Question about your head of the flock?

[3KillerBs]

Do you know if the brahma size comes in full? And does it matter if its half hen, in regards of height and weight?
In the sense that i heard that in order for full size a offspring needs to have the brahma rooster gene.

Brahmas come in both bantam and large fowl, and the large fowl Brahmas are especially large.

Size comes from both sides of the family rather than just from the rooster or just from the hen. If you want big offspring breed a big rooster to big hens.

 

[Darius123]

Brahmas come in both bantam and large fowl, and the large fowl Brahmas are especially large.

Size comes from both sides of the family rather than just from the rooster or just from the hen. If you want big offspring breed a big rooster to big hens.

Yeah but lets say if i want a offspring, like half brahma half one of my mixes, in order to get the big gene should i get 2 mixes (hen, ro) 2 brahmas (hen , ro) and pair the results between them to get that chick mix with both hen and roo trait?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Do you know if the brahma size comes in full? And does it matter if its half hen, in regards of height and weight?

I'm learning by doing, but thus far, (and accounting for the fact that its a male, while all my prior Brahma were and are hens), it seems on track to be "full Brahma size" or close to it - it was 6.3# back at the end of August, and has put on more weight since. That was 26 weeks, so not a monster for the age, but good size for a tradionally slow growth bird at that age. Some of his offspring seem to be larger-tending, other's don't.

I call it the "size gene", but there really isn't such a thing though both my half braha, and half CX bird's offsprings were about 50/50 for tending large, that has not proven true with their offspring. Too many genes involved in the mix.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yeah but lets say if i want a offspring, like half brahma half one of my mixes, in order to get the big gene should i get 2 mixes (hen, ro) 2 brahmas (hen , ro) and pair the results between them to get that chick mix with both hen and roo trait?

Size in chickens isn't just one gene, it's a collection of genes.

Just like in people it can be all scrambled up -- like me being 5'3" and my husband being 5'10" and all our sons being over 6'.

But if you mate your Brahmas to your largest mixes breeds you'll get more big offspring than if you mated them to smaller birds.

 

[AntiqueB]

My head of the 4-hen flock is Love, a BO.

She's under the shelter! She's very friendly to people, and to her bestie, Peck. She was merciless to the 2 newer pullets, though, for months on end.

 

[Kurczaklover]

How can I tell who is at the top of the pecking order?

 

[Darius123]

Size in chickens isn't just one gene, it's a collection of genes.

Just like in people it can be all scrambled up -- like me being 5'3" and my husband being 5'10" and all our sons being over 6'.

But if you mate your Brahmas to your largest mixes breeds you'll get more big offspring than if you mated them to smaller birds.

Got it, got it.
But is there a way to max it out? Like i pair pure brahmas, biggest roo with the biggest hen, what are the chances or what can i do to add just a bit more size to the already huge brahmas, all my generations tend to not match the father let alone surpass

 

[3KillerBs]

Got it, got it.
But is there a way to max it out? Like i pair pure brahmas, biggest roo with the biggest hen, what are the chances or what can i do to add just a bit more size to the already huge brahmas, all my generations tend to not match the father let alone surpass

I'm new to the breeding thing, but my understanding is that when you want to reinforce a trait you keep breeding your best to your best and culling the ones that don't measure up.

But you also have to keep an eye on other traits so that you don't lose them while in pursuit of one particular trait.

 

[AntiqueB]

The one at the top of the pecking order is in charge: the one who eats first, decides where to go (and is followed), alerts the flock to danger, etc.

 

[Kurczaklover]

The one at the top of the pecking order is in charge: the one who eats first, decides where to go (and is followed), alerts the flock to danger, etc.

Couldn't pick out anyone who eats first, but can definitely tell the couple who seem to struggle when treats are doled out, easily over run by the others. Typically they go off in 2 different groups. I know Banana, my Leghorn, had a little blood on her neck a few days ago that we suspect was from her trying to move up the ranks. She is so small compared to the rest, but smart and quick! Nadia, my Turken, makes a funny sound, like a dogs toy, whenever I put out food, like she is pleased. Then again, she makes the same squeek if I ignore her and don't pet or pick her up.