Brahma Thread

[Shark Akhrrana]

My chicks are getting big. What do you think of this little guy.

And these are my babies now

Sorry I have not been keeping up with things here.

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

yes,Dirt Farmer, you are correct. BUT the key here is "commercial flocks".... as in those large factory farms with flocks of hundreds, or sometimes over a thousand birds per building. But if you are talking about small sustainable farms raising heritage breeds of poultry then the finding of these "studies" do not apply.
We raise only heritage breeds here on our farm, and they do better on pasture than in confinement. We raise them all natural & in smaller numbers than tose commercial operations, and they are moved to large pens & allowed out on the pasture starting at age of 5-7 weeks old.
We do vaccinate for Mareks & LT as those are 2 diseases common to our area.
As for predator control we use 6 ft. high fencing around their whole pasture & have 2 livestock guardian dogs, a Great Pyrenees & a Belgium Malinois. .As long as the chickens stay INSIDE the fence line they are safe. Birds that habitually fly over the fences?? I usually start naming them "fox bait."...... LOL
Just as there is more than one way to skin cats, there is more than one way to raise poultry. It all comes down to what breeds & method works best for you & of course what the intended purpose for your flock...... personally, the welfare of my chickens is my main concern. I have used just about every system there is and this is what works best for me.... pasture raised, grass fed chickens are happier & healtiher chickens, in my book....

I agree we have noticed the chickens that stay outside and or in chicken tractors which I still count as freerange because I move them every 2-3 days as needed seem to do so much better, they are healthier and happier. Our Blue Columbian Brahmas laid only a few eggs and then no more for 45 days, we moved them to their new coop(old plastic playhouse) and large 30 x 30 fenced lot and they started laying eggs on the second day. They wanted fresh air. They were in no way cramped inside they had a well lit and fairly large condo 6 ft x 15 ft but it was meant to be temporary and they obviously didn't like it.

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

Our Buff Brahma Bantams finally laid their first egg yesterday after 10 months but she broke it.

 

[Nikki816]

How much variation is there to buff Brahma chicks when they start to feather in? Some of my babies look almost laced on the wings. These are my first buffs from hatched eggs, so I'm probably over thinking (they look kinda similar to my dark hatchery babies from last year)

lightest chick

darkest colored chick

 

[Nikki816]

This is a mid colored chick (I have 8 total)

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

Does anyone use lime in your barn or layer coops or even breeder coops?

 

[Apdeb]

I use sweet pdz under shavings for my buffs

 

[TNBEARCHICK]

whats that?

 

[Apdeb]

Sweet pdz is a horse stall freshener
With the chickens it helps harden the droppings and eliminates all odor.

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

I have these 2 Brahma Icelandic pullets. I guess this means they are a cross breed? Can anyone tell me what their markings are called? They are about 27 weeks old now.