Brahma Thread

[informative]

I was considering mixing Buff Brahmas (BB) with my Buff Orpingtons (BO). Any thoughts on the potential outcomes of this mixing?

Any suggestions on hatcheries that might have good starter quality BB's to draw from for this experiment? Obviously I am not looking for "show bird" attributes but egg laying, meat, behavior and healthy.

 

[jasonquinnryan]

 

[trueblue1]

My 12 buff brahmas are 6 weeks tomorrow. When I bought them at 5 days old I was told they were all pullets. Well I have a feeling 3 of them are actually roosters.

The chick that's closest to the camera is growing his/her feathers at an extremely slower rate than the rest. I've checked to make sure there wasn't any skin insects, there are none. He/she eats, drinks, interacts with the others just fine. And i havent seen him/her picking at itself or any of the others picking at him/her.

So I guess my question:
Is that chick closest to the camera a male or female? He/she has a reddish brown color to it's feathers compared to the chicks that are with him/her on the perch.
Is that normal for his/her feathers to grown at a much slower rate?

 

[Kyzmette]

My 12 buff brahmas are 6 weeks tomorrow. When I bought them at 5 days old I was told they were all pullets. Well I have a feeling 3 of them are actually roosters.

The chick that's closest to the camera is growing his/her feathers at an extremely slower rate than the rest. I've checked to make sure there wasn't any skin insects, there are none. He/she eats, drinks, interacts with the others just fine. And i havent seen him/her picking at itself or any of the others picking at him/her.

So I guess my question:
Is that chick closest to the camera a male or female? He/she has a reddish brown color to it's feathers compared to the chicks that are with him/her on the perch.
Is that normal for his/her feathers to grown at a much slower rate?

I'm definitely not an expert, but that looks more like roo coloration. Hens are buff and roos are a little more orangey.

 

[Sjisty]

Boys can feather in much slower than girls. I believe he's a cockerel.

 

[ocap]

I was considering mixing Buff Brahmas (BB) with my Buff Orpingtons (BO). Any thoughts on the potential outcomes of this mixing?

Any suggestions on hatcheries that might have good starter quality BB's to draw from for this experiment? Obviously I am not looking for "show bird" attributes but egg laying, meat, behavior and healthy.

I got some buff brahmas from Cackle Hatchery and was satisfied until I saw a winning show line.

What part of the world are you located?

 

[kilby]

here are 2 buff bantam brahmas they a 2 weeks old here. They are both very sweet and docile and like being held. Hoping they are both pullets. They will be 3 week on monday so I will do another photoshoot

here are 2 dark brahmas also bantam. They are not as friendly and squack when I try to force my love on them. Their attitude screams roo! they are also 2 weeks here and will get some new pics on monday

really love the look of the light brahmas so maybe next year I might try to find a couple....

Your buff brahmas should go in the pic contest.

 

[daphneysmamma]

Idk if this is the right place for this ? But .. we r considering a large rooster . My 13 yr old would like to show him in Jr. We are thinking maybe the Brahma or jersey giant .. I'm reading that the Brahma tends to be very docile. We have 1 light Brahma pullet now and she don't like to be pet or anything . She's not mean just prefers to b left alone. My others are LF wyandotte and barred rocks. I won't be producing mixed up babies we collect up the eggs but I'm wondering will his size be harmful to the hens I have ? Should he be seperated ? And what are some experiences from u guys with temperment in the roosters .? I don't want a gigantic demon rooster .lol...I want to pet it .haha

 

[bumpercarr]

Idk if this is the right place for this ? But .. we r considering a large rooster . My 13 yr old would like to show him in Jr. We are thinking maybe the Brahma or jersey giant .. I'm reading that the Brahma tends to be very docile. We have 1 light Brahma pullet now and she don't like to be pet or anything . She's not mean just prefers to b left alone. My others are LF wyandotte and barred rocks. I won't be producing mixed up babies we collect up the eggs but I'm wondering will his size be harmful to the hens I have ? Should he be seperated ? And what are some experiences from u guys with temperment in the roosters .? I don't want a gigantic demon rooster .lol...I want to pet it .haha

My 8 month old cockerel is a gentle giant, but he doesn't like to be picked up. Once I've got him, he'll sit quietly on my lap and talk to me, he just isn't fond of me bending over him (maybe reminds him of a predator?). Mine won't go into the coop on their own every night, so usually I have to pick them up and put them in. He doesn't flap like crazy or try to peck, just kind of has a little bit of a tail wave to keep him balance and then talks until I pat his butt to get him in the door. My pullets do not mind being picked up at all.

I really think it is a matter of how you handle them when they are young. If you don't handle them then, it is harder to tame them (at least in my experience). You might try attracting the pullet to you with some goodies and see if she won't eventually let you pick her up. It took my son about 3 days to train our pullets to come when he brings the worms and stand in front of him so that he can pick them up. After he got to the point where he could pick them up, he fed them worms while he was holding them. From that point on, they had figured out that if they were on his lap, they got goodies. We keep a chair in the run specifically for handling the chickens.

Don't have an answer about whether your other hens are too small for the brahma roo. I don't have any experience with that.

Good luck!

 

[CackleJoy]

Idk if this is the right place for this ? But .. we r considering a large rooster . My 13 yr old would like to show him in Jr. We are thinking maybe the Brahma or jersey giant .. I'm reading that the Brahma tends to be very docile. We have 1 light Brahma pullet now and she don't like to be pet or anything . She's not mean just prefers to b left alone. My others are LF wyandotte and barred rocks. I won't be producing mixed up babies we collect up the eggs but I'm wondering will his size be harmful to the hens I have ? Should he be seperated ? And what are some experiences from u guys with temperment in the roosters .? I don't want a gigantic demon rooster .lol...I want to pet it .haha

We had a Dark Brahma that thought he was a puppy. He was so gentle (with us humans, yes he was too big for the smaller hens) and would eat from our hands with delicate precision. He ran free range and was the delight of our yard. Whenever someone would come outside and talk, he'd make a bee line for that person and just kind of hang-out with them. He didn't like a lot of petting but put up with it. Our pullet now, she seeks us out for attention. Treats are good too but she'll sit on a lap and be petted for a very long time. WE LOVE OUR DARK BRAHMA'S! Getting more from Mr. Urch this year, my 12 yr old daughter would like to breed to SOP and show them.