Brahma Thread

[brahmabreeder]

Just out of curiosity how do you LF breeders feed your birds? Like protein % wise. I was told to let them eat 24/7 until they are 14 months old and then cut back. What do you all feed birds during breeding time versus show time?

 

[Apdeb]

Im feeding my 7 month old showbirds 22 percent blue seal home fresh along with oats free choice!!! I also give some type of meat 2 a week!

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Maybe a reader of this thread can help me? A few months ago, I got a young pair of bantam Dark Brahmas from a friend of mine who got the chicks from Jimmy Rust. I had turned a blind eye to it and am preparing for a show, sent a pic of the pair to a friend of mine who pointed out the vulture hocks. I overlooked this because of their exquisite feathering. These hocks look like a second set of wings! They are huge! Now all I have is a pair of beautifully colored culls. I really like this variety of bantams and am looking for a good breeder that does not have this genetic failure in their birds. I also got eggs from another breeder in Texas and these were obvious crosses. Only 1 bird hatched and it had the wrong color beak and legs and the hen feathering was off. I don't want to have to go to a hatchery for good show birds.
Anyone?
BTW... My friend had no idea the birds he got from Jimmy Rust had vulture hocks until his son entered them in their County 4-H fair this summer, and all were DQed. Sad.

 

[brahmabreeder]

I would just wait until the show. Once you get there look for dark brahmas and see who does well. Then just talk to them about getting some stock. I read that retired breeding stock is where you can get the best birds. Obviously you wouldn't want to go past about two years old on hens but males you could go a little longer. This birds are generally the best of their birds( makes sense since they used them to produce their own stock ). You could go with younger stock but it costs more. Just a thought. BTW for LF darks you would want to get them from Diana Delaney.

 

[Tim63]

Maybe a reader of this thread can help me? A few months ago, I got a young pair of bantam Dark Brahmas from a friend of mine who got the chicks from Jimmy Rust. I had turned a blind eye to it and am preparing for a show, sent a pic of the pair to a friend of mine who pointed out the vulture hocks. I overlooked this because of their exquisite feathering. These hocks look like a second set of wings! They are huge! Now all I have is a pair of beautifully colored culls. I really like this variety of bantams and am looking for a good breeder that does not have this genetic failure in their birds. I also got eggs from another breeder in Texas and these were obvious crosses. Only 1 bird hatched and it had the wrong color beak and legs and the hen feathering was off. I don't want to have to go to a hatchery for good show birds.
Anyone?
BTW... My friend had no idea the birds he got from Jimmy Rust had vulture hocks until his son entered them in their County 4-H fair this summer, and all were DQed. Sad.

Jimmy has never sold chicks as far as I know. His dark bantams are about as good as there are. They still require culling. I can't imagine getting TWO birds and expecting them to be show winners. BTW, bantam darks seldom, if ever, go beyond BV. Don't know of another "breeder" in Texas with darks. VHs are rampant in dark bantams. Do your homework and don't run a good man down on a public forum. Maybe you should go to a hatchery for "good show birds". Let us know how that works out for ya???

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Jimmy has never sold chicks as far as I know. His dark bantams are about as good as there are. They still require culling. I can't imagine getting TWO birds and expecting them to be show winners. BTW, bantam darks seldom, if ever, go beyond BV. Don't know of another "breeder" in Texas with darks. VHs are rampant in dark bantams. Do your homework and don't run a good man down on a public forum. Maybe you should go to a hatchery for "good show birds". Let us know how that works out for ya???

No intentions of running a good man down, I did say the birds had exquisite feathering. I knew if I posted folks would want to know where they came from. (and indeed I have received messages about the breeder). I understand that Darks are hard to find good examples of and I never mentioned winning a show, just exhibiting.
I work closely with 4-H kids and we discuss buying good stock all the time. We also discuss genetics and if you have a bird with VH it will continually breed that way and perhaps any breeder needs to add a caveat, buyer beware, out of fairness. That is not "homework", that is honesty. The other "breeder" I got the eggs from, can't recall her name or I would mention it too. Not to run anyone down but to provide true and accurate information.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

I would just wait until the show. Once you get there look for dark brahmas and see who does well. Then just talk to them about getting some stock. I read that retired breeding stock is where you can get the best birds. Obviously you wouldn't want to go past about two years old on hens but males you could go a little longer. This birds are generally the best of their birds( makes sense since they used them to produce their own stock ). You could go with younger stock but it costs more. Just a thought. BTW for LF darks you would want to get them from Diana Delaney.

Thanks for that info. Very informative! I stick with bantams. I messaged our District Brahma club rep, a few weeks ago and she has not replied to my message. Will probably have to email her??

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

I have some nice Dark Brahma Bantams, I would not say show quality as I do not show. Mine are not laying but they came from Dick Hortsman as freebies with my Buff Bantams.

 

[Summer98]

Love this!

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

Yes great pic.