Brahma Hen

[chicmom]

If you buy chicks from a hatchery, or the farm store near you, you can get females for sure. BUT if you buy hatching eggs and incubate them, then you never know....Plus, if some ships eggs to you, then sometimes the eggs go through some rough handling, which kills the embryo inside the egg. So, I would recommend buying chicks to start out. And you can get your chicks vaccinated very cheaply if you buy from a hatchery.

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

If you buy chicks from a hatchery, or the farm store near you, you can get females for sure. BUT if you buy hatching eggs and incubate them, then you never know....Plus, if some ships eggs to you, then sometimes the eggs go through some rough handling, which kills the embryo inside the egg. So, I would recommend buying chicks to start out. And you can get your chicks vaccinated very cheaply if you buy from a hatchery.

Even hatcheries only have about a 90% success rate on sexing chicks. And at least for me the Brahma's can take FOREVER to actually be able to sex them out or all of the sudden I will have a chicken turn/become a roo that I thought was a hen. Masters of disguise they are IMHO

The vaccine it a GREAT thing !!!!! I always have it done.

 

[Chickens r the best!]

Ok, that's great to hear an opinion from another Brahma owner! Do you have a preference to do with the age to get chickens to add to a flock? I'm struggling to decide whether to get it at POL, chicks or eggs...
thanks

 

[Chickens r the best!]

If you buy chicks from a hatchery, or the farm store near you, you can get females for sure. BUT if you buy hatching eggs and incubate them, then you never know....Plus, if some ships eggs to you, then sometimes the eggs go through some rough handling, which kills the embryo inside the egg. So, I would recommend buying chicks to start out. And you can get your chicks vaccinated very cheaply if you buy from a hatchery.

Ok, thank you so much for your advice!!! Do you have any tips about what to expect when getting a Brahma?

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

They are pretty hardy!! so just the normal chick raising routine. Even at 3 days old they have little fuzzy feet/legs where feathers will come in. I personally always use ACV in my water for chicks.

 

[Chickens r the best!]

That's great to know! Do you have any tips for introducing a chick to a adult flock?

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

I always have a bunch of them to introduce so what I do may not work for a smaller number. I wait until they are POL or a little latter and then just add them all at once. Of course my "maternity ward" is inside the main run so they have all had interaction with each other thru the chicken wire. Oh and my older brahma's will NOT take any guff or excessive "freshness" from younger roo's

 

[Chickens r the best!]

I always have a bunch of them to introduce so what I do may not work for a smaller number. I wait until they are POL or a little latter and then just add them all at once. Of course my "maternity ward" is inside the main run so they have all has interaction with each other thru the chicken wire. Oh and my older brahma's will NOT take any guff or excessive "freshness" from younger roo's

Ok, thank you! That makes more sense! You've been a great help! So, would you keep them separate but next to each other so they get used to each other?
When they start the peckin order, is it best to just leave them to it, or to separate them?

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

Yes together but separate for a while . Unless it gets really BAD (the infighting) I would leave them, you could also trying introducing the newbs just before dark. Then they would all have slept together and woken up together. MIGHT make things a little easier.
A few "hidey spots" might not hurt either.

 

[Chickens r the best!]

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Yes together but separate for a while . Unless it gets really BAD (the infighting) I would leave them, you could also trying introducing the newbs just before dark. Then they would all have slept together and woken up together. MIGHT make things a little easier.
A few "hidey spots" might not hurt either.

Yes together but separate for a while . Unless it gets really BAD (the infighting) I would leave them, you could also trying introducing the newbs just before dark. Then they would all have slept together and woken up together. MIGHT make things a little easier.
A few "hidey spots" might not hurt either.

Ok. Thank you for your help!
Your advice has been so helpful!!! Is there anything else to know?