Brahma Thread

[Summer98]

Are silkies a "less intelligent" breed? I don't think I would want one if they just pick on the big, Brahma roos.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

lol my silkies are actually quite intelligent. I actually think the silkies are more intelligent in general than most of my other birds are. my silkies will seek me out for food, out of curiosity, and for affection. I have 2 silkies who are extremely crafty, and funny. the main oldest rooster my daughter's boy Pika (the brahma bully) - he is very intelligent for a chicken. I have a hen who when she wants to brood she knows my routine about breaking her and stealing her eggs. so apparently she thinks if they are free ranging, she thinks if she starts in the silkie coop and I get her eggs she will go to the brahma coop and sit on their eggs, and hide in the corner...I find her in there, and she goes back to one of the silkie coops - then she finally decided to make a nest under the shed where I couldn't get to her and her eggs! lol

What makes silkies seem so stupid is exhibition birds nowadays have HUGE crests, and they impair their sight, when they can't see they aren't confident and bumble around quite a bit. they can't see above them either so suddenly seeing your feet can startle them really easy. I keep my show quality and breeder quality birds crests trimmed up or taped so they have very good vision, and I see a big change in their character.

If anything I tell people to get them silkies for kids' pets or as broody moms. great for both!

 

[Countrypunk92]

I have 9 Dark Brahma eggs in the bator right now!

 

[bantiehen]

Quote:
nice

 

[bantiehen]

One of my Light Brahma eggs is pipping.

keeping fingers crossed that I'll have a zipping chick in the morning or its hatched

this will be the second one from my Light Brahmas

 

[big medicine]

Just took a few shots of some of the young stock. Been raining here for the past few days, so a little muddy.
Some of the splash blue laced red project youngsters.

 

[big medicine]

A cockerel from the silver laced hens with the light male, to help clean up residual vulture hock issues, and hopefully improve tail spread. Shows a bib of chest lacing, and a little on the wings, but pretty decent type I think.

 

[Summer98]

The silver laced are neat.

 

[big medicine]

Quote:
Thank you, they're coming along. An ongoing process of working on type and size, (as with most serious breeders). The vulture hock issue, (a gift from their cochin heritage), had been getting steadily less common, with fewer incidents each generation. To the point I thought I was near ridding it completely from my flock. I suspect a male I used a couple years ago must have been carrying a copy of this recessive trate, and a few chicks popped up with it again. Which also means that at least one female still carried it as well. And unfortunatly there are likely others that may have recieved a hidden copy from this male. Unfortunately this was also the time I was convinced/decided to release some eggs/birds out to other folks. While not a major setback, it does take a little discretion, and discipline picking your breeders to breed away from this fault, which I'm not convinced everybody who now has them, or some of the other new color projects for that matter, are making a high enough priority, in my opinion. Did not intend to go on a rant here, but wanted to explain why I did not sale any silver laced eggs/chicks/birds this past year, and why I outcrossed to light Brahma to address this, and also hopefully pick up some additional size and width as a bonus.

I take it you prefer the silver laced, over the blue laced reds ?

Gary

 

[Wimberleytexaschick]

Gary,

All your birds are great and I appreciate the work to eliminate the vulture hocks. Out of 14 silvers for me this year, one had the vulture hocks and he has already been culled. I personally LOVE my Silver Laced Hens the best, but prefer my Blue Laced Red Rooster over the Silver roosters. Either way, they ALL look beautiful roaming my backyard and I am thankful that you and Dan took the time to develop the laced Brahmas, they are amazing. Merry Christmas!