Brahma Thread

[CarolinaHen]

Yes, there is difference between "show quality" Heritage breeds & production or "pet quality"birds in the poultry world. The purpose of the APA from it's beginning, as with any livestock association, was to set the "standard" for every purebred, heritage breed. Tim is correct, education is the key to understanding the differences. A dedicated breeder is passionate about breeding only quality stock that adheres strictly to that standard. No offense is ever intended when we "dedicated Brahma breeders" start to converse about our birds. It is more than a hobby for us, it is our life's work. That is what makes us so passionate about our Majestic Ones.
Dee Mejstrik, ABC district 5 director.

I have a question regarding this. I showed dogs for many years and have only recently contemplated showing chickens. I have been reading up on quite a few threads about "project birds" and people crossing with other breeds to improve color/size/etc. In the dog world if you cross breeds you have a mix and not a purebred. That dog cannot be shown. Could someone explain to me how that works in the poultry world please? It seems to me that people are showing and breeding crosses and mixes and calling them purebred. I'm so confused!!

ETA: I'm not talking about the differences in pet quality vs show quality. I am assuming that differentiation is mostly determined by the SOP.

 

[Dirt Farmer]

I have a question regarding this. I showed dogs for many years and have only recently contemplated showing chickens. I have been reading up on quite a few threads about "project birds" and people crossing with other breeds to improve color/size/etc. In the dog world if you cross breeds you have a mix and not a purebred. That dog cannot be shown. Could someone explain to me how that works in the poultry world please? It seems to me that people are showing and breeding crosses and mixes and calling them purebred. I'm so confused!!

ETA: I'm not talking about the differences in pet quality vs show quality. I am assuming that differentiation is mostly determined by the SOP.

Chickens are Standard bred. You probably will not find the term purebred in the SOP. In theory a chicken need only conform to the distinguishing characteristics of the breed. The APA does not register animals or keep geneologies. Personally I think there is wisdom in this approach. In practice, it takes a skilled breeder and many generations of work to perform a cross and actually come up with improvement. They've done some genetic testing of Standard breed poultry and found that in fact different lines do vary with regard to their genetics somewhat. In the poultry world there are only Standard bred chickens or chickens. My Gold Brahma are not technically Standard bred, because there is no official color description. (Correct me if I'm wrong DEEINIOWA.) They are bred to the shape description and therefore can rightfully be called Brahma and shown, but can place no higher than best of variety.

 

[AlpineButterfly]

Thanks for posting the pic! I love the graph too.

You're welcome. Those are her first five eggs (the first data on the graph), but you get the idea of size compared to the golf ball.

 

[dak]

Yes, there is difference between "show quality" Heritage breeds & production or "pet quality"birds in the poultry world. The purpose of the APA from it's beginning, as with any livestock association, was to set the "standard" for every purebred, heritage breed. Tim is correct, education is the key to understanding the differences. A dedicated breeder is passionate about breeding only quality stock that adheres strictly to that standard. No offense is ever intended when we "dedicated Brahma breeders" start to converse about our birds. It is more than a hobby for us, it is our life's work. That is what makes us so passionate about our Majestic Ones.
Dee Mejstrik, ABC district 5 director.

Welcome to a fellow ABC member!

 

[CarolinaHen]

Chickens are Standard bred. You probably will not find the term purebred in the SOP. In theory a chicken need only conform to the distinguishing characteristics of the breed. The APA does not register animals or keep geneologies. Personally I think there is wisdom in this approach. In practice, it takes a skilled breeder and many generations of work to perform a cross and actually come up with improvement. They've done some genetic testing of Standard breed poultry and found that in fact different lines do vary with regard to their genetics somewhat. In the poultry world there are only Standard bred chickens or chickens. My Gold Brahma are not technically Standard bred, because there is no official color description. (Correct me if I'm wrong DEEINIOWA.) They are bred to the shape description and therefore can rightfully be called Brahma and shown, but can place no higher than best of variety.

Thanks for the clarification! The term standard bred instead of purebred makes perfect sense as to why you can out cross. I see a lot of people posting about "purebred" chickens and was so confused.

 

[Tammy N]

Hey all I am going CRAZY i just bought chicken feed and i am chickenless

Can i store the feed ? or should i just give it away ?

I wanna Buy eggs so if any of you ahve eggs come spring let me know I promise NO one will walk onto my property and I wont be getting any more chickens other then from 1 person
so who sells Dark Brahma Eggs anyone ?

looking for 2 dozen to get me back started

I am adding i want Large Foul Not Bantams and perferably from show chickens

 

[familypendragon]

OMG! I am drooling here http://www.rarebreedauctions.com/au...-100-english-isabel-brahmas&auction_id=116102

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

OMG! I am drooling here http://www.rarebreedauctions.com/au...-100-english-isabel-brahmas&auction_id=116102

they are very petty, but theri heads look very small for brahmas

 

[Sjisty]

Plus those vulture hocks would take some serious work breeding out.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Plus those vulture hocks would take some serious work breeding out.

I thought I saw VHs, but I wasnt sure. They also seem to be on the smaller side, but they are still pretty young