Brahma Thread

[BGMatt]

All my chicks are hatchery stock so I suppose none of mine will be either. Now; what are the chances of getting a somewhat good bird from hatchery? And if I were to breed a quality one (not that I have one) with this hatchery stock. How much improvement should I expect?

As Tim said about 1 in 1,000 or more. I do know a few folks that have taken hatchery stock and over the course of 5-10 years turned them into something worthwhile. But it's a long project, a LOT of hatching and almost as much culling. You're time and money ahead in a relatively easy to find breed like Brahmas to start with good stock from a reputable breeder.

 

[big medicine]

Yep, what them guys said.

The old saying, " It doesn't cost any more to feed a good bird than it does a mutt ." , (not that I'm calling your bird a mutt) And if you really look at your outlay over time, the original cost of your stock is miniscule compared to housing, feed, and so forth.

 

[Helen in the Desert]

What they said

 

[Tim63]

A couple of this years cockerels I kind of like.

Tim

 

[BGMatt]

Good grief the width of body is silly (in a good way). Nice looking birds.

 

[Tim63]

Thank you Matt, I go for width. Wide head, wide back, wide tail, wide feathers.

Tim

 

[Apdeb]

Tim what do you feed them mine is 4 mos old?

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Go get them!

OEGBs are great, too. I happily would have gone to Indy but DH would slaughter me for going so far LOL. This was someone selling out of some bantams in Chillicothe, OH. Beautiful birds! Going to try to post pics tomorrow to see how the trained eyes here consider their type.

I should of when I was there! but im not driving another 2 hr round trip especially since I was just there lol.

 

[Shark Akhrrana]

About .001%. If you want high quality exhibition birds, you need to start out with good birds from a good line. Hatchery birds are fine for backyard birds. Show birds are a different animal.

Tim

As Tim said about 1 in 1,000 or more. I do know a few folks that have taken hatchery stock and over the course of 5-10 years turned them into something worthwhile. But it's a long project, a LOT of hatching and almost as much culling. You're time and money ahead in a relatively easy to find breed like Brahmas to start with good stock from a reputable breeder.

Yep, what them guys said.

The old saying, " It doesn't cost any more to feed a good bird than it does a mutt ." , (not that I'm calling your bird a mutt)   And if you really look at your outlay over time, the original cost of your stock is miniscule compared to housing, feed, and so forth.

I was only curious. When I got them I was not thinking of showing or anything. But the longer I am here the more I'm inclined towards doing that. But I also don't want to get rid of my new chicks.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I was only curious. When I got them I was not thinking of showing or anything. But the longer I am here the more I'm inclined towards doing that. But I also don't want to get rid of my new chicks.

You could keep them as a layer flock and or pets and then start another flock of show birds.