BlueTheBrahma’s thread!

[BlueTheBrahma]

But anyway, at this time in my experience with chickens I only had one pen: seven, later twelve hens, and three huge boys. Keeping more than one was not practical, so I gave Echo back as he needed a new blue cockerel anyway, and I gave Barry to someone else.

Now, I wish I kept Barry, as he got on perfectly with Blue and he had unique character, not to mention practical qualities. He had the size of a Brahma, but presumably carried the egg laying genes of a Red star (his sister, who I was later given, was a brilliant layer).

He also was grouse legged, which I believe is a colloquial term here for birds with clean feet but feathered shanks (like marans). I find that when my Brahmas have been in wet mud, their foot feathers get dirty and they sometimes pull them out, making them bleed. This is due to the heavy clay in our soil.

So a clean footed or grouselegged bird has practical advantages, while the feathers on thhe shanks still provide some kind of insulation. The pea comb is also a good way to adapt a breed to the cold.

So to cut a long story short: my aim is to develop a breed which resembles Barry and has practical advantages surpassing the Brahma, a breed which you know I already hold in high regard. I’ll outline my aims soon, with some photos.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

This is the last photo I have of Barry (in his new home) and the only one that shows his adult size. You can see by his muddy feet the practical advantage he has over a Brahma, who would have clogged up feathers in free range conditions like this, especially if he chooses to spend time in the muddy part!

These are the best photos I found of Barry’s sister (who was only ever called Barry’s sister). The two never met but I was given her when the flock of Brahmas she was kept with was sold on. She laid almost an egg a day, proof those laying genes run in the bloodline. She had one son, seen next to her, and I’ll post about him next.

 

[wrathsfarm]

If I’m ever in the states I’ll drop some eggs off!

(Legal disclaimer: no I won’t )

Right back atcha, buddy !!

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Freddy, the only F2 (I’m saying Barry and his sister are F1 rather than F0 as they are a cross). He is the son of Barry’s sister crossed to Thor, my F0 SDW. The Wellie genes resulted in his sparser leg feathers bigger tail and single comb, but he still as the good size of his ancestors. It is from him I aim to breed the F3s (as he is the only surviving adult of the bloodline) I also like his colour a lot, an unusual white salmon pattern.

The welsummer genes may also make for interesting eggs and further increased laying, also chances for greater variety of colour. If anything it widens the gene pool.

He’s currently in a pen with my layers, so the F3s might end up being crossed back to them. I would like to eventually breed back to Brahmas to fill out the feathers again and get the pea comb back. Orpingtons are also in my radar (I don’t have any) because their type will likely compliment my goals.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

This guy is technically an F3. He is an olive egger (Freddy cross CCL), not intended to be part of the project, just an attempt at olive eggers.

His type reminds me of Freddy at the same age so I’ll see how he grows out, I introduced him to his Sire and the layers pen the other day, he’s settled in well. He might be part of the project if he has promising type.

I might cross him to Brahmas because he’s now three generations removed from a heavy breed. Breeding him to Charlie might be good, introducing the Blue Silver Orange pattern seen in my Brahmas above.

 

[Tstraub]

I don’t know how many people here listen to podcasts but poultry keepers 360 just did a two part podcast about Brahma it’s worth a listen if you enjoy podcasts. I don’t have a direct link handy but if you search “poultry keepers 360” in your favorite podcast app it’s the two most recent episodes.