Brahmas really egg-laying machines? Pics anyone?

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I have Light Brahmas. I have found them to be very gentle, pretty quiet & when I had 12 hens (prior to the dog attack) I was getting 8-12 eggs per day, even during the coldest months! They do eat a lot because they are bigger birds, but they also range well & that does help cut down on the spring/summer/fall feed bills!

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
I had a killer buff Orp roo. Tore the heck out of my legs one day as I was trying to get in my car. I wanted to do a "Cold Mountain" treatment on him, but we gave him to a neighbor instead. He didn't have any kids around, and thought it was hilarious when the roo chased his drinking buddies around. The roo eventually tangled with a truck and lost. That was the only human aggressive roo I've ever had, in over 15 years.

I've thought of getting some black Orps from Sandhill. I'm curious as to how they'd differ from the buffs O.'s.

 

[dancingbear]

duplicate post, deleted

 

[Omniskies]

Good grief, that's craziness. Unless we're counting Cornish-Rocks, I've yet to find a breed as mellow (and bullied) as Orpingtons. That's why we finally sold off all of ours. Recently we were given six Orpington chicks that we're holding onto, but I doubt we'll end up keeping them. I like to keep my roosters together in a separate pen if need be and just don't like having roosters that are always whaled on or whaling on others.

Then again, I -did- just get some Malays. They're young so I'm still waiting to see whether or not they become demons. So far they've been getting along with the main flock.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
The most bullying birds (to other birds) I had are my Golden Laced Cochins! Now, though...my Porcelain d'uccle cockerels are starting to boss around everyone & I have a Sumatra cockerel that drew blood on me the other day!

The most bullied breeds, BOTH in bantam & standard size are my Salmon Favs, by far!

 

[Omniskies]

It's getting to the point where breeds may as well be listed by breeder/hatchery. "John Doe Buff Orpingtons" and "Save Moar Hatchery Welsummers" would give a better idea as to what sort of bird you're actually getting.

I know birds within breeds have their own quirky personalities. But when so many people differ about the qualities of a breed then it gets all crazy

 

[dancingbear]

I have long thought that there's a big difference between breeder birds and hatchery birds. I think the wide variation in temperament is because the hatchery strains aren't really pure, and so if that's all you've had, you never know what the true personality of the pure breed really is.

Between my own experiences and what other people are telling me, I've just about decided I don't want hatchery birds anymore.

I've started looking for breeders to get my breeding stock from. Hatcheries are fine if you just want a "meat crop", or you just want some egg layers, etc. For any serious breeding experiments, or showing, or anything where you need good quality birds, I think you probably have to go to a breeder. Except maybe Sandhill, they're not really a hatchery, though, they're a preservation group.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

My buff Brahma is very nice and calm. She is 19 weeks as of the 1st of October and no eggs yet which is ok with me...don't want the hens laying to early so they prolapse anyhow. Here is a picture of "Zoe".

 

[Chicabee19]

wow hangin', Zoe is adorable

I notice she's got some feathered legs!

 

[Mrs MIA]

Hmmm... I might have to re-think the buffs... they sure are pretty.

Here's my Emily...

One of the roos I used to have...

Unlike others, I've had very protective roos... the one I have now, Dominic, has needed some gentle training, and now he's fine. Otherwise, I was in danger of being pecked or spurred like I was with George (he went to Camp Kenmore, too, because he couldn't be reforemed.)