New Brahma Group: Blue Partridge x Partridge, Plus Dark

[speckledhen]

The kids today. We'll have to move the four BRs out of their pen soon, which means a lot of shuffling around of other birds, changing roosts, etc.

Big Bruno. What a hunka-chunka boy he is!



and Sebastian (Bash)




The two blue Partridge pullets-the one I've been agonizing over is on the left. Though it has more red than the known blue pt. pullet, the red is dull, not at all like Bash above, but still, a lot different than Miss Bonnie on the right. It does not spar with Bash and Bruno, either. That's odd even for a pullet. Sometimes, the girls are the feistiest.

 

[junebuggena]

I think the light one is a pullet, with a mahogany gene. That might be why she's got more of a red tone to her than the typical gold of females.

 

[speckledhen]

I think the light one is a pullet, with a mahogany gene. That might be why she's got more of a red tone to her than the typical gold of females.

Interesting! Thank you for shedding some light on the color difference, plus saying it's a pullet. That one kept us guessing for quite some time. I mean, they are 2 days past 8 weeks old already. So, I guess I officially have 5 pullets and 2 cockerels. Sort of a relief to have that last mystery chick outed as a big old girl.

So, it is common to see a mahogany gene in this color variety? I am unfamiliar with how it works. Is it undesirable or just different in the blue partridge color?

After all the back-and-forth with sexing these, I am back to my initial "5 pullet" call. When I first made a call on all nine chicks, I had said 5 pullets and 4 cockerels, going on the sexing cues you folks helped me with. That was a roller coaster ride, LOL.


ETA: Regarding Bash, he has some red in the chest area, but it was much darker/more subdued than the other two I sold. I'm not sure how he'll feather in the rest of the way. They do change as they get more adult plumage, I realize, but he had the best foot feathering and the most "blue" of the three I was considering letting go. I think the nice lady who bought the other two would be happy to get him, too, but it is probably best to keep him as a replacement breeding male, just in case. I figure that roosters of this size are more likely to die of sudden heart attacks than other, more average sized males. I think my big old Suede was lucky to live to almost 6 years old.

 

[Wyatt0224]

How are Bash's and Bruno's personalities coming along? And do you worry about any fighting between the two of them later in life? Or will you keep the best breeding male with hens and move the backup breeder with different hens?

 

[1muttsfan]

Nice avatar!

 

[speckledhen]

How are Bash's and Bruno's personalities coming along? And do you worry about any fighting between the two of them later in life? Or will you keep the best breeding male with hens and move the backup breeder with different hens?

They are very, very sweet so far. They do spar, but Bruno is the dominant one. I have a feeling he always will be. I'm not worried about them fighting but you never know how it will go with two males together. I'll just play it by ear and see what happens, I guess.

Nice avatar!

Yeah, I felt bad removing Isaac's portrait but it's been a year next month and Atlas is the main man around here now so it was time, I think. Hector nor Apollo has earned that spot yet. Avatars are restricted to the greats.

Yesterday, I was in the front of the barn near the entry door, with Atlas milling around near the front door of his pen, when one of Atlas's girls made some kind of sound I barely registered. Atlas tore out of the barn at a full run, through the roll-up door, ready to fight, roaring as he ran. I went right out after him, but found him standing at attention, trying to figure out what the crazy wench was yelling about. Good boy. He is Johnny-on-the-spot to defend, that's for sure.


ETA: Already, a Bruno story! Was rubbing his chest while he and all the others were on the long bar roost. I quit and moved over to pet his sister, but he wasn't having it. He reached over with his beak, tapped my hand and pulled me back to him, then, as I was rubbing his chest, he stretched out his neck on my arm and closed his eyes. He's already a mama's boy. Another rooster I'll fall completely in love with, I'm sure.

 

[speckledhen]

New pictures today. They're 9 weeks old now. Not the best light but rain is threatening (that's all it's been doing-threatening).

I decided on names for all the pullets finally. The two blue partridge girls are Bonnie (as in Bonnie Blue flag) and Betsy, the latter being the one who kept us guessing until a few days ago. The two partridge girls are Brandy, for her lighter color, and Bailey, the one I thought was a Dark for the longest time. And then we have B.J., of course, the Dark pullet, who was the largest chick of all at hatch but turned out to be the smallest of the girls, at least at this point. And then, those studly boys, Bruno and Bash.
@junebuggena and @Sjisty what do you think of how they are shaping up?

 

[1muttsfan]

Nice!

 

[speckledhen]

They're just super sweet. I hope the boys stay that way when the hormones begin to flow.

 

[eleaserek]

I love the B themed names

That Bash looks like a character, especially in that last pic!