[Homestead] Chickens

eureka at hctc.net eureka at hctc.net
Tue May 20 16:11:11 EDT 2008


Gene,

I can't say enough good things about the Brahmas. The Dark 
Brahmas are prolific large brown egg layers (some of our 
largest eggs). Their faces look a little menacing, but 
personality-wise they are teddy bears and are easy to 
handle--very easy going chickens. I recently read they are 
the genetic foundation of many other breeds. Our Brahma 
rooster is almost as large as a turkey, but just as gentle 
to us and the girls. Of our mix, there's a couple of 
Brahma hens that go broody regularly, so if you want to 
increase your flock this would be a good trait. Even so, 
they don't seem to mind us searching for eggs beneath 
them.

We can actually tell all our breeds' eggs apart, and in 
some cases even know the egg by the hen. The Americana 
eggs are varying shades of blue-green. We also find them 
to be personable and easy to handle, but their eggs tend 
to taper off when it gets to hot or cold. They rule the 
roost, but in a nice way. The Polish eggs are white, 
medium to small and very pointed. They have their own area 
within the main coop that they share with the Faverolles 
(tinted medium eggs). The Buttercups and Fayoumis are 
small hens but lay large white (non pointy) eggs.

The Fayoumis are the only breed that have not let us 
handle them, and frequently peck us. They are constantly 
getting into trouble...you know the type, insolent 
backtalk, flirting with the boys, smoking behind the hen 
house, etc.

--Sage
Way Out in Texas



On Tue, 20 May 2008 14:06:33 -0500
  Gene GeRue <genegerue at ruralize.com> wrote:
> 
> On May 20, 2008, at 12:55 PM, <eureka at hctc.net> 
><eureka at hctc.net> wrote:
> 
>> The Brahmas are about the best natured chickens I've 
>>met,
>> and the Fayoumis the most annoying. The latter fly very
>> well, have an "attitude" that probably explains how
>> they've fended themselves for centuries on the Nile.
> 
> Sage, how do you find the Brahmas for eggs? Average, 
>better, worse? Of  
> course, with that many breeds, you may be unable to 
>differentiate.
> _______________________________________________
> Homestead list and subscription:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
> Change your homestead list member options:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/eureka%40hctc.net
> View the archives at:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/homestead
> 
> 



More information about the Homestead mailing list