Brahma Thread

[kowgurl62]

All I have in the bator right now are Marans eggs. Just set those a week ago, and haven't seen any development as of yesterday. I just got a trio of buff brahmas bantams, and they haven't laid yet because being in a new place. The buff bantams are the only Brahmas I'm going to concentrate on right now(if they'll start laying) as I need to concentrate on getting better Marans flock built up.

 

[dak]

Just Lights hatching so far. Buffs should pick up soon. Trimmed beaks, toenails, vents...sprayed frontline under wings on the Buffs last Saturday. Have four breeding trios of buffs set up. Set 25 light eggs last Sat...only 10 developing yesterday? I'm rotating males to possibly improve light fertility. I should still have all the lights I need by the end of March.

Hows everyone else's breeding/hatching season going?


Tim

Light pullets were starting to lay, but they were in with Buff cockerels so I took them out and put in the Light cock. There are some fertile eggs in the incubator, but I won't know who the daddy is til hatch. May have accidently made some Buff x Lights. If so I will cull the males and grow out the pullets for curiosity sake.

The Buffs have given me a grand total of 3 eggs, I will set those today.

 

[Tim63]

Clare, I hope Gary will clarify or correct me. But, i think the cross males may have value in the breeding pen. Of course provding they are of superior type. I THINK I heard somewher they would throw 50% of each variety no matter the color(buff or light) female? I could be WAY off. Your cross females could be excellent, you will just have issues for some time in generations to come. I think the occasional Buff males with white in the wing I get, are from Greg doing the cross SEVERAL years back. It does not show in the females.

My Buff lay is picking up, I'm using three K's. That should help with the fertility.

Tim

 

[Tim63]

All I have in the bator right now are Marans eggs. Just set those a week ago, and haven't seen any development as of yesterday. I just got a trio of buff brahmas bantams, and they haven't laid yet because being in a new place. The buff bantams are the only Brahmas I'm going to concentrate on right now(if they'll start laying) as I need to concentrate on getting better Marans flock built up.

Smart to specialize. Who did you get your Buffs from?

Tim

 

[dak]

Clare, I hope Gary will clarify or correct me. But, i think the cross males may have value in the breeding pen. Of course provding they are of superior type. I THINK I heard somewher they would throw 50% of each variety no matter the color(buff or light) female? I could be WAY off. Your cross females could be excellent, you will just have issues for some time in generations to come. I think the occasional Buff males with white in the wing I get, are from Greg doing the cross SEVERAL years back. It does not show in the females.

My Buff lay is picking up, I'm using three K's. That should help with the fertility.

Tim

I already have white in the wing on several of the Buff males I hatched last year, and you know where they came from. The Light pullets from your line have more head than the Buffs so maybe if I get a Buff pullet or two, I could add them to the Buff line. Alot easier to keep a couple experimental pullets than cockerels.

 

[snowbird]

I have more experience in breeding large numbers of Brahma in Bantam and Large Fowl than most. I have made the light and Buff and also the Dark and light cross.

Breeding the Light and Buff for better quality Buff you would use a Buff Male over light female. the female will be mostly Buff colored, the male will be Culls and should not be used in any serious breeding program.

The breeding of this cross for better Light you would use a light Male over Buff female and here the female will be a nice light color. All male should be culled as they will be white and yellow colored. Breed the pullets back to a pure light male, most of these will be correct in color.

Use a male in the color you would like to have the young be at hatch. I have never had white in the buff wings in this cross. The white in wing feathers should be culled if anyone is serious about getting rid of the white.

It does make a difference if you do not use the correct male in crossing. Always use a male in the color you are trying to improve.

 

[kowgurl62]

Smart to specialize. Who did you get your Buffs from?

Tim

Rust from Texas. I also happened to order chicks from two different people before I got the trio, so about mid-march I'll be up to my eyeballs in chicks. My plan for that is to grow the different lines out, pick out which ones I like and get a couple of breeding trios. The trio I have now is ok I think, type-wise they're good, one female has a better head than the other, the male looks very nice, but I still have a LOT to learn. So I am hoping there will be lots of people bringing some Brahmas to the Alabama Chicken and EGG festival show in April...yes?????

 

[Tammy N]

Quote: What do you mean by Pet Quality ? do you mean hatchery stock?

 

[Tammy N]

I have 10 eggs under a Hen YEAH .... She started sitting on friday last week saterday i grabbed some Brahma eggs and exchanged her eggs when she finally got her butt off them she is worse then a vampire or a nurse she does not care where she draws blood LOL anyway she is sitting crossing fingers for my dark brahma Babies

 

[JDchicks]

I order an assortment of brahmas eggs last year and I now have a dark Brahma roo with 2 light hens and 1 buff hen.

Hens have been laying for a couple of months and the buff is now glued to her cubby hole on the eggs.

Curious as to what colors I may see/get.

Any ideas?