Brahma Thread

[TNBEARCHICK]

Hey Tim, This is great info. It's exactly what us newbies have been asking for. Sure, all the birds are pretty to the ill informed like myself, but these pics. really leave no doubt. This is what I've been waiting for! Thank you!

ME TOO

 

[dak]

There is one of these males that is head and shoulders better than the rest.

I like the second Neff cockerel maybe because he reminds me of my Neff cocks. I was told by Darlene that her stuff does not cross well with John's. Have you considered maintaining them as separate lines?

2011 cockerel


2012 cockerel

 

[chickee]

Just from the photos the bottom Neff bird appears to have a better tail. I don't really like the low angle the top bird is holding his tail and it looks a bit narrow. The bottom Neff bird's wings are a bit low but i suspect that is because he is trying to balance on the roost.

I love the tail on the top bird from Darlene. His wings appear a bit low/loose. The bottom bird has better wing carriage, but may be a bit narrow in the head.

Its all about putting the pieces together. For example I will mate females that are a bit narrow in the tail but excellent up front with a male bird with an super wide blown tail. Or vice versa.

The bottom male from John's line is my favorite of the four.


My birds (Light and Buff0 are basically a combination of Neff and Spence/Williams lines combined. The male birds I use in my buffs are more heavily Neff influenced. As a matter of fact I still have a cock bird that is pure Neff. Hes a bit old for much fertility now. I still rely heavily on his sons and grandsons in the breeding pens.

Have you considered crossing the two lines? Sometimes it works, sometimes not. You could do maybe one pen with a male from one line and females from the other. Or one pen from each line and one each crossing males from one line onto females from the other.

Also, don't get too hung up on small stuff like a bird a bit too heavy. ALL of the birds that win are too heavy. Not saying it right, just true. Greg Williams told me Bob Arbuckle told him, "If you can't be better, be BIGGER". That is a heavy dose of opinion, but one I share.

I tend to fixate on combs also. They count very little as far as points go. Remember, its the overall package, there is no such thing as a perfect bird. TYPE is paramount.

Tim

Wow, that was a super critique Tim!! Thanks SO much! I totally agree with your assessment! I feel good that I am on the right tract.

That is funny that you fixate on combs also. I am greatly influenced by color too, so I have to make myself look past that and go for better type.

You read my mind

I planned on crossing the two lines. I have 6 Neff line pullets, and 2 Hobb's line pullets. I am keeping the best rooster from each line to breed to the pullets of the other line. Funny thing is that I hatched two batches of eggs and 8 hatched in each batch, but I got the complete opposite results. Where as I got 6 pullets and 2 roosters in my first hatch of Neff line chicks, I got 6 roosters and 2 pullets out of the second hatch of Hobb's line chicks.

I do have a question about one of my Neff line pullets. She has a black spot on her side. Should I cull her?

 

[chickee]

I like the second Neff cockerel maybe because he reminds me of my Neff cocks. I was told by Darlene that her stuff does not cross well with John's. Have you considered maintaining them as separate lines?

2011 cockerel


2012 cockerel

Ooooh! LOVE that 2011 Cockerel!!

Shoot

I don't want to breed brother to sister

Guess I will see what I get mixing the two lines. If I don't like what I get then I will just have to order more eggs. Darn . . what a shame . . hehe . . . always looking for a reason to hatch more chicks

 

[dak]

Ooooh! LOVE that 2011 Cockerel!!

Shoot

I don't want to breed brother to sister

Guess I will see what I get mixing the two lines. If I don't like what I get then I will just have to order more eggs. Darn . . what a shame . . hehe . . . always looking for a reason to hatch more chicks

I doubt that the chicks you hatched are full brother and sister. It is likely she/he maintains multiple breeding pens.

 

[Tim63]

Like I said it may or may not work out. Thats why I would try and do both if you have enough birds. Since you only have two of Darlene's pullets maybe you should maintain that line seperatly at least one more hatch. You could do two trios of pure Neff, and just try one pen with a Hobbs K over the two other Neff Ps. You can see if it works out while maintaining the two lines.

It depends on how big and where the spot is. Hows her type? Can you post a pic?

I did not mean to indicate color is not important. IT IS! Type should always come first in my opinion.

Tim

 

[Tim63]

Heres a TANK I hatched a few years back.

 

[tammyfarms]

Sorry to just jump in, I hope you all don't mind. I purchased three Light Brahama chicks about 3 1/2 months ago. They have become my favorite chickens as they are the most friendly, lovable chicks I have had. The run to the fence every time I come out, let me pick them up and snuggle with me when I pet them. None of the other breeds I have are as tame or petable. I am sure they are not show quality, but they are definately pet quality and are beautiful to me.

I have a couple of questions. They have been very slow to show any interest in the trainer roost I put in their coop. It is a flat 2x4 stacked on two pieces of 2.x4 so it is only 10" off the ground and is 3 1/2" wide. It is all screwed together so it is stable. They are just starting to use it and still seem a bit wobbly when on it. Is this typical? At what point should I raise it, or should I raise it? They are in a seperate coop from my other chickens and because they are so docile, will probably stay seperate.

Second question, at what point will they start laying? I have heard they are slow to develop so it could be longer than standard large fowl. I am not in a hurry, I just want to have an idea. They are large fowl and not bantams.

Thanks for your help! BYC is such a wonderful resource.

 

[Vickis Girls]

Can someone please tell me just what those "designer Brahma's" are? Did they cross a Cochin with a Brahma? I mean if only light, dark, and buff are recognized, then what are the others? Tim,if you're the one answering this, don't risk getting spanked again

Also, if the buff is the latest one to be recognized, then is it a genetic mutation(in a good way), or was it humans messing around?
I have lots more questions, we'll see how this goes first.

 

[chickee]

I doubt that the chicks you hatched are full brother and sister. It is likely she/he maintains multiple breeding pens.

All of the Neff chicks were hatched from a trio purchased directly from John Neff by my BYC friend in Michigan. The Hobb's line chicks (according to pictures) look like they came from a larger flock of hens and multiple roosters. I am afraid to breed closely related birds from past experiences hatching chicks from breeders that ended up with hereditary defects. I am a softy and it is terribly upsetting to me when this happens

I really appreciate your input though