Breeds?

[21hens-incharge]

This one looks to be a light brahma. I am hesitant with the other white one due to the amount of or lack of feathers on the legs. The orange lol Tan one may develop the darker feathers on the neck as it matures some more. If they are mixed there is at least Brahma in there.

How old are they? The light one with the lack of leg feathers could be a male. The way it was described to me is that the females will have 3 rows to the comb next to each other. The males will have one row.

The original post has a crested bird in the last pic....... there is a color I have seen on the brahma thread that looks like the pattern in the crest feathers. I don't recall what it was called but the crest is throwing me about it being a brahma.
http://www.homegrowngourmet.org/how...crow-gender-identification-in-young-chickens/
This link has a good pic of the comb description about 1/4 of the way down the page.

 

[logic]

Ya, thank you for the replies again, the wife and I are talking and I am just gonna start over next month, just need to find a place to buy them without vaccinations and such. I paid $70 for 5 peek-a-boo chickens xD. Im gonna keep the older hen as she is good as far as broody goes. I dont want to take the chances with crossing when I get my new Light Brahmas (about 20-25 of them I will buy next month). If anyone knows of a good legit place to buy them online please let me know, I am entirely tired of getting ripped off haha, definitely staying away from craigslist for this type of stuff. I asked her how old they were when I got them and she said a few days, then again she told me they would start laying eggs in 2 months and they were only about 1-2 weeks old when I picked them up if that as they were tiny.

 

[21hens-incharge]

WOW Brahma don't mature enough to lay until they are 8 months old. Yes I think you should start over. I am sorry you got hood winked.

I like my chickens from Mt Healthy. I got several breeds from them. The Brahma in my flock came from there and are nice birds. I would not know if they are show quality but they do meet most if not all of the breed standards. Mine are more pets than anything.

http://www.mthealthy.com/search?searchwords=Brahma&searchsmall_4920=Search
This is the Brahma page at Mt Healthy.

I have heard good things about cackle hatchery as well.

The pics do not do them justice really. The birds I got are much nicer than Mt Healthy's pictures would make one think.

 

[logic]

Well, I am so thankful for this site, I really am. My wife told me to come here and ask and if I waited one more month, then I would have had to wait until next spring to get my chicks because it would have been too cold for them. If I get them next month I have time still as it doesnt get too cold here in NC usually until late October (last year it got cold a bit earlier). I love tending chickens though, I find it relaxing and they are so much fun to be around.

 

[junebuggena]

As long as the chicks are fully feathered (usually about 8 weeks) before the cold hits, they will be fine. Are you planning on brooding the chicks indoors, or with the hen? 20 chicks is a lot for one hen. Are you wanting to breed and sell purebred chicks, or do you just really like Brahmas? If you are wanting to breed and sell, then you should do some research in regards to the breed standard and get in touch with some reputable breeders.
Here is the link to the brahma breeders thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/873000/brahma-breeders-thread

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would agree research is important. If you are keeping them for eggs and because they are interesting than the ones you have are fine. If you don't want the ones you have you can sell them and recoup the cost you paid at least.

 

[logic]

Ok so I got some better pictures. Ok I guess I should elaborate a bit xD Sorry new to all of this! So when I had done some research and digging I heard that these were good dual purpose birds (the light brahmas) and they were more docile than any other bird and were great free range due to the ability to fend off predators and forage well with a rooster.

As far as brooding, I can do that myself if need be or keep the hen I have just for that purpose. I have a large trough I used to use to water our goats we got rid of a few years back that would fit them nice and fits in the mudroom perfectly with a heat lamp. etc. I am looking for a great dual purpose bird that is docile because I do have a pitbull (shes great with the chickens and protects them) and a 2 year old.

The hen we have now has been going nuts lately cackling, setting in the hen box a lot, and chasing the chicks right clean away from her and pecking them pretty hard, I mean shes is literally chasing them down now.

I plan on doing a small organic chicken farm and have talked with my vet about helping and they are all for it. I have read so much I think I am confusing myself now.

What I really want is a beautiful rare, dual purpose bird that I can enjoy, sell, and breed so produce some top quality birds in my area.

Chicken 1



Chicken 2




Chicken 3




Chicken 4



My son and I

 

[21hens-incharge]

Chicken 2 and 3 from what I can see of the combs look to be male. However if they are mixed with a straight combed bird that would possibly change my guestimate. I am on the fence about chicken 1 and chicken 4 is a girl for sure.

There are a lot of rare dual purpose birds out there that make nice family members. Brahma take a long time to mature and are not the strongest layers since they tend toward being broody.

If you want a large bird that you can tell male from female early on think about a Dark Brahma. If you want good layers that are also dual purpose and docile you may want to consider the Black Australorp. Not rare but super layers.

Colorful eggs are awesome for selling and there is a breed you can tell male from female at hatch or rather once dried off. Cream legbar lay blue eggs, are rare and I have heard the hens are friendly but the males not so much. The chicks would cost more due to the scarcity and the desire of people to have them.
To breed long term you would need to bring in fresh unrelated DNA from time to time. That would mean replacing either the hens or a roo.

If you want broody chickens bantam cochins around my place drive me nuts with the constant sitting. (I am not allowed a rooster due to city location)

There are so many breeds and so little land.

Personally for a family chicken I think the bantam cochin or the Buff Orpington make the nicest ones. I do also like the Delaware for a family bird that is dual purpose. Super friendly is my experience with them. Lilly would rather be carried around than look for bugs. Kind of pushy about it like a small dog would be.

I guess what I am saying is you may not be able to get everything you are looking for from one breed.

 

[junebuggena]

The hen's behavior is normal now that the chicks are feathered in and don't need her for warmth any more. They all look like cockerels except for the buff. The red one looks more like a Cochin than a Brahma.
A trough will only work for 20 chicks for about a week or 2 tops. Chicks grow fast and need room as they grow. Most dual purpose breeds are pretty docile and gentle. I suggest getting few of each breed you are interested in, since this is your first time owning chickens. Then, after you have more experience and knowledge, choose one breed to specialize in.

 

[logic]

Thanks a ton for the info 2` hens! So, what I am looking at right now are Black Australorp, Black Laced Silver Wyandotte, or Black Laced Gold Wyandotte. I am leaning more towards the Australorps right now though.