Brahma Thread

[brahmabreeder]

I did order 10 hatching eggs from some one on ebay and they arrived today. I got 12 eggs 1 was broke so now I'm down to eleven. I just need more light brahmas so when I begin breeding these they don't end up being real close related and end up with a bunch of deformed chicks. I will how ever be breeding them and my buff brahmas together. My brahmas are from two different lines so IDK maybe I don't need more lights. At least not right now.

 

[Ksane]

"Inbreeding" doesn't work that way in chickens like in humans. I'm not a breeder so I can't give you specific advice but if the birds you hatch end up nice quality you can breed those together.
ETA: If what you're wanting is a different bloodline there's no way I'd pay $100-$250 plus shipping for a cockerel.

 

[neonbantam]

I picked up 10 buff brahmas this morning from the rochester hatchery! They look so big compared to the 10 bantams that i got!

 

[brahmabreeder]

Well I read online that you can do rotational line breeding. I think this is a good idea. I would much rather breed my own birds and get better birds my self. Just buying really high quality birds doesn't make me feel like I accomplished anything.

 

[Nikkipar]

I agree.... I wouldn't mind adding additional birds for good genes adding in but I want to breed my birds into better quality as opposed to purchasing a bird at that price. I would worry too much that the bird would get sick before I could add it's offspring into my flock. (not the breeder's fault, but chickens do get sick).

 

[brahmabreeder]

Quote: Believe me I have gone through that often enough. My first Brahma roo died before any chicks could be hatched. Thankfully the breeder had another roo I could buy. Plus I bought four OEGB and both the roos died within the first month. The hen died recently. Now I am down to one hen who is getting sold this weekend.

 

[Tim63]

I have another question. How many of you people would spend $100 to $250 on a show quality light brahma? The owners are John & Bev Tenneson and I would have to have it shipped from Washington state to Ohio. Plus how much would shipping be about? They said they used to show birds but are now done showing and one of their mid priced birds they sold won Reserve Grand Champion Asiatic recently. Also John Neff said he does sell hatching eggs but not until next spring. No clue what the price on the eggs would be. So what I want to know is who would wait until spring and get eggs from John Neff and who would just buy one really expensive cockerel?

99% of the people who frequent here don't give a hoot about(or know anything about) show birds. You are asking the wrong crowd. Like i said on a earlier post, quality birds do cost a lot of money. I know several people who have paid that money for large birds, Bantams usually are avaliable for around 50. A quality bird like that would be a foundation for a successful breeding program. I would buy the bird. Kim and Kendra are closer and there birds are as good or better. Mark Petersen is in Minnesota and has the best large lights. He won grand champ largefowl at Crossroads last October. His birds are as high.

Tim

 

[big medicine]

I might suggest folks start with say hatchery stock. Learn the ropes, how to take proper care of birds, how small a crack a coon can squeeze through, and so forth. Let the hatchery birds take the learning curve.

After you have it figured out enough that your birds have not only been surviving, but thriving, for a few years. I would then consider getting qualitity stock. I would suggest suscribing to the Poultry Press, study the photos of the winning Brahmas, ( the Press will also inform you of all upcoming shows, and many breeders), go to any shows within tolerable traveling distance, study how a proper Brahma is put together, ask questions and learn. I would also advise joining the breed club, as it can also be a wealth of information, and a directory to breeders. Being in Ohio you are in fine shape, the Ohio National in Columbus each November is a perfect opportunity to see many quality Brahmas and breeders.

Once you have decided on a breeder and get your brood stock, I would stick within that bloodline. Outcrossing to other lines rarely works out well. Rest assured maintaining and continuing a quality line can be plenty challenging in it's own right. The choices you make in selecting the breeding pen will have a major impact on the following generations. If you find a need to bring in new stock, I would advise going back to the original breeder, if possible, or at least a related flock. It takes some people a while to come around to this idea, but you will likely save time and money.

 

[Nikkipar]

For me it's not the "not knowing about show birds", but wanting to breed them for myself. I also don't have 100$-200$ for a quality bird. It is not that I am saying they are not worth the money.... Just saying I have two small kids and no expendable money for the risk. You always take a risk (quality breeder or not) of introducing a disease when getting a bird from someone else.
It may not be "talking to the wrong crowd that just doesn't know better" and more people who love breeding a better brahma with what funds or chickens they have available.

Nikki

 

[big medicine]

One thing to consider is the cost of buying good foundation stock, verses feeding the hundreds/thousands of birds the many years it will take to breed up lesser stock to anywhere near approaching the same qualitity, if possible.