Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[featherhead007]

I bought two chicks, a Lavender Orp and a Midnight Majesty Marans both sexed as pullets.

Unfortunately Shirley turned out to be a Shorley.

I was very disappointed, I didn’t need the stress of another Roo, and I was looking forward to really dark eggs.

And no more Laverne and Shirley.

Roos need love too!

 

[featherhead007]

I’m featherhead, Alex Featherhead. I like my milk, strawberried stirred not shaken. I always love a good milk martini!

Only James Bond fans understand this joke.

 

[rural mouse]

The Dark Brahma hens look like their history includes Wyandotte or Barnevelder crossing to get that gorgeous lacing ~ pretty silver roo ~ Hoovers page says the Dark Brahmas are currently unavailable but maybe in Spring they will? Most hatcheries are saying currently unavailable for now.

I'm very impressed w/the rich golden color of the Buff Brahmas w/ the contrasting black collar & tails!

The Light Brahma hens remind me so much of Delawares at quick glance that I've embarrassed myself before w/owners .


The Lemon Pyle Brahma hens are so pale they look almost Cream but the roos are very colorful
View attachment 4011866

Now the above Brahma roos of all the colors are so royally gorgeous they almost don't look like they belong w/ their hens!!!

Dark brahmas aren't laced at all. Lacing is black edging (or blue/splash as it's a dilution of the same gene) on the feather. Dark brahmas have the ground color around the edge of the feather making it penciled. I don't know enough about the genetics of crossbreeding, but moving the black from the edge to a line in the interior of a feather I suspect is NOT easy.

Wikipedia
There has been controversy and confusion over the origin of the Brahma. It appears to have developed in the United States from large birds, with heavily feathered legs, imported in the 1840s from the Chinese port of Shanghai, and thus known as "Shanghai" birds.[4]: 78  The distinctive head shape and pea comb of the Brahma probably result from cross-breeding with Grey Chittagong birds of Malay type, imported from Chittagong in eastern Bengal (now Bangladesh); these characteristics distinguish the Brahma from the Cochin, which also derives from "Shanghai" birds.[5]

In looking up the chittagong chicken, I found this:

https://cs-tf.com/malay-chicken/

That comb, and height crossed with a cochin, with more back breeding could easily get the Brahmas. The statuesque body shape of the malay with the bulk and feathered feet of the cochin. The wyandotte has a rose comb which CANNOT make a pea comb at all. Both are equally dominant and when both genes are present, you get a walnut comb (like a pure silkie). When only one is present, you get the comb type showing, and when neither is present, you get a straight comb.

Going back to the pullet age, I can see both

the straight back and long legs: Malay
The short neck, super fluffy but and broad back: cochin

Both cochin and Malay have enough feather varieties to get to the desired colors without stepping outside of either breed.

 

[bgmathteach]

Dark brahmas aren't laced at all. Lacing is black edging (or blue/splash as it's a dilution of the same gene) on the feather. Dark brahmas have the ground color around the edge of the feather making it penciled. I don't know enough about the genetics of crossbreeding, but moving the black from the edge to a line in the interior of a feather I suspect is NOT easy.

Wikipedia
There has been controversy and confusion over the origin of the Brahma. It appears to have developed in the United States from large birds, with heavily feathered legs, imported in the 1840s from the Chinese port of Shanghai, and thus known as "Shanghai" birds.[4]: 78  The distinctive head shape and pea comb of the Brahma probably result from cross-breeding with Grey Chittagong birds of Malay type, imported from Chittagong in eastern Bengal (now Bangladesh); these characteristics distinguish the Brahma from the Cochin, which also derives from "Shanghai" birds.[5]

In looking up the chittagong chicken, I found this:

https://cs-tf.com/malay-chicken/

That comb, and height crossed with a cochin, with more back breeding could easily get the Brahmas. The statuesque body shape of the malay with the bulk and feathered feet of the cochin. The wyandotte has a rose comb which CANNOT make a pea comb at all. Both are equally dominant and when both genes are present, you get a walnut comb (like a pure silkie). When only one is present, you get the comb type showing, and when neither is present, you get a straight comb.

Going back to the pullet age, I can see bothView attachment 4011972View attachment 4011973View attachment 4011974View attachment 4011975View attachment 4011976View attachment 4011977the straight back and long legs: Malay
The short neck, super fluffy but and broad back: cochin

Both cochin and Malay have enough feather varieties to get to the desired colors without stepping outside of either breed.

I am always amazed at both your knowledge and ability to retain and synthesize information. I have learned (and, unfortunately, forgotten again) so much about chickens, breeds, and feather patterns from you! I wish my brain was younger so I could retain more of the information you share! Alas, between age and stress and life, I seem to be retaining less and less new info lately. Thanks for your PATIENT re-educating us on a regular basis - and being willing to do the deep dives to make sure we have correct info!

