New Brahma Group: Blue Partridge x Partridge, Plus Dark

[1muttsfan]

For just about any other animal you could easily find the standard in many places. Not sure why it is so different for chickens, apart from financial reasons. if you search around you will find people who discuss the standard and talk about what they are looking for in their birds.

 

[speckledhen]

If it's online, it's fair game, of course. But, if you really look at the breed you want to assess and you see breeders talking about the strengths and weaknesses of certain birds, you can get a very good picture of what you should be striving for with your chickens. Unless you are showing, the SOP is only a general guideline anyway. And of course, my Partridge Brahmas are not an accepted color variety in the U.S. yet anyway. I saw the difference in my hatchery Brahmas and the ones I own now very plainly.

 

[Studabird]

Thank you all for your help and information. I am new to chickens and bought Brahmas that were labelled Cubalayas at TSC. I live in Louisiana and wanted something very tolerant to heat so I opted for the Cubalayas but once I got home and saw feathered feet I started doing some research and discovered they were actually Buff Brahmas. I feel in love instantly and am now waiting for my second group ordered from a hatchery. I have raised show Dalmations and Labradors and a few pigs in High School. My favorite was the Dalmations I grew up around a nationally know breeder and watching him look at a dog and grade was very interesting to me. I know my hatchery breed is no where near show quality but I thought it might be cool to try and breed them to a higher quality bird in a few generations. Maybe wishful thinking but it will at least be a fun hobby. Again thanks for the help

 

[speckledhen]

Good luck with your Brahmas! My longest lived direct hatchery hen to date was a Buff Brahma. Caroline lived to just before her 10th hatch-day. LOVED that hen. She moved into any group and immediately took over as head hen. Everyone moved aside for her.

 

[Studabird]

Good luck with your Brahmas! My longest lived direct hatchery hen to date was a Buff Brahma. Caroline lived to just before her 10th hatch-day. LOVED that hen. She moved into any group and immediately took over as head hen. Everyone moved aside for her.

Thank you. I am looking forward to getting to see them grow.

 

[1muttsfan]

You can improve any birds tremendously in just a few generations if you set goals early and are willing to be selective about which of your birds you use for breeding. Sounds like a fun project.

 

[Studabird]

You can improve any birds tremendously in just a few generations if you set goals early and are willing to be selective about which of your birds you use for breeding. Sounds like a fun project.

That is what is was hoping!! I knew that was the case with dogs but I didn’t know if the hatchery lines could get much better. I am excited to try.

 

[speckledhen]

It's like the same hatch as the last one, all over again. Started with 25 eggs, though 7 are Barred Rocks, all Jane and Maddie. Candled tonight, today Day 7.
Removed 4 eggs as infertiles-three are definitely BJ's and one is rounder, exactly the same thing that happened the first time.

ALL of Jane and Maddie's are developing normally. @1muttsfan and @getaclue, your Hector is doing his job, even with his unsteady leg.

So, now there are 21 humming along, just like the last hatch after first candling.

 

[Studabird]

Hoping 21 hatch!!

 

[speckledhen]

Hoping 21 hatch!!

Thanks, I sure hope more than just a measly 8 hatch like the last time! Bad hatches seem to be going around right now. I think I got caught up in that wave somehow, need to break that cycle. I can't keep any birds, though I may be tempted to keep at least one or two pullets from Jane or Maddie, if there are any. I have no idea if they're pullet producers or not since these are their first chicks.
I'm off to bed, haven't been sleeping well. I go to sleep okay, but wake at 5 a.m. with my ribcage hurting where I fell. I want to sleep! Good night.