Description of chickens of the Brahma Light breed
Chickens of the Brahma Svetlaya breed are the most popular type of poultry in Russia and not only. They have a very beautiful color and decorative appearance. These giants are friendly and can protect themselves and their offspring from cats or dogs.
Light brahma
Such chickens look good in the yard on a green lawn, they bring large and large eggs, have tasty dietary meat, thereby attracting farmers. They are turned on not only for beauty: they bring a lot of benefits. They are distinguished from others chicken breeds large size and plumage.
History and description of the Brama breed
There are two variants of the origin of the Brama breed. The first is that chickens have been bred in areas of India since 1850, after an exhibition in Boston. The second option is North America. The breed was officially registered in 1874. In the 19th century, this breed was brought to the territory of Russia.
Chickens were distinguished by the main qualities: a lot of tasty and juicy meat. This was their main task. The rooster could weigh up to 8 kg, and the chickens grew very quickly and gained weight. Even after 4 years of life, chickens rush perfectly. The birds' eggs are large, and keeping them does not bring much trouble. However, over time, chickens of the Brahma breed began to be used for decorative purposes, their meat qualities faded into the background. Having such chickens is a decoration for the yard.
Asian American breed
Such chickens of Brahma rush after 7-8 months. They bring about 100-125 eggs per year. After 2 years, productivity decreases and the weight of eggs ranges from 53-59 g. By weight, a hen and a cock have a difference of 1 kg. The rooster weighs approximately 4-5 kg. Chicks grow slowly. During the period of their development and growth, one should beware of the cold season, otherwise they will not overwinter. Chicks over 5 months old must be kept in a separate aviaryotherwise there will be fights.
The instinct of insertion in chickens is strong, but they are not suitable for hatching chickens. You can get out of the situation by placing under the hen goose eggs or ducks, because the chicken can simply crush its own, and the shells of goose and duck are stronger and thicker. Why are there such problems? The answer is simple. Due to the fact that once they decided to make these chickens more decorative, they have lost all their main qualities. They began to mate with different breeds, so now it is very difficult to find a purebred hen of the Brahma breed, such as it was centuries ago.
European type of Brahma
The description is slightly different from the American one. These pets are characterized by a small head and wide forehead, long red earlobes, earrings, and a little skin under the beak. The plumage is dense and long, the color is exclusively white, without admixtures of yellow or dirty, the tail of a rooster should only be dark black. Legs are short, so it is difficult for chickens to walk and carry their weight.
General characteristics
The description of both representatives of the species has some common features.
Chickens of the Brahma breed are divided into several subspecies:
- Light.
- Dark.
- Fawn.
- kurapatchaty.
They differ in plumage colors and some features in the exterior. The light breed is very popular among the population of Russia. Such pets are more practical, their snow-white color shimmers in the sun and pleases with its appearance. The eggs of the birds described are large, and the meat is very tasty. There are some peculiarities in the feeding and breeding of these birds.
Brama Light
Large birds with powerful, albeit short legs, have a beautiful pearl white color and serve not only as a decoration, but also as an excellent product. They are also called Colombian Brama. The breed can live in absolutely harsh conditions, does not experience discomfort in winter. Previously, such birds could weigh 7-8 kg. Now the rooster weighs from 4-5 kg, the chicken - 3.5-4 kg. Brahma Light begins to rush from the age of 7-8 months and bring from 100 to 130 pieces a year. The eggs are large, hard shell, ocher color. Three-year-old chickens fly less. By the fifth year of life, productivity will decrease, from 50-65 pieces per year.
To acquire thoroughbred chickens, farmers go to exhibitions. Oddly enough, chickens also receive awards, because their main function is decorativeness... To breed such birds, they buy from 3 chickens and 1 rooster. The light brahma is beautiful not only in the photo, but also in life.
Breeding chickens of the Brahma breed
For breeding, you need to take 2-3 year old chickens.
Although pullets are rushing, but not for breeding and increasing the herd. Only 2-4-year-old chickens will begin to give good offspring and show their abilities at full strength. Good young growth, chickens and good performance. To preserve the Brahma breed, you need to breed offspring at the beginning of the year, the first 2 winter months. Birds grow for a long time, but confidently, and therefore they must form into good chicks until the next cold weather sets in.
Oddly enough, young animals may not get stronger, because they will lack ultraviolet rays and vitamin D.
The bones will weaken, and as a result, the brood may not survive until next spring. Chickens constantly need a certain microclimate, and even if they are not afraid of the cold, they simply will not have enough sunlight and warmth. For the correct and high-quality development of chickens and young animals, sun and fresh air are needed.
Maintenance and feeding
Proper maintenance and feeding depends on the breed of chickens. Light brahma needs chicken coop well lit, warm and reliable. Its height should vary from 2 to 3 m, depending on what material it is made of. The floor must be in a mat that is thick for the cold season.
To avoid scuffles, the nests should be located at different levels with a difference of half a meter or more.
Good lighting - an important factor in chicken breeding. For good egg production, they need normal lighting up to 13 hours a day. Lack of good lighting can affect the quality of the eggs, the shells can become thinner or disappear altogether. Chickens will lay eggs in a soft shell, and this is fraught with disease, lack of vitamins in feeding, and in order to cure this problem, it is worth spending a lot of time and effort.
The microclimate plays an important role. In warm countries, the food is different from what is given to chickens of the Brahma breed in Russia and the CIS countries. There is more cold season here, so the birds lack natural sunlight, vitamins, microelements, good food. There are 3 types of feeding for Brahma:
- Dry type. It is used in large poultry farms, where each layer is in its own enclosure. It is much more economical and more profitable for farmers. The advantage of such feeding is that dry compound feed does not deteriorate and can be stored for a long time. But it is worth watching what the manufacturer puts there. Chickens may lack some vitamins and will still have to do complementary foods. You can also make a dry mixture at home.It is enough to grind the grain, add flour from meat and fish bones, a little mineral additives, and your own dry food is ready.
- Wet type of feeding. This type is ground grain with tasty greens and protein feed. You can add whey, broth or leftover food there. Feeding in this way is more economical, but it cannot be stored for a long time, especially if there are few chickens in the herd. Used by poultry farmers at home and in small farms.
- Combined type. The first and second types of feeding are mixed. The dry mixture can be made by the owners themselves. Grinding the grain and adding there flour from fish and meat bones, vitamins and minerals. The second part consists of potatoes, cabbage and other waste, which are mixed and fed to the chickens. Of course, such a mixture will not be stored for a long time, because it consists of products of natural origin. Birds eat the combined feed with pleasure and even in winter the eggs do not lose their color. The number of eggs per year from such feed increases.
At the age of 130 days, chickens can be selected into a new herd and at this they cease to be young. This becomes evident not only by the plumage or color of the eggs, but also by their qualities and capabilities. The plumage should be free of dirty yellow dusting, yellow legs, red catkins and a comb. If chickens are needed exclusively for eggs, you can refuse to have a rooster. And to avoid the stress of chickens, you can periodically turn on the sounds of crowing for them: this is how the birds calm down and feel safe. But if the time comes to breed chicks, you can either buy them at exhibitions, or buy a rooster.
Conclusion
Chickens of the Brahma Svetlaya breed are interesting and unusual birds. Their large size, proud decorative appearance will delight the eye and not only. The winged ones have their own hidden capabilities, which were overshadowed by their beauty. The bird is very productive and knows how to adapt to any climate. The egg is large and ocher in color. Finding a thoroughbred hen is not so easy. Farmers go to exhibitions and competitions to buy themselves a real original breed.
Pets give good offspring, are distinguished by their delicious and dietary meat. Breeding them is pretty easy and hassle-free. Like any Brahma bird, it can get sick, but everything depends on the owner: if there is correct and good lighting, the feeding will be combined, the selected time will be successful for breeding a new herd - then there will be no problems.
In the age of internet technology, you can buy more than just chickens online. However, we do not recommend doing this. The photo may be one thing, but in reality it is completely different. This also applies to the purchase of dry food. It is better to spend time, go and take a closer look, because it is very difficult to find a purebred breed, it is mixed in every possible way with other breeds and is sold for a lot of money. But, having spent your time, choosing good chickens, the right food, putting in order the chicken coop, you can get much more: high-quality meat, large eggs, beautiful decoration of the yard with chickens of the Brahma Light breed.