[p.s. I do have to say I am proud of the fact that I remembered that Dark Brahmas were penciled, though, not laced - and what the difference is. I still can't quite wrap my head around penciled versus partridge - other than a base colour of brown...it just doesn't make sense to me that it is called something different.]

Thank you.

 

[Ponypoor]

Dark brahmas aren't laced at all. Lacing is black edging (or blue/splash as it's a dilution of the same gene) on the feather. Dark brahmas have the ground color around the edge of the feather making it penciled. I don't know enough about the genetics of crossbreeding, but moving the black from the edge to a line in the interior of a feather I suspect is NOT easy.

Wikipedia
There has been controversy and confusion over the origin of the Brahma. It appears to have developed in the United States from large birds, with heavily feathered legs, imported in the 1840s from the Chinese port of Shanghai, and thus known as "Shanghai" birds.[4]: 78  The distinctive head shape and pea comb of the Brahma probably result from cross-breeding with Grey Chittagong birds of Malay type, imported from Chittagong in eastern Bengal (now Bangladesh); these characteristics distinguish the Brahma from the Cochin, which also derives from "Shanghai" birds.[5]

In looking up the chittagong chicken, I found this:

https://cs-tf.com/malay-chicken/

That comb, and height crossed with a cochin, with more back breeding could easily get the Brahmas. The statuesque body shape of the malay with the bulk and feathered feet of the cochin. The wyandotte has a rose comb which CANNOT make a pea comb at all. Both are equally dominant and when both genes are present, you get a walnut comb (like a pure silkie). When only one is present, you get the comb type showing, and when neither is present, you get a straight comb.

Going back to the pullet age, I can see bothView attachment 4011972View attachment 4011973View attachment 4011974View attachment 4011975View attachment 4011976View attachment 4011977the straight back and long legs: Malay
The short neck, super fluffy but and broad back: cochin

Both cochin and Malay have enough feather varieties to get to the desired colors without stepping outside of either breed.

Oooooo yes I want a couple of those! Wonder how cold hardy they are….

Love the one photo with the silkie roaming about with them.

A few yrs ago I had looked into any breeders here found one but they are in Quebec. Bit of a drive for me!

 

[ManueB]

I have some sad news to share, especially for those who followed her journey from the start. Little Piou-piou was killed early this morning by a weasel that broke in the coop.
She was our special little princess and we are heartbroken.
I'll post a tribute when I feel less upset.

 

[rural mouse]

I am always amazed at both your knowledge and ability to retain and synthesize information. I have learned (and, unfortunately, forgotten again) so much about chickens, breeds, and feather patterns from you! I wish my brain was younger so I could retain more of the information you share! Alas, between age and stress and life, I seem to be retaining less and less new info lately. Thanks for your PATIENT re-educating us on a regular basis - and being willing to do the deep dives to make sure we have correct info!

[p.s. I do have to say I am proud of the fact that I remembered that Dark Brahmas were penciled, though, not laced - and what the difference is. I still can't quite wrap my head around penciled versus partridge - other than a base colour of brown...it just doesn't make sense to me that it is called something different.]

Thank you.

Penciled vs partridge vs the other partridge vs the other penciled. (trying to pound it into my own brain: lacing vs the 1st penciled finally stuck)

I dunno why either, but Cheetah is gold penciled....and it looks like barred/cuckoo type of markings but with gold and black instead of white and black. All I know about it is the genetics calculators refer to it as transverse penciled which logically to me translates to stripes across the feather.

 

[rural mouse]

I have some sad news to share, especially for those who followed her journey from the start. Little Piou-piou was killed early this morning by a weasel that broke in the coop.
She was our special little princess and we are heartbroken.
I'll post a tribute when I feel less upset.
View attachment 4011994

 

[rural mouse]

Oooooo yes I want a couple of those! Wonder how cold hardy they are….

Love the one photo with the silkie roaming about with them.

A few yrs ago I had looked into any breeders here found one but they are in Quebec. Bit of a drive for me!

Which pic are you talking about? I've never had silkies?

 

[bgmathteach]

I have some sad news to share, especially for those who followed her journey from the start. Little Piou-piou was killed early this morning by a weasel that broke in the coop.
She was our special little princess and we are heartbroken.
I'll post a tribute when I feel less upset.
View attachment 4011994

Oh, @ManueB I am so sorry to hear this. I always loved Piou-Piou. I wish I could say something profound, but I have nothing other than to send you my deep sympathies and I am sending you some virtual hugs