Backyard Brahmas!!

[Huntress78]

Most all of the chicks I hatched this year are gone...sold all the pullets and some of the cockerels. There are 5 cockerels left and was thinking of keeping this one....took some pics so I could get a better look at him. I lost his mom last Sunday...she disappeared while free ranging and I have no idea what got her...so maybe I'm feeling nostalgic and don't really need a spare rooster. How many of you keep extra roosters? Do you keep them in separate breeder pens or let them range together?

Light cockerel...17 weeks old.

 

[Huntress78]

Hello everyone

I have two light Brahma's and two buff Brahma's, along with some other bread's.
These are our first flock of chickens we have had and so far we are enjoying them very much!!

My question is: our light Brahma's are bleeding on their legs. One( Snowball) has no feathers on her legs. It seems like when they start growing is when the bleeding starts and there aren't any new feathers on her legs any longer. They are 8 weeks old and our buff Brahma's legs are FULL of beautiful feathers.
Should I be concerned ?

Thanks-( picture is my daughter with Snowball )

Welcome Kayleen! That's got to be one of the cutest pics ever!
I'm not sure why that happens to their leg feathers...please keep us updated on how Snowball is doing.

 

[Aaisha]

Quote: yeah, i am worried about snowball, she iis so cute!

 

[Vickis Girls]

HUNTRESS and BIRD LADY, Just wanted to thank you both for your advice on how to raise Baby, the sole hatchling in my avatar. He spent a lot of time staring in that mirror, but with your advice on how to integrate him with the three hatchery pullets, it was a smooth transition and he's quite the gentleman, and reasonably social considering he never knew he wasn't human. Thank you so much for guiding me through. He's the most beautiful bird I've ever seen. SJISTY, I think you'd be proud of this little man. Thank you for that speckled brown egg which made my little flock complete. Too bad I couldn't leave well enough alone. When I realized he was going to be alone, I bid on a few Brahma(?) hatching eggs from CA. Three of them made it, but looks like two are cockerels. They get along well with each other, but I don't know how to integrate this threesome with the other four, and would love to do this before winter. They're a strange looking bunch for sure, but I've come to love each one, though Wally seems to resemble a crow more than the gold laced Brahma as described.
The roomy coop has a temporary divider, so they're used to seeing each other. Each half of the coop has its own pop door and run, with a gate in between, so each flock sees the other one there, too. Today I brought Wally, the runt cockerel in to the other side, and was offering up treats to everyone. I think Baby was okay with it, but it was one of the pullets that attacked him.
Sorry so long winded. Does anyone know how to integrate two separate flocks? The hatchery pullets are 17 weeks, Baby(cockerel) is 13 weeks, and the other flock of two cockerels and one pullet is 10 weeks. I really want to try to keep everyone, as long as they can get along. Any advice from anyone please.
Vicki

 

[Vickis Girls]

KAYLEEN, you have an adorable daughter! I would think maybe Snowball is into feather picking. I have a light which is always doing that, though not on her legs. I don't know the cure, but maybe if they have some foul tasting salve, that would help.

So many have lost their chickens to predators this year. Since this is my first year with chickens, I don't know if this typical. I know a coyote got our cat this summer. I'm sorry for everyone's losses. Especially sad when children are involved.

HUNTRESS, Do you always hatch and sell? So you still have your mature birds? I don't see any problem keeping a spare rooster, as long as everyone gets along. He might turn out to be your favorite and replace the one in the breeding pen. I'm going to try to keep both of my spare roosters, but I'm worried how this will affect the girls and Baby. Don't know if I would be able to get rid of the spares anyway. They're family now.

I have a question which is way off track. When people have breeding pairs and trios, are they related? Does it matter with chickens if their parents are siblings? I have been wondering about this and don't know where else to find the answer. Sorry, but would like to know as I do have one cockerel who isn't related to anyone, but two more who are.

Enjoy your weekend!

 

[Summer98]

My two dark brahma cockerels look so funny because they are getting taller and a nice, upright stance, and yet they have a big puff ball for a tail. Still semi bald on their backs. All the pullets have nice, developed tail feathers and the boys look so pathetic with their puffs.

 

[Huntress78]

Vicki, if your birds can see each other in the coop and the runs try opening all the doors and let them mingle....just keep an eye on them. I don't know what you mean about the pullet 'attacking' Baby...did she hurt him? There will always be some conflict when new birds meet because they need to establish their pecking order. I think of the flock as a fluid thing...always changing. New birds are added, sometimes one dies or chicks are hatched...all these things upset the balance and they need to find level again by testing each other.
If you can free range them all together sometimes that helps with introductions...they meet and mingle out on the lawn and then go back to their separate roosts at night. Pretty soon you can put them all on one side of the coop or just take down the divider and they'll find a place to fit in.

About hatching/selling...I wanted to keep a self sustaining flock of Brahmas...hatch enough each year to keep the flock going and fill the freezer. This year I sold the chicks because I'm making room for more Brahma colors. I still have my mature birds and will hatch enough of their chicks in spring to fill some orders and then hatch purchased eggs for different colors.

As far as the roosters go I've never had anything but problems keeping more than one with the flock. Even if they don't hurt each other they end up hurting the hens. That's why I was asking for suggestions...I thought maybe there was some secret to it! Mine now live in their own breeder pens and the girls go visit them. My nicer 'spares' found new homes at swaps or CL. The ones with too many faults or problems go in the freezer...they live a good life right up to the end...I even butcher in the dark so it's less stressful for them.

Try reading through this thread and see if it answers your question on breeding.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/734859/inbreeding-and-line-breeding-poultry

Some good info here (about halfway down the page) on single/double mating, inbreeding, etc.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...s-charts-and-lots-of-reading-updated-nov-13th

 

[Huntress78]

My two dark brahma cockerels look so funny because they are getting taller and a nice, upright stance, and yet they have a big puff ball for a tail. Still semi bald on their backs. All the pullets have nice, developed tail feathers and the boys look so pathetic with their puffs.

They do look funny at that awkward stage don't they? It's worth the wait for them to mature though as they are such a handsome breed!

 

[Summer98]

Yup, they are at that awkward stage. I hope they reach a nice big size when they grow up.

 

[Vickis Girls]

Thanks for your advice, Huntress. I wasn't too clear. It wasn't the big cockerel(Baby) who was attacked by the pullet, it was one of the little ones. She just kept chasing him around and pecking at him. He wasn't injured, but I just couldn't watch it any longer. I ended up putting all three hatchery pullets in one side, and put the three little guys(2 cockerels,1 pullet 10 weeks) in with the big cockerel(13 weeks). He's much gentler than the older pullets, and only pecked once, and little Wally backed off and that was that. I think from here I'll let them spend a few days together and then bring in one less aggressive pullet and see how that goes, then the other two. It's funny that the cockerel is such a gentle guy, and the girls are so pushy.
You're such a good person. I really respect you and admire that you do the butchering when it's dark. What color of Brahmas are you interested in breeding? I mostly wanted a few different ones to keep for a fancy backyard flock, but none to breed or eat or anything. Mine will probably die of old age.
Thanks for the links. Super interesting about the inbreeding thing. I never would have guessed.