Backyard Brahmas!!

[nicole63021]

Thanks. The reason I asked is because I have three hatchery Brahma chicks hatched mid June and one gorgeous little blue partridge(egg came from a breeder) hatched mid July. Once the little guy(or gal) is out of the brooder, he'll still be alone, but just a hardware cloth divider between him and the bigger three. I'm hoping when they're close to the same size I can bring an older chick in to live with him until all four can be integrated. He's such a sweet thing, and I will worry about him, so that's my plan for now. Any ideas about what age they'll be closer in size? It's amazing what a difference a month makes.
Vicki

It is amazing! I'm not sure how long it will take, this is my first time with chickens, so I'm taking a lot of advice from others on here. I have noticed that all the younger smaller chicks love my BR hen, which cracks me up since she is the biggest in the bunch and is top of the roost. They all run up and peck her feet and follow her, she pecks back occasionally, but she really likes to plop down on them, spread her wings a bit and they just sit there. Too funny, though not the behavior I would expect from a BR, oh well.

 

[Vickis Girls]

Nicole63021, that's so cute! If only a couple more of the eggs had hatched I wouldn't be so worried.

SDBirdlady, Do you think when he's 2 months old and the others are 3 months they'll be close in size? Thanks for your advice on the most docile being the one put in his pen. They're all so sweet, but this little guy is so precious. He's the only one I've ever hatched.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

ya they should be pretty close. as long as they are both feathered in they should be fine. But as with any introduction do it when you have to time to keep a close watch and also the more space the better. If you are moving them to a new coop then just introduce them then. The confusion of the move will help dissipate some of the picking.

 

[Jwhitty]

I'm getting 6 to 10 gold partridge brahmas from my cousin as soon as I get the coop built... I'm kinda concerned about space... My backyard is not really big but its not small either... Does anybody think a 10x10 coop will be big enough with a medium size yard? I'm gonna let them free graze all day until I put them in the coop at night....

 

[Vickis Girls]

SD Bird Lady, thanks for your advice, I knew I could count on you.

Jwhitty, That coop would be plenty big enough. More important is their daytime space, and they're fine there too. Please make sure you check on ordinances, etc. If you put an animal enclosure too close to a property line and a neighbor complains, you'll soon be moving it or tearing it down. Congrats on the Golds. I think they're gorgeous! Good luck.

 

[Dirt Farmer]

I'm getting 6 to 10 gold partridge brahmas from my cousin as soon as I get the coop built... I'm kinda concerned about space... My backyard is not really big but its not small either... Does anybody think a 10x10 coop will be big enough with a medium size yard? I'm gonna let them free graze all day until I put them in the coop at night....

You should be fine. In my experience with bigger breeds, at least 6 sq ft per bird of indoor space is ideal for keeping down odor, disease and bad behavior. That number is assuming access to the outdoors as well. In my area, my outdoor space has to be fenced with the chicken wire at about 6 inches deep in the ground, and the top covered (predation). I plan on about 12 sq ft per bird of outdoors space. Most written sources would reduce those numbers to 4 and 10, but Brahmas are the King of all Poultry, and require a palace (and big birds make big turds). Here's one of my Gold.

 

[Brahmama]

Beauti

...

You should be fine. In my experience with bigger breeds, at least 6 sq ft per bird of indoor space is ideal for keeping down odor, disease and bad behavior. That number is assuming access to the outdoors as well. In my area, my outdoor space has to be fenced with the chicken wire at about 6 inches deep in the ground, and the top covered (predation). I plan on about 12 sq ft per bird of outdoors space. Most written sources would reduce those numbers to 4 and 10, but Brahmas are the King of all Poultry, and require a palace (and big birds make big turds). Here's one of my Gold. [/quote Beautiful bird! Wow!

 

[Jwhitty]

Thanks for all the advice... Now... One more big question: I'm fencing in most of my backyard BUT I'm not gonna fence over the top.... My cousin says brahmas are too big for hawks to carry off & he lets them free range all day until he calls them to the coop... Should I fence the top of the chicken yard or not????

 

[CarolinaHen]

Thanks for all the advice... Now... One more big question: I'm fencing in most of my backyard BUT I'm not gonna fence over the top.... My cousin says brahmas are too big for hawks to carry off & he lets them free range all day until he calls them to the coop... Should I fence the top of the chicken yard or not????

We have our "grow up" pen covered, but not our "big girl" pen. The hawks haven't bothered any of the big girls. They have tried, on occasion, to get into the grow up pen though.

 

[Jwhitty]

We have our "grow up" pen covered, but not our "big girl" pen. The hawks haven't bothered any of the big girls. They have tried, on occasion, to get into the grow up pen though.

Cool... I'm doing hens only right now until I get my feet wet. Then I might hatch a few out... I won't ever have a rooster until I have a country spread somewhere