Brahma Thread

[Vallee]

I started with Light Brahmas I ordered from Ideal if I recall. Most of them died; never did know why as I have had good luck with ordering chicks in the past. Anyway, I LOVE the Light Brahmas and so couldn't resist when I had the rare opportunity to buy Gold Partridge Brahmas. I have been shocked and pleased to see the size to which the Partridge Brahmas have grown. None of my hatchery birds even came close to the size of these gentle giants! I wonder if it is anything to do with ordering from a hatchery where 'you get what you get' vs. from a breeder or whether Partridge variety has been bred to be bigger? Does anyone have really large Light Brahma's?

 

[big medicine]

I would hazard it probably has everything to do with hatchery versus breeder stock. And even then a lot of the newer colored Brahma projects still need considerable work to match the size and width of the good exibition breed lights.

 

[madamwlf]

Hi, I need some help. I have some Blue Columbian Brahmas that are 6-7 months old pictured below. Could someone tell me if any of them look like roosters? I don't think I have any roosters at all. There is one splash columbian brahma in there too. Thank you!

 

[big medicine]

Can't say I am picking up on any cockerel looks in the crowd. Not a biggie though, If it was me, I would go out and find a top notch light male to put over them. Will help improve size and width in the next generation, while still producing the same 50% blue chicks with the blue pullets, and upping it to 100% blue out of the splash pullet. I believe I would lose the squirrely feathered one.

 

[madamwlf]

Yeah, I was wondering about her feathers. They just don't look right at all. Thank you for the info. Finding a blue columbian brahma rooster will be next to impossible to good to know on the light brahma.

 

[speckledhen]

I've had the worst of the hatchery stock when I started my own flock years ago. Almost every one of those hens died from internal laying. The next year after starting with my original hens, I got two hatchery Brahmas, same hatchery. The Lt. Brahma died last year at age 5 1/2, having been laying just a couple of weeks prior to her death from what I believe to be cancer.

The Buff Brahma I got at the same time is now 6 1/2 yrs old. She hasn't laid an egg in over a year and now is showing her age in her face and occasionally has issues with a sluggish crop. They are without a doubt the best hatchery stock I've had, at least in longevity and health-wise. Here is my Caroline today, sweet old lady she is, in with other old ladies in a special rooster-free coop (they've earned it). I'd love more Brahmas in the future if I could find some affordable hatching eggs from a disease free flock.

 

[big medicine]

Yeah, I was wondering about her feathers. They just don't look right at all. Thank you for the info. Finding a blue columbian brahma rooster will be next to impossible to good to know on the light brahma.

The last good blue columbian Brahma Cockerel I saw was early this spring, going across the field behind our place, in the jaws of a coyote.



Found this shot when he was pretty young, guy in the back.

 

[madamwlf]

Oh no, sorry to hear that. I can't believe out of 5 chicks I ended up with 5 pullets. And no one has even started laying yet.

 

[big medicine]

Beats five cockerels.

 

[madamwlf]

LOL, I completely agree with that.