Backyard Brahmas!!

Yeah. I'm no expert on breeding but I'd breed him to a hen with a really nice tight pea comb. But she's gotta have good size and conformation as well or you'll correct the comb issue only to have other issues added in.
 
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Big Medicine once asked at what point are the inconsistencies with the standard does it make the bird no longer a brahma? None of us really had a good answer for that, my opinion is that if it looks like a brahma, then it is a brahma and I'd probably call it a mix if there were some traits present that weren't "perfect". But Standard of Perfection perfect is what the American Poultry Association sees as the traits of a perfect bird, which may or may not be perfect for you. If you are not planning on showing or putting your eggs out there on ebay as "show quality" brahmas, it really makes no difference what traits your bird may be lacking, it only matters if you are happy with it. For instance, most heritage brahmas are considered light layers, maybe 4 eggs a week, and don't start laying until they are more than 6 months old (usually closer to 8 or 9 months). But a hatchery brahma may start laying earlier and lay more often because of the "mixing" of the breeds to change their natural laying propensities.

There is a brahma ongoing projects thread that may help you figure out how to fix the comb if you are so inclined. You'll have to search for it, I don't have the link handy. Otherwise, just enjoy your birds as they are!

As for the brahma breeders thread, they are a group that is breeding to the show standard and most of the time that is what they discuss, not brahma generalities. The thread has its purpose and those on that thread prefer to be more serious about the SOP breeding standards (although they will talk about non-standard colors that are working to get accepted into the SOP).

Sorry for the confusion.
 
I forgot to add that I'm talking about the US Standard of Perfection, other countries may have their own standards. You can google Australia's standard and they have it online. I'm not sure about other countries.

Vulture hocks are stiff feathers coming out of the hock (knee area on the leg). They can be small or as large as wing feathers, but the key is that they are stiff and stick out towards the back.
 
There are a bunch of genetics involving combs besides the main pea or rose . These modifiers all have an effect on the finer features of the comb.

For example both Brahmas and Cornish are both pea combed, but the Cornish combs tend to be higher in the rear than a Brahma pea comb. Brahma on left, Cornish on right.



Even among my blue laced red Brahma project birds their is considerable variation of their pea combs.

This guy not a bad comb, but not great.


This guy, gives me almost a Malay type feel the way he holds his head/neck. He has that extra bit at the front I need to get rid of.


This guy has a semi decent comb, his draw back is too much waddle, which should be small on a pea combed bird. He is a year older but that is a lot of wattle.


This guy nice tight wattles, but pretty much a mess of a comb.
 
Big Medicine once asked at what point are the inconsistencies with the standard does it make the bird no longer a brahma? None of us really had a good answer for that, my opinion is that if it looks like a brahma, then it is a brahma and I'd probably call it a mix if there were some traits present that weren't "perfect". But Standard of Perfection perfect is what the American Poultry Association sees as the traits of a perfect bird, which may or may not be perfect for you. If you are not planning on showing or putting your eggs out there on ebay as "show quality" brahmas, it really makes no difference what traits your bird may be lacking, it only matters if you are happy with it. For instance, most heritage brahmas are considered light layers, maybe 4 eggs a week, and don't start laying until they are more than 6 months old (usually closer to 8 or 9 months). But a hatchery brahma may start laying earlier and lay more often because of the "mixing" of the breeds to change their natural laying propensities.

There is a brahma ongoing projects thread that may help you figure out how to fix the comb if you are so inclined. You'll have to search for it, I don't have the link handy. Otherwise, just enjoy your birds as they are!

As for the brahma breeders thread, they are a group that is breeding to the show standard and most of the time that is what they discuss, not brahma generalities. The thread has its purpose and those on that thread prefer to be more serious about the SOP breeding standards (although they will talk about non-standard colors that are working to get accepted into the SOP).

Sorry for the confusion.

Yep.. I'm happy with my birds doesn't matter if they are not perfect, I still love them :)
And I'm not a seller so I won't be putting my eggs on ebay as show quality. I just love to keep them :)
I got your point. Every country have their own standard of brahma. I live in Pakistan next to India. I'll search what is the standard type brahma in Pakistan on the net. You're Great (Y)
 
There are a bunch of genetics involving combs besides the main pea or rose . These modifiers all have an effect on the finer features of the comb.

For example both Brahmas and Cornish are both pea combed, but the Cornish combs tend to be higher in the rear than a Brahma pea comb. Brahma on left, Cornish on right.



Even among my blue laced red Brahma project birds their is considerable variation of their pea combs.

This guy not a bad comb, but not great.


This guy, gives me almost a Malay type feel the way he holds his head/neck. He has that extra bit at the front I need to get rid of.


This guy has a semi decent comb, his draw back is too much waddle, which should be small on a pea combed bird. He is a year older but that is a lot of wattle.


This guy nice tight wattles, but pretty much a mess of a comb.

Love your birds. They're awesome. That really helped.
 
Yep.. I'm happy with my birds doesn't matter if they are not perfect, I still love them :)
And I'm not a seller so I won't be putting my eggs on ebay as show quality. I just love to keep them :)
I got your point. Every country have their own standard of brahma. I live in Pakistan next to India. I'll search what is the standard type brahma in Pakistan on the net. You're Great (Y)
I´d love to see what the Brahmas from there look like. After all, they pretty well originated there, but were really developed in the States. Are they called Brahmas in Pakistan? Or do you have there birds with the old names of Chittigong or Shanghai which they first had when they were imported to the west? Or maybe they were developed along different lines, and what you have may be the "Brahma" from where you are....
Looking forward to photos from your research.
big_smile.png
 
There are a bunch of genetics involving combs besides the main pea or rose . These modifiers all have an effect on the finer features of the comb.

For example both Brahmas and Cornish are both pea combed, but the Cornish combs tend to be higher in the rear than a Brahma pea comb.


This guy, gives me almost a Malay type feel the way he holds his head/neck. He has that extra bit at the front I need to get rid of.
This one looks so much like the cockbirds around here, except it has a small beak ..."indians" they call them, very similar to the Malay....everyone has them... except me. Beautiful colours, but horrid natures.
 

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