Brahma Thread

[TNBEARCHICK]

I have yet to eat a Brahma but seriously do they fry well?

 

[bumpercarr]

I have yet to eat a Brahma but seriously do they fry well?

I haven't eaten one either, but they are supposed to be dual purpose....meaning that they are meat and egg chickens. Let me know if you try one

 

[swirler]

I don't know about frying, but young Brahmas definitely roast well.

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

I was referring to frying in particular, I have yet to process a heritage breed that I liked the way they fried.

 

[bumpercarr]

I was referring to frying in particular, I have yet to process a heritage breed that I liked the way they fried.

I haven't had the ability to eat one of my chickens yet. It is certainly coming, my husband will only allow me to have so many. I don't normally fry chicken, I like them in the crockpot. Don't know if I can eat one that I've named though. I'm still trying to face the fact that I bought a calf 8 months ago that is soon to be in the freezer.

 

[CackleJoy]

Bantam Darks have had issues with VHs. Not really and issue with the big birds. Lights are far and away king in the big birds. They typically have much better type than the Darks and Buffs. Big birds type wise: 1 lights, 2 darks, 3 buffs. In the Bantams it is a toss up between the Lights and Buffs, darks are a distant 3rd at the present time.

As far as temperment difference between bantam and large, I would have to say line dependent. My Ks are a bit truculent but typically grow out of it by the time they mature to cock-birds. Females are typically sweet natured.

Tim

Tim, I keep seeing a reference to vulture hocks. This is a new term to me (I'm rather new to Brahma's). What is an vulture hock and how does one avoid it? I have a pair of DB's that I love dearly. Getting some chicks from Urch to try and give my girl some competition. We completely love this breed and I want to do a good job by them.

 

[brahmabreeder]

http://www.fowlvisions.com/?p=1146 Do you see the stiff feathers coming out at the hock? Those are VHs. A vulture hocked bird to a vulture hocked bird(dd) always give a vulture hocked bird. Cull them. A non vulture hocked bird(Dd or DD) could produce VHs if they are carriers. A good way to test this is to pair mate to a VH bird. ANY VH chicks and the non vulture hocked bird is a carrier( Dd ). Cull or just not breed them AND do NOT sell them. No VH chicks and your non VH bird is not a carrier( DD ). With light and buff brahmas there should be no issue with this. I'm not making any promises though.

 

[Tim63]

Here is the definition from the 2011 "Bantam Standard", The SOP definition is similar if not identical, I'm looking at the "Bantam Standard" now though. "VULTURE HOCKS: The stiff quill feathers growing in the thighs, extending backward, straight beyond the hocks." There are also drawings in both books. Brahmabreeder summed it up well.

I was just kind of gently poking fun at the gushy, exuberance on the "delicious fried" statement. We do eat young culls. They are good fried. They taste just like chicken!

Tim

 

[Sjisty]

Notice the feathers coming off of this chick's hock. That's a big no-no!

 

[BGMatt]

Tim, I keep seeing a reference to vulture hocks. This is a new term to me (I'm rather new to Brahma's). What is an vulture hock and how does one avoid it? I have a pair of DB's that I love dearly. Getting some chicks from Urch to try and give my girl some competition. We completely love this breed and I want to do a good job by them.

Bantams or large fowl? I hate to say it because I greatly treasure everything Mr. Urch has done for purebred poultry, but I had ~15 Dark Brahma Bantam chicks from him last year and every single one of them had Vulture Hocks. Just my experience and he may have dealt with the problem, but just a word of caution.