor, texture or freshness that makes it superior but to me it's well worth the time to raise and butcher the young culls.

 

[carcar80]

Since my girl decided she wouldn't be setting after all, I moved my hens back to where they all belong this morning. This was five minutes later.

I've decided, if this is where she insists on doing it, I'll give her a few eggs and let her have a shot. If she hatches them then I can give her some extra chicks if I have any luck myself. This coop she is in in 4x8, if all else fails I can just close her and the chicks up in it and make arrangements for them after that.

(These were fresh-laid dummy eggs, aside from the third one which had already gone cold.. Maybe that's why she hesitated on tht one? )..

 

[The Colonel]

She looks like she wants to awfully bad. Good luck

 

[carcar80]

Thanks!

 

[griffinlairfarm]

These are my awkward little month old brahmas. We have some blue and gold partridge, and a few splashes/red pyle (depending on what side of the pond you come from)

. They are very very active

and happy little birds, I caught them in a rare moment of rest. I can't wait to see them out of their awkward stage. They are moving into their new little house the beginning of next week right next door to the big full grown brahmas so they can get to know each other for awhile before I free range everyone in the Fall.

 

[carcar80]

Beauties!! How soon can you tell the blue from gold? It's obvious here (at least I guess it is, lol) but just curious if you're ever able at hatch? I cannot WAIT for mine and hope the last week of my incubation doesn't fail me. This will be my first partridge hatch.

 

[griffinlairfarm]

Honestly it is a crap shoot. Usually the gold are darkest, the blues are medium coloring, and the splashes are quite light, and easy to tell. However, I have had chicks I thought were blue that were actually gold.

 

[carcar80]

Do you have pics of your breeders? Would love to see. I have a gold cock over blues so I *shouldn't* end up with splash.. Hoping for a good mix of color.

 

[lgc1970]

Subscribed! I am a newb owner of a Brahma and a Brahma mix. Hatch Day was 6/7.
Here are pictures of my Buff Brahma and Buff Brahma / Buff Orpington cross.

Crunch (lighter, partially feathered legs) and Dove (feathered feet)

Glad to have found this thread!