Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

I have some sad news to share, especially for those who followed her journey from the start. Little Piou-piou was killed early this morning by a weasel that broke in the coop.
She was our special little princess and we are heartbroken.
I'll post a tribute when I feel less upset.
View attachment 4011994

No not her. She is a staple that holds this team together

 

[Sylvester017]

Dark brahmas aren't laced at all. Lacing is black edging (or blue/splash as it's a dilution of the same gene) on the feather. Dark brahmas have the ground color around the edge of the feather making it penciled. I don't know enough about the genetics of crossbreeding, but moving the black from the edge to a line in the interior of a feather I suspect is NOT easy.

Wikipedia
There has been controversy and confusion over the origin of the Brahma. It appears to have developed in the United States from large birds, with heavily feathered legs, imported in the 1840s from the Chinese port of Shanghai, and thus known as "Shanghai" birds.[4]: 78  The distinctive head shape and pea comb of the Brahma probably result from cross-breeding with Grey Chittagong birds of Malay type, imported from Chittagong in eastern Bengal (now Bangladesh); these characteristics distinguish the Brahma from the Cochin, which also derives from "Shanghai" birds.[5]

In looking up the chittagong chicken, I found this:

https://cs-tf.com/malay-chicken/

That comb, and height crossed with a cochin, with more back breeding could easily get the Brahmas. The statuesque body shape of the malay with the bulk and feathered feet of the cochin. The wyandotte has a rose comb which CANNOT make a pea comb at all. Both are equally dominant and when both genes are present, you get a walnut comb (like a pure silkie). When only one is present, you get the comb type showing, and when neither is present, you get a straight comb.

Going back to the pullet age, I can see bothView attachment 4011972View attachment 4011973View attachment 4011974View attachment 4011975View attachment 4011976View attachment 4011977the straight back and long legs: Malay
The short neck, super fluffy but and broad back: cochin

Both cochin and Malay have enough feather varieties to get to the desired colors without stepping outside of either breed.

I have been properly chastised re pencil/lacing.

What then is this Barnevelder?

& difference between it & this Dark Brahma? These feathers look like a cross of V-barring & lacing. The way penciling is described this looks more barring then penciling?

These are such gorgeous breeds that we considered the bantam versions years ago before we got the Silkies ~ which we love now cuz of their fun appearance & good egg size.

Our Silkies found a pile of clothes to snooze on

 

[Sylvester017]

I have some sad news to share, especially for those who followed her journey from the start. Little Piou-piou was killed early this morning by a weasel that broke in the coop.
She was our special little princess and we are heartbroken.
I'll post a tribute when I feel less upset.
View attachment 4011994

So sorry ManueB ~ so many have had losses this year

 

[rural mouse]

I have been properly chastised re pencil/lacing.

What then is this Barnevelder?

& difference between it & this Dark Brahma? These feathers look like a cross of V-barring & lacing. The way penciling is described this looks more barring then penciling?

These are such gorgeous breeds that we considered the bantam versions years ago before we got the Silkies ~ which we love now cuz of their fun appearance & good egg size.

Our Silkies found a pile of clothes to snooze on
View attachment 4012005
View attachment 4012006

Barnevelders are double laced. They have the black edge making it lacing with another stripe inside.

 

[Ponypoor]

Roos need love too!

He’s a nice boy, as long as he stays nice he can stay.

 

[Ponypoor]

I have some sad news to share, especially for those who followed her journey from the start. Little Piou-piou was killed early this morning by a weasel that broke in the coop.
She was our special little princess and we are heartbroken.
I'll post a tribute when I feel less upset.
View attachment 4011994

Oh no, that’s terrible! Darn weasels I am so sorry to hear this.

I am sending you and your partner 1,000 hugs

 

[Ponypoor]

Which pic are you talking about? I've never had silkies?

In the article you linked re: the Malay chooks.

 

[Ponypoor]

The Dark Brahma hens look like their history includes Wyandotte or Barnevelder crossing to get that gorgeous lacing ~ pretty silver roo ~ Hoovers page says the Dark Brahmas are currently unavailable but maybe in Spring they will? Most hatcheries are saying currently unavailable for now.

I'm very impressed w/the rich golden color of the Buff Brahmas w/ the contrasting black collar & tails!

The Light Brahma hens remind me so much of Delawares at quick glance that I've embarrassed myself before w/owners .


The Lemon Pyle Brahma hens are so pale they look almost Cream but the roos are very colorful
View attachment 4011866

Now the above Brahma roos of all the colors are so royally gorgeous they almost don't look like they belong w/ their hens!!!

All gorgeous

It’s not that Hoovers doesn’t have them but Peavey Mart has an agreement with Hoovrs and supplies only certain breeds.

They offer only the Lighy and Buff ones.

This is what they offered last year.
https://www.chickdays.ca/category/16475

EDIT
Well now, how terribly disappointing, this is the 2025 line up of offerings. A bunch of new offerings, But mostly silly production breeds. I was seriously hoping for some of the more exotic breeds Hoovers has on offer. And still not Buff and Light Brahmas.

First delivery date for orders is 25 April.

 

[TOMTE]

Cracking open Sybil's eggs for the omelettes! How do they look? Are those brownish reddish specks anything to worry about? Out of 14 eggs, about half had a little bit of that stuff.

 

[fuentemoon]

View attachment 4012027
Cracking open Sybil's eggs for the omelettes! How do they look? Are those brownish reddish specks anything to worry about? Out of 14 eggs, about half had a little bit of that stuff.

The specks are normal. Looks yummy to me!