Light Brahma cbickens

[RobMP]

I live in Missouri where it does get cold and sometimes long winters so I'm thinking of raising light Brahma chicks for my main breed of my flock. Anyone have experience with this bird and recommendations?

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Most chickens (except bantams and fragile breeds like polish) are very hardy. I have 2 barred rocks, 2 EEs, and 2 buff orpingtons. All survived through -15F and I bet they could've handled a little more. You don't need to get brahmas, but if you love the breed they're great. I don't have them, but I've seen many people around me with them, and I live even more North than you!

Chickens can handle up to -20F, so don't be super worried about weather. Especially if you have a good amount of chickens, they can stay warm together.

 

[Blooie]

I loved loved loved my Light Brahmas!! Gentle giants! My littlest granddaughter Kendra has been in her wheelchair since she was 9 months old and she was 2 when we got our first chickens. I was (and still am) her day care provider - full time until she started school and after school now. I think she was around 4 when we added the Light Brahmas along with some Buff Brahmas to our flock. We never had a single issue with any of the Brahmas, ever - well, except for not allowing for their size when it came to putting in the nest boxes. Calm, peaceful birds, great in the winter, and steady layers of medium to large eggs. The plan was to raise them for eggs, then after a couple of years process them for meat, since they have more meat than most dual purpose birds, and that's what we did. Well, all except for Tank. She stayed.

Kendra loved the chickens. Obviously we weren't going to keep her confined to the house every day, so she spent a lot of time out there when the chickens were out in the yard. Any bird we couldn't trust 100% met the inside of the freezer. Period. Not an issue with the Brahmas, and especially Tank. Tank would fly up on Kendra's lap and nestle down calmly. The first time she did it it scared the peewadding out of us and Kendra and we panicked and removed her immediately. But she went right back. Finally Ken picked her up and gently placed her on Kendra's lap and we each stood on one side of the wheelchair, hands outstretched ready to toss her off. Kendra petted her back and repeated, "Chicken, chicken." Tank dozed off. It was that way every time. Even when Kendra would flap her arms and squeal, Tank remained quiet and calm, going for wheelchair rides. I don't have any photos of that, but now I desperately wish I did! At the time, though, supervising Kendra outside in her wheelchair always took precedence.

We brood our chicks outdoors in a wire brooder pen in the run. We integrate early - full integration by 4 weeks old. At 3 weeks we open the little doors to the brooder to begin mingling chicks (under our supervision, of course) with the adults. Tank was the first one to greet the chicks as they discover the portal door into the rest of the run. Every batch. Every time.

I had to rehome all of my flock in August. The new owner reports that every morning like clockwork, Tank pecks on the patio glass and waits for Jim to come out. He picks her up and carries her out to do chores. There are no plans for me to get more chickens. But if I ever did, you can guarantee that there will be Light Brahmas in the flock. This is Tank greeting the Silkie chicks as they ventured out.

 

[RobMP]

Sounds like a great breed especially for the meat ... their size is amazing. And I think my grandson will love them too.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I have one each of a dark, light and buff brahmas. My dark brahma is very calm, but kinda standoffish. If I walk out the back door, my buff is the first to see me, the first to come running and hoping for treats. The three are definetly the friendliest. None of my birds are lap birds, that I'm aware of. Nobody's tried to sit with me... but my daughter struggle snuggles all of them. LOL

 

[ShrekDawg]

Tank sounds like a very special bird, Blooie!!

I've thought about getting Brahmas and your story just cements it further that I HAVE to get at least one eventually. My birds are pets so I would love a friendly, loving bird like that.

My only concern is their size and egg laying ability... I'm worried they would jack up the feed bill substantially!

 

[Blooie]

Yep, they have hefty appetites, Kelsey, and are average layers....nothing really spectacular there unless you want the meat after a couple of years of egg production. Then they knock other "dual purpose" birds outta the park. But you know my Kendra, so you also know that I don't give trust lightly, especially when it comes to her safety.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yep, they have hefty appetites, Kelsey, and are average layers....nothing really spectacular there unless you want the meat after a couple of years of egg production. Then they knock other "dual purpose" birds outta the park. But you know my Kendra, so you also know that I don't give trust lightly, especially when it comes to her safety.

I don't think I could do that as I would likely get too attached

But maybe I could just get one and then it might not be so bad? Although currently most of my chickens are big eaters so I think I might need to go the opposite direction. Possibly leghorns. Been thinking of possibly selling eggs. But eventually I will get a Brahma and all the other breeds I want.

But yes, she must be a pretty special chicken for you to trust her with Kendra like that! That's amazing shw goes for rides. Mine are pretty friendly but I don't think they would go for a ride. Although I did carry an Orpington around the yard and house once. She actually seemed to like it. Sadly I lost that one to a hawk in the fall

My Orpingtons overall seem the friendliest although my Australorps have settled down and usually squat and let me hold them now.

 

[Jess89]

I have one each of a dark, light and buff brahmas. My dark brahma is very calm, but kinda standoffish. If I walk out the back door, my buff is the first to see me, the first to come running and hoping for treats. The three are definetly the friendliest. None of my birds are lap birds, that I'm aware of. Nobody's tried to sit with me... but my daughter struggle snuggles all of them. LOL

HAHA...struggle snuggle. I love that! That's such an accurate description of my daughter and our chickens.