Light Brahma Egg production

[ChickenSahib]

Thank you all! Seems like the mistaken delaware chick is going to turn out all right

 

[coonhunter83]

My light Brahma chicken's are 18 weeks old no eggs yet. Anyone know when they will start laying?

 

[junebuggena]

My light Brahma chicken's are 18 weeks old no eggs yet. Anyone know when they will start laying?

They probably won't lay until after 24 weeks. Brahmas are bit slower to mature than other breeds, and pullets that mature in the fall/winter can take longer to start laying, as well.

 

[barredorp]

I can tell you all have commercial strains of Brahmas; the egg production gives it away. I have raised a show strain of Light, Dark and Buff from a superb strain (Behney & Miller-both now deceased), huge and absolutely stunning to look at: hens 10-11 lbs, roosters 12-14 lbs. If I got 100 eggs a year out of them I was satisfied. I didn't buy them for their laying ability. The Brahmas discussed here are probably VERY undersized and are nowhere near exhibition quality (and I am not talking 4-H shows, either. I am not saying there is anything wrong with them; if you are satisfied with them, fine and dandy. But I think they should be bred to the Standard of Perfection as outlined by the APA. It would be a shame to see well-bred Brahmas become extinct. But the real McCoys, nowhere near the laying rates posted here. Just not what they were bred for.

 

[DanversChickens]

Brahmas are beautiful birds as well as many of the other heritage breeds. Not unlike dogs, horses and many other domesticated livestock, chickens were bred for their production and not their "show qualities". Breed standards are intended to preserve ALL qualities with emphasis of form to function as well as phenotype. Unfortunately Eng Springer Spaniels and Labrador Reitivers have been bred for "show qualities" and have nearly eliminated their fine hunting qualities. I've bred horses and dogs over the years - one Reserve Natl Champion Arabian Reining and one Arabian Top Ten National Park horse (also Regional Stallion halter) and one gelding I took to Regional Amatuer Champ. Of my 3 Springer Spaniels - all three beautiful and fit to standard - two females Lucy and Emily are fabulous hunters - Emily is Ch Agility. My male Jack is linebred Salilyn Springer (lineage of 7 Westminster Best in Show) is a great grandson of Ch. Felicity's Diamond Jim - grandson of Ch Rendition's Autumn Fire. Jack is stunning - beautiful with perfect conformation to standard and is lazy and can barely fetch a ball - I love him just the same. I can say that focus on phenotype in breeding results in recessives and defects - hip, eye and behavioral problems. If you're breeding the objective must be to preserve the best of the animal - not just its colors, feather, height/weight. The point of my post is that well bred animals conforming to breed standards should not only present to standard but will also function to standard. Having bred multiple champions I do have a legitimate perspective on this subject that well bred animals have it ALL - not just good looks. So with all due respect, hopefully Brahma breeding will not simply focus on "show qualities" to the exclusion of egg production. Also bear in mind Poota Brahma chicken had it's origins in India and brought to US from Shanghai China. I doubt they were bred for looks and not egg/meat production. I have six Brahma hens - 2 light, 2 buff and 2 dark. If they only laid one egg a week, they would not be in my pen.