Brahma Thread

[RedRidge]

Quote: Very diplomatically put... and yes, it's a dilemma...
I am not willing to vaccinate and have never had Marek's... but then again... I have not until recently raised more expensive birds.
I will still not vaccinate, but as with all livestock, I tend to cull much heavier than most.

 

[BGMatt]

First I'll state what I do, and then add in a bit of advice in the next paragraph.Vaccination creates weak stock. If people who approach me about buying birds ask me, I tell them I don't vaccinate (or medicate for that matter) for anything and why. If they're too soft to handle things that way in my view they are too soft to be a good steward of the breed and I would prefer the birds go to someone who understands that. Better to lose a sale then to see the birds in uneducated hands. Like you said, the strong survive. Marek's is everywhere, it's just the way it is.

Breed your birds the best you can, vaccinate if you really feel the need but recognize that you're weakening your stock. Which could also reflect poorly on you if they buy stock, breed it and then have unhealthy offspring. If you keep your stock strong, people who buy from you will be able to breed strong healthy stock on their own and be happy they came to you.

 

[RedRidge]

First I'll state what I do, and then add in a bit of advice in the next paragraph.Vaccination creates weak stock. If people who approach me about buying birds ask me, I tell them I don't vaccinate (or medicate for that matter) for anything and why. If they're too soft to handle things that way in my view they are too soft to be a good steward of the breed and I would prefer the birds go to someone who understands that. Better to lose a sale then to see the birds in uneducated hands. Like you said, the strong survive. Marek's is everywhere, it's just the way it is.

Breed your birds the best you can, vaccinate if you really feel the need but recognize that you're weakening your stock. Which could also reflect poorly on you if they buy stock, breed it and then have unhealthy offspring. If you keep your stock strong, people who buy from you will be able to breed strong healthy stock on their own and be happy they came to you.

Well said...

 

[brahmabreeder]

X2

 

[Canieldonrad]

Also keep in mind vaccinated birds can and usually will carry. The vaccine creates a tolerance, it won't prevent the disease from being in the dander.

 

[urbanfarmer101]

All pea combs should have 3 rows...that's how they got their name, they should look like a split pea pod. It doesn't not make them a cock or cockerel.

Cocks and cockerels will still have larger comb and wattles, along with their sex feathering in the hackle and saddle.

Oh dear...I hope mine is not a roo! I have wanted a Brahma for 4 years and finally got one!

 

[Batty5]

Almost 3 months old. Can't tell if it's a Hen or a Roo.



This one is a different chicken. It doesn't have the same tail style as the first one, almost like it doesn't have any feathers on the tail at all.

 

[PancakeShiners]

I'm a novice Brahma breeder. :3 I got a 10% hatch though... Been looking for a breeder of large Buff Brahmas. Apparently, there's one in California, but I can't find him/her.

I might try uploading pictures of my Brahmas tomorrow. Got two Buff hens, one Buff cock, and today I got a Light hen (none show quality)

 

[brahmapapa]

At what age can you really tell sex on dark Brahma - do I have to wait for the wing feathers to start coming in?

that id one of the more telltale indicators.

 

[BGMatt]

L

I'm a novice Brahma breeder. :3 I got a 10% hatch though... Been looking for a breeder of large Buff Brahmas. Apparently, there's one in California, but I can't find him/her.

I might try uploading pictures of my Brahmas tomorrow. Got two Buff hens, one Buff cock, and today I got a Light hen (none show quality)

Let us know if you find one. I have been toying with trying to find some, despite not a lot of space, because I love Brahmas and my younger brother used to raise bantam Buffs so maybe could tempt him to get back into poultry as well. He's still going through the mid-late-20's "chickens aren't needed" phase that I went through.