Dark Brahma crosses

[Kimberly Wolfe]

So I have just a few questions, I have 1 rooster that free ranges with 7 hens and 1 bantam hen. A hen is sitting on some eggs and I’m just curious what to expect from them? I have 5 Leghorn x dark Brahma, 3 French cuckoo maran x dark Brahma, and 2 Rhode Island Red x dark Brahma. I’m dumb when it comes to genetics. But I’m up to learn. If you could help me figure out what to expect from these crosses would be cool. I love learning about my chickens. They are just regular backyard chickens but will eventually sell due to quantity and spacing issues. Here are some pics. So the rooster is the dark Brahma for all the eggs. We just had one baby hatch and it’s all white except a black spot by each eye.. Today is day 20 for 7 of the eggs. 3 of the eggs appeared a few days after she started sitting lol so they are going to be a few days later for hatch day.

 

[reddirtbirds]

So I have just a few questions, I have 1 rooster that free ranges with 7 hens and 1 bantam hen. A hen is sitting on some eggs and I’m just curious what to expect from them? I have 5 Leghorn x dark Brahma, 3 French cuckoo maran x dark Brahma, and 2 Rhode Island Red x dark Brahma. I’m dumb when it comes to genetics. But I’m up to learn. If you could help me figure out what to expect from these crosses would be cool. I love learning about my chickens. They are just regular backyard chickens but will eventually sell due to quantity and spacing issues. Here are some pics. So the rooster is the dark Brahma for all the eggs. We just had one baby hatch and it’s all white except a black spot by each eye.. Today is day 20 for 7 of the eggs. 3 of the eggs appeared a few days after she started sitting lol so they are going to be a few days later for hatch day. View attachment 2088226View attachment 2088229View attachment 2088233

You’re rooster is pretty!! As far as what to expect for the chicks I’d say the brahma x leghorn chicks will wind up mostly white with patchy penciling/partridge lacing across the back, hackle feathers, and feet. For the Brahma x Maran chicks the roosters will inherit one copy of the cuckoo/barring gene, and the pullets will not. I’d say you could expect mostly black pullets with some white leakage on their hackle feathers, and cuckoo roosters with white leakage on their hackle and saddle feathers. The Brahma x RIR really could wind up a few ways there’s some strange genetic stuff that happens with crossing silver lacing or penciling over red, but they should all be beautiful birds!

 

[NatJ]

I would also expect all chicks to have some feathers on their feet.

Combs for the chicks will probably look somewhat strange--a bit like a pea comb, but bigger than most pea combs. Some might look almost exactly like a single comb, some might be really weird blobby things.

 

[Kimberly Wolfe]

You’re rooster is pretty!! As far as what to expect for the chicks I’d say the brahma x leghorn chicks will wind up mostly white with patchy penciling/partridge lacing across the back, hackle feathers, and feet. For the Brahma x Maran chicks the roosters will inherit one copy of the cuckoo/barring gene, and the pullets will not. I’d say you could expect mostly black pullets with some white leakage on their hackle feathers, and cuckoo roosters with white leakage on their hackle and saddle feathers. The Brahma x RIR really could wind up a few ways there’s some strange genetic stuff that happens with crossing silver lacing or penciling over red, but they should all be beautiful birds!

I am so excited either way! Thanks I was really hoping for a Brahma hen mostly because their colors and patterns are more appealing to me. These babies weren’t planned lol but I’d really like to learn more about the genetics so I can predict more and hopefully learn. One thing I have learned is that the white plumage in leghorns is dominate but if they have some spots at hatch, they will keep the spots.

 

[Kimberly Wolfe]

I would also expect all chicks to have some feathers on their feet.

Combs for the chicks will probably look somewhat strange--a bit like a pea comb, but bigger than most pea combs. Some might look almost exactly like a single comb, some might be really weird blobby things.

Blobby things... lol.

 

[gunslinger33]

the chick on the upper left with the light chipmunk pattern. What do you think the mix is?

 

[Kimberly Wolfe]

It’s one of the leghorn x dark Brahma mixes.