Decorative chickens Brahma
Chickens Brahma is an ornamental and partly meat breed, whose homeland is India. Birds were bred in Asia on private farms, from there they got to Europe and America. Now known varieties with different types of color, decorative, meat and decorative-meat direction. On the basis of this breed, dwarf chickens were bred, which completely repeat the characteristics of large relatives, but are smaller in size.
Chickens Brama
General characteristics of the breed
Brahma is a large breed with lush, beautiful plumage. Its ancestors were Malay chickens and Cochinchins... Around 1840, these birds came from China to America, then spread to Europe. The standard was approved in 1874. The fawn color was recognized in 1924. Today, taking into account productivity, the following varieties are distinguished:
- American meat;
- Asian meat-decorative;
- European decorative.
Now there are many meat chickens whose productivity is higher than that of Brahma. Kuchinskaya, Lohman Brown, broilers of different breeds outperformed these ancient Asian birds in their performance. The breed is becoming more and more decorative, as well as crested.
breeders prefer to classify birds by type and color of plumage. The following varieties of the Brama breed are distinguished:
- light Colombian;
- dark;
- fawn;
- partridge.
In some European countries, Brahma mini-chickens are very popular, which are a miniature copy of large birds. Common features of all Brahma chickens:
- Good adaptation to various conditions of detention.
- Late ripening.
- Large, muscular body with a dignified posture and an enlarged chest.
- The mane of cockerels and chickens is colored brighter than the body.
- The line connecting the neck, back and tail is shaped like a lyre.
- A miniature, almost invisible comb with weakly pronounced denticles.
- Short beak.
- On the neck there is a fold of skin in the form of a bridle.
- Feather and down cuffs on the legs.
Egg production in all varieties of the Brama breed is low. The meat is juicy, a little rough, with an original taste. The birds are of southern origin, therefore they do not tolerate the cold very well. In order not to spoil the plumage, they must be kept clean. The nature of the birds is peaceful, they are happy to make contact with people. Roosters rarely fight with each other; Brahm males have a low level of aggression.
Brama light Colombian
Once the light Colombian Brahma was considered one of the best meat breeds. Males reached a weight of 7 kg, and chickens at the age of 5 months had a weight of 3.5 kg. Egg production was also good, up to 160-170 eggs per year. Over time, the breed began to be bred as decorative, and its product characteristics decreased. The modern description and standard of light Brahma is as follows:
- The head is small with a convex forehead and developed superciliary arches.
- The beak is yellow, may have black stripes.
- The scallop is bright red, small, pea-shaped, with three grooves.
- The earrings are rounded, bright red, like the face.
- The eyes are large, set deep, reddish.
- The neck is long, with a lush mane.
- The wings are small, fit snugly to the body.
- Fan-shaped tail.
- The plumage is lush, the skin is yellowish
- The main tone of light Brahma is silvery white.
- The color of the plumage on the neck, tail and on the tips of the tail feathers is black, has a beautiful green tint.
- Males with black mane may have stripes on the loins of the same color, pullets should be pure white, yellowness in color is not allowed.
Light Brahmas begin to rush late. They gain weight well, but they are inferior in these indicators to modern broiler breeds. The performance indicators of chickens are as follows:
- The weight of the chickens is 3 kg, the males are 4 kg.
- The number of eggs per year is 100-110 pieces.
- Testicle weight - 55-60 g.
- The shell is brown, strong.
Chickens breed Light brahma very calm, gullible and completely non-aggressive. They can live in a confined walking space. It is better to grow them in private small farms. Often, birds are kept for show or for the preservation of genetic material.
Chickens of the Brama breed dark
Dark brahma is one of the most beautiful varieties of the breed. The rich black feather with white contrast looks very beautiful both in the photo and live. These birds are often shown at exhibitions, bred as decoration for the courtyard. Here is a brief description of the dark Brahma:
- A small head with a convex forehead and a slightly bent yellow beak (there may be black stripes on the beak).
- The scallop is small, pea, with three grooves.
- The eyes are brown with a red tint.
- The neck is elongated, the breast is wide, the back is short, the wings are small.
- The tail is small, stands straight.
- The skin is white or yellow.
- The plumage color is black, gray and white.
- In chickens, the feather on the body is gray with two rows of black stripes, resembling crescents, directed parallel to the contours of the feathers. The head is silvery-white, on the neck of the feathers are black with a white edging.
- The rooster has a silvery-white head, shoulders and back, feathers on the neck are white with silver, there is a black longitudinal stripe in the middle.
- The wings are black, their tint is green.
- The plumage should not have a yellow, red or brown tint.
The productivity of the dark Brahma is better than that of the light one, but it is not so high that one thinks about industrial breeding of birds. Here are the main indicators:
- Rooster weighs 4.5 kg, chicken 3.5 kg.
- Egg production - 120 pieces per year.
- Egg Weighs 60 g.
- The shell is strong, brown.
- The survival rate of young animals is average, 67%.
Like any variety of Brahma, the dark one ripens late, by 9 months. Increase the number of eggs correct maintenance and feeding helps. These birds are bred at home and to preserve the gene pool.
Chicken varieties Brahma Palevaya
Pale bramah perfectly tolerates low temperatures, therefore it is recommended for breeding in cold climates. The plumage of this species is lush, loose and very soft. The rooster and the hen are colored almost the same. The male can be distinguished by the darker plumage on the neck. Here is a description of the appearance of this breed:
- The head is small with developed superciliary arches, which makes the look seem stern.
- The scallop is pea-shaped, small, divided by three grooves.
- The earrings are round, small.
- The neck is long, the breast is widened, the back is short and wide.
- The legs are powerful, high; there is plumage on the middle and outer toes.
- Feather color is fawn, with a delicate cream shade.
- The rooster's neck is slightly darker than the rest of the body.
The productivity of the fawn Brama is the same as the previous two varieties. Birds rush after 9 months. For a year, you can get up to 120 eggs from them, with good feeding a little more.Rooster weighs about 4.5 kg, fawn chicken - 3.5 kg. Layers take good care of chickens, therefore, the survival rate of young animals is more than 70%.
Partridge chickens Brahma
the partridge variety Brahma has the most interesting plumage colors. Her body structure is not much different from that characteristic of the rest of the breed. A small head with a small comb, an elongated neck, a large and powerful body with an extended chest and a short back. Females plumage:
- The main color is pale yellow, light tone.
- Feathers with triple edging, cream, gray and black.
- Blotches of any other colors are considered a disadvantage.
The breed with a gray edging is also called blue-partridge. In the sun, the feather of such chickens looks especially impressive. The blue color shimmers into gray, silver and almost white. If you carefully look at the photo or video of these birds, you can see the amazing patterns that nature has created on each feather.
The coloration of males of the partridge variety is very different. The rooster is a real handsome man, this is how he looks:
- The head, neck and back are rufous.
- The color of the breast, belly and legs is black, green or emerald tint is noticeable in the sun.
- The wings are of a bright brick color.
- Feathers on the tail can be of all shades of the main color.
The productivity of partridge Brahma is low. The weight of the Birds is 3.5-4.5 kg, the egg production is 110-120 eggs per year. birds are bred at home as decorative, because of the bright original color.
Dwarf Brahmas
Dwarf Brahmas were bred relatively recently, but quickly gained popularity. In terms of decorative characteristics, these birds are in no way inferior to their relatives with large growth, but their maintenance is less expensive. They can live in a narrower yard or poultry house, they eat significantly less feed per year. Birds love to stay in flocks, chickens faithfully run after their cockerels. In the summer, they can be free-range. In winter, chickens are best kept in poultry housethey are sensitive to cold.
Dwarf Bram eggs are rich in minerals and vitamins, surpassing products from other breeds in these indicators. But these chickens rush poorly, sometimes worse than birds of a large breed. They are divided into 3 types according to color:
- Dwarf Brama isabella.
- Dwarf Brahma partridge.
- Dwarf Brama is dark.
Dwarf brama isabella
The body of these chickens is gray-blue in color, the head, neck and part of the back are white-yellow. The feathers are fluffy and always clean. Legs and toