Brahma Thread

[OleMissChic]

Hello you Brahama lovers

.

I have just decided to get some Brahma hatching eggs, but are turning out to be quite hard to tack down.
I will only be raising a few chicks ( ornamental ) and raising a few roosters for the pot.

Are Brahma's even good for cooking? I understand they are dual and are huge birds.
Also, what age would a rooster be ready for processing?

Thanks is advance, Lucas.

Welcome to my world - trying to find quality hatching eggs! lol I've only had one Brahma cockerel in the freezer. He was sizable and the ones I had did seem to get big. Unfortunately a predator got all but the one cockerel. Good luck trying to find what you are looking for. Finding good, responsive breeders seems to be difficult across poultry in general.

 

[BGMatt]

Welcome to my world - trying to find quality hatching eggs! lol I've only had one Brahma cockerel in the freezer. He was sizable and the ones I had did seem to get big. Unfortunately a predator got all but the one cockerel. Good luck trying to find what you are looking for. Finding good, responsive breeders seems to be difficult across poultry in general.

One of the issues is most good, responsible breeders don't sell eggs. Which makes a lot of sense for both buyer and seller. As a seller I don't like selling hatching eggs because I can't guarantee people will get great birds out of it (and no-one can really, even the best breeder doesn't get all great birds from every hatch) and I don't want inferior birds out there with my name attached. If I sell someone birds they're going to get good quality animals. Many won't sell super young chicks for these same reasons.

As a buyer, good grief there's a TON of reasons to not buy eggs. It's expensive, shipping is unreliable, they might be old, they might not hatch, they might be infertile, if they do hatch you don't know how many if any will be up to snuff, no idea what male/female ratio would be.

If you're serious about wanting to get into any breed, you're way way way better off purchasing juvenile or adult birds.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Plus kind of like what was already stated you will know the quality as they get older.

 

[OleMissChic]

One of the issues is most good, responsible breeders don't sell eggs. Which makes a lot of sense for both buyer and seller. As a seller I don't like selling hatching eggs because I can't guarantee people will get great birds out of it (and no-one can really, even the best breeder doesn't get all great birds from every hatch) and I don't want inferior birds out there with my name attached. If I sell someone birds they're going to get good quality animals. Many won't sell super young chicks for these same reasons.

As a buyer, good grief there's a TON of reasons to not buy eggs. It's expensive, shipping is unreliable, they might be old, they might not hatch, they might be infertile, if they do hatch you don't know how many if any will be up to snuff, no idea what male/female ratio would be.

If you're serious about wanting to get into any breed, you're way way way better off purchasing juvenile or adult birds.

I can definitely understand the reasoning that once eggs are out of someone's hands they lose control of quality but, to your point, even if I buy superior started birds and hatch their eggs I will have the same issues of not all birds being great quality.

Part of being a responsible breeder, for me, is bonding with my babies during the hatching part...the daily egg turning and care. So in that way it's a personal experience and a major part of my enjoyment of poultry. People I sell to have commented I have the nicest/gentlest birds they've ever had. Another very important aspect of this is I only feed my chickens, non processed, Non GMO, Non Soy, Organic feed from birth (and free range, of course), so I want my birds started on only the best and I don't have that control if someone else is raising them.

When I sell my birds I always send them to their new homes with enough quality feed to ease their transitions.

I think one can argue there are also reasons not to buy shipped birds. The last time I did one cockerel arrived with a broken leg. That is a guilt I don't want to relive. And shipping is expensive as well.

That being said, I see both sides of this and I suppose will have to network to find someone willing to let me come to their farm to pick up. I'm willing to do what I need to satisfy a quality breeder and my own needs as well.

 

[BGMatt]

I can definitely understand the reasoning that once eggs are out of someone's hands they lose control of quality but, to your point, even if I buy superior started birds and hatch their eggs I will have the same issues of not all birds being great quality.

Part of being a responsible breeder, for me, is bonding with my babies during the hatching part...the daily egg turning and care. So in that way it's a personal experience and a major part of my enjoyment of poultry. People I sell to have commented I have the nicest/gentlest birds they've ever had. Another very important aspect of this is I only feed my chickens, non processed, Non GMO, Non Soy, Organic feed from birth (and free range, of course), so I want my birds started on only the best and I don't have that control if someone else is raising them.

When I sell my birds I always send them to their new homes with enough quality feed to ease their transitions.

I think one can argue there are also reasons not to buy shipped birds. The last time I did one cockerel arrived with a broken leg. That is a guilt I don't want to relive. And shipping is expensive as well.

That being said, I see both sides of this and I suppose will have to network to find someone willing to let me come to their farm to pick up. I'm willing to do what I need to satisfy a quality breeder and my own needs as well.

True, but at least you'll have SOME good birds to start with. With hatching eggs you might not even get that. I do understand though, I had to resort to it this past year because I wanted a specific variety of a specific breed at a specific time, and it was literally the only option even with an extensive network of contacts.

Shipping live birds is expensive, but by the time you factor in the comparative cost of eggs, low hatch rate, raising up what does hatch to culling age, and then what's left to breed with, it ends up saving you literally hundreds, not to mention a year's worth of time.

Bob Anderson of Blue Hour Poultry (look it up on Facebook) has excellent Brahmas and does sell and ship eggs. I know he was selling Darks last year, he has Lights, but not sure if he's selling them yet.

 

[OleMissChic]

True, but at least you'll have SOME good birds to start with. With hatching eggs you might not even get that. I do understand though, I had to resort to it this past year because I wanted a specific variety of a specific breed at a specific time, and it was literally the only option even with an extensive network of contacts.

Shipping live birds is expensive, but by the time you factor in the comparative cost of eggs, low hatch rate, raising up what does hatch to culling age, and then what's left to breed with, it ends up saving you literally hundreds, not to mention a year's worth of time.

Bob Anderson of Blue Hour Poultry (look it up on Facebook) has excellent Brahmas and does sell and ship eggs. I know he was selling Darks last year, he has Lights, but not sure if he's selling them yet.

I hear ya! I've been lucky with my hatches. Only one "breeder" was clueless on how to ship and I only hatched 6 from 14 which is a terrible rate.

I'd be happy with started birds from someone that cares for their chickens as well as I do but I think I'll try to visit a show or something to meet people...

Thank you for the referral and your advice - I'll go like his page now!

 

[i-love-my-honey]

I got my first chicks yesterday - newly hatched. Included in the mix is one Brahma. Today I found her with blood on her foot and these dark things on the base of her foot down/feathers. I imagine they are the first parts of real feathers and maybe she or another chick was pecking at them, but I have no idea in reality. Should I be concerned?

[/IMG]

 

[CackleJoy]

Hello you Brahama lovers

.

I have just decided to get some Brahma hatching eggs, but are turning out to be quite hard to tack down.
I will only be raising a few chicks ( ornamental ) and raising a few roosters for the pot.

Are Brahma's even good for cooking? I understand they are dual and are huge birds.
Also, what age would a rooster be ready for processing?

Thanks is advance, Lucas.

I love my DB's. We only have one pair. It is SOOOO hard to find them! I finally cooped with another group of people and am getting some from Urch. I don't have the Urch information. Perhaps someone can share with you. I don't know if they sell eggs but the day old chicks are a good price. More important, I'm told Urch has good quality LF DB's. I cannot wait to add to our flock! Been trying for over 6 months now...

 

[bumpercarr]

True, but at least you'll have SOME good birds to start with. With hatching eggs you might not even get that. I do understand though, I had to resort to it this past year because I wanted a specific variety of a specific breed at a specific time, and it was literally the only option even with an extensive network of contacts.

Shipping live birds is expensive, but by the time you factor in the comparative cost of eggs, low hatch rate, raising up what does hatch to culling age, and then what's left to breed with, it ends up saving you literally hundreds, not to mention a year's worth of time.

Bob Anderson of Blue Hour Poultry (look it up on Facebook) has excellent Brahmas and does sell and ship eggs. I know he was selling Darks last year, he has Lights, but not sure if he's selling them yet.

I looked him up on facebook, his birds are absolutely gorgeous!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Quote: Well I have been talking to some people and they advised against Braham's for the pot, especially in my case, the Aus standard Brahma's.
So I will only be getting a few hens now and have to try another breed for my table project.

Quote: DB's being Dark Brahma'? ( Sorry not a Brahma expert.lol. )
It does seem that way ( even over here in Aus ). I have managed to find a few people that have them but their hens won't be laying for another few months!!!
It's also real hard to track down certain colours.
As I said before I am from Australia so am unfamiliar with Urch?

Good luck with your Brahma's

. They had better be good for a 6 month wait.lol.