silver laced brahma, how to pick roo?

[klf73]

I was so sure which of my two roos I was going to use for my breeding pen and was going to cull the other one because I have too many roos. I kept the second around for the winter since the pullets weren't with the roo yet and I didn't want him to be alone. So now, we went to cull the "extra" roo and I am second guessing my initial choice.
I need someone with lacing experience genetics to help me please
Ideally I would test mate both but I don't have the time or space....
the first boy had the best lacing on his chest and it looks pretty non-existant now

and the second roo looked like he had too much white and messy lacing but now I'm not sure.



his shoulder really is that white

any ideas?

 

[big medicine]

Well, I would rather see them standing in a natural relaxed pose to get a feel for their stature and type.

Were these guys out of a mixed flock ? They appear split for gold/silver, should not have any red/brassy coloring. It would help to see the hens to help decide which male would best fits with what they bring to the party, genetically speaking. Neither of these guys is very close to ideal, but if forced to choose, I would go with number two, from what I can tell from the photos.

Here is closer to what your looking for.

 

[klf73]

I got them from a person that got them from greenfire. I would assume they were mixed because the two pullets I got from greenfire are 1 silver laced and 1 gold laced. I was going to try to work on them but not sure if it is worth it putting either over those 2 girls. Maybe I will just cull both roos? and put the pretty girls in the laying flock....not sure what to do....

 

[big medicine]

Depending on what your plans are, it might be a salvageable and potentially fun educational project. I would discourage any plans of selling eggs or chicks as anything but mixed Brahmas for a few years, but if the hens are properly laced and of decent type, it might be interesting to see what you could come up with.

With a trio of the second male, a gold laced hen, and a silver laced hen, if he is split like I suspect, it would be theoretically possible to produce pullets and cockerels of both colors, and more split silver/gold cockerels. Produce as many chicks as you have resources for and cull down to the best and then keep seperate gold and silver pens from then out. The key is too be very selective and only use the few best examples for future breeders. It can be tempting to keep a few extra birds of marginal quality because you like them, but don't use them in your breeding pen, it will just slow your progress in the long run.

 

[klf73]

here is the silver laced hen, I think she is usable. pictures arent great because I had a tolbunt roo attacking me

here is the gold laced but her lacing isn't great, but she is dh's fav....
like I said, not great pics of these girls but just so you get an idea of what I have to work with

I wasn't planning on selling eggs as pure, if at all. I do this for my own enjoyment but definitely appreciate the expertise and direction.

 

[klf73]

here is another of the silver laced hen, that is the sun coming through the trees showing on her shoulders, she is eating the scratch dh put out and wasn't interested in cooperating with me.

 

[big medicine]

The silver hen actually looks pretty good, the gold could stand heavier lacing. I would pen them up with cockerel number two,(white shoulders) and see what you get.

How are the hocks on these birds ? If not sure, take some shots, low, from the side, while their standing.

 

[klf73]

I will try to get pics soon. I don't think either have vulture hocks, will need to re-check. I culled the initial roos I had because of the vulture hocks as the discussions had said how hard it was to breed out. I figured why have more things to worry about? I know at least one of them doesn't have vulture hocks, but I would have kept the other to go to the laying flock if she did indeed have them....