Breda Fowl thread

[Sylvester017]

So far I've heard that this is a pretty docile breed. 1 of my 2 hens really is a sweet heart, the splash is pretty flighty butttt my 2 blue Roos are demons! Not to be cruel but I have football kicked one of them(they're pretty darn heavy) and they still chase my heels aggressively when my back is turned. I have a brooder with 8 chicks that I'm hoping to replace these 2 with....if anyone in CT is looking for these in a couple months they are free for the taking or dinner on my aunts table. Anyone else have roo probs? I'm hoping it's just the individual birds...

How funny that I came across this post. So many owners of different breeds are complaining right now about their aggressive roos. Isn't Spring when all birds are in mating frenzy? Even my two gentle Silkie hens got into combat mode last week and after one pulled out a crest feather out of the other hen, they're best buds again toodling around the yard together. Spring is in the air - go figure. Maybe after mating frenzy the roos will calm down? It's such a shame to eat a rare bird like a Breda. I hope you can find a home for them.

 

[Sylvester017]

I have decided to only keep blue. I was interested in Cuckoo mostly just so I could cross the hens to splash cockerel to get 100% blue hen that were sex-linked.

I like the blue color the best and am excited that two 4 month old blue pullets will be joining my flock in a week.

My DH only wants Blue if we get a Breda pullet. He said we have a limited zoning so why not get the wanted color of bird to enjoy instead of just settling for something else.

So jealous that you can add 2 Breda pullets to your flock!

 

[Sylvester017]

I've had Bredas for a few years now and none has ever gone broody. They are frequent layers but it takes until their second season for the eggs to go from medium to large in size.

My LF Buff Leghorn pullet layed medium 1.75 oz eggs last year but after her moult she is also laying larger eggs at over 2 oz. I keep researching that the best laying time for hens is from one to two years old. Our White Leghorn is in her 3rd year laying and she's just as good as her 1st and 2nd years - she's never layed double yolks but has consistently layed 2.25 oz eggs and on occasion 2.5 oz. Of course keep in mind that Leghorns and Ameraucanas usually don't slow down in their 2nd year and our White Leg is amazing us in her 3rd year.

It looks like one year old is when chickens begin to lay really well.

 

[RhodeRunner]

Chalk,
Ever have an extra cockerel to spare? I've got a splash and a blue pullet, but no cockerel.

I have a Splash Cockerel. Where are you located?

 

[RFR of CA]

ALWAYS have plenty to spare....right now I have a nice blue roo coming up in the pen for sale. He is not crowing yet. Maybe 6 months old? Going to look just like daddy (pic on sidebar). I also have two young blacks and finally a splash! (not for sale). Also, there are always babies of various ages running about and eggs for sale. We are in Herald, CA just below Sacramento.

Christine

 

[gardengoats11]

It's such a shame to eat a rare bird like a Breda.

If the bird doesn't meet the standard you have for yourself or the breed. It doesn't matter if it is a rare breed or not. It should not be passed to someone for breeding as inferior birds will only be produced. I don't see how passing it on to someone else will help the breed.

 

[Sylvester017]

If the bird doesn't meet the standard you have for yourself or the breed. It doesn't matter if it is a rare breed or not. It should not be passed to someone for breeding as inferior birds will only be produced. I don't see how passing it on to someone else will help the breed.

Yes, I totally understand about inferior standard birds but as always my DH and I would rather see them go to good homes whenever possible to live out their lives - at least the pullets who are useful as egg layers at best. We understand the need to cull surplus cockerels as many communities do not allow them and it's not necessary to keep so many. Really we do understand but are softies and always want to see them go to homes rather than a stew pot - Sigh! This is why we go to breeders to get our rare birds of PQ because the breeders will just process them but many times the birds are still beautiful enough to have a home in a backyard flock.

Guess culling is dependent on the numbers of birds left in existence. You wouldn't eat a rare bird where only 50 are left in the world but are more comfortable to cull rare breeds with climbing flock numbers. Right now I'd gag at eating a $5K pair of rare Black Swedish Hens but have no problem with a $10 Orpington meal (no offense to Orp lovers - just an example).

 

[dsfrango]

Hello all, I'm sorry to say but I have decided to part with all my Breda fowl they really are a beautiful breed but for now space limitations and my focus on another breed are my deciding factors. If anyone in CT/MA is interested I have 4 mature birds(2blu Roos, a Blu hen and a splash hen) and 8 chicks of black/blue/splash available. 100$ for all 12 birds. Great starter flock. They are pretty good quality. Here's a couple pics

On another note I saw bredas showing for the first time ever! At the Delmarva poultry show in DE this past weekend-

 

[DutchChicky]

Oh so sorry to hear you decided to hear you have to get rid of your Breda's! Wish I would have known you where at the show, I brought in the Black pair of Breda's. Looks like picture of the first rooster is mine. The Black and Blue's where from guys from PA. I don't want Blue genetics into my line otherwise I would have taken yours. A friend of mine is maybe interested in the breed, will ask her if she wants to buy your flock

 

[GaryDean26]

Did you have any breed information on the cage of your Breda at the Show? What category were they entered in? Do you get any feed back or comments from the judges on the breed?

I showed my blue cockerel in January and he attracted a lot of attention. I took my splash Hen to a community "Chickens at the Library" event in Austin, TX a weeks ago. I was invited to the Chickens at the Library because the coordinator saw my Breda Cockerel at the Show in January and wanted to see hens of this breed too.

The chickens at the Library have about 6-8 exhibitors that each brought about two breeds. They had a children's story time based around chicken stories then the children got to come into the annex and see all of the live chickens. It was to kick off the 21 day count down to Easter. Other Egg and Chicken events will continue in Austin until Easter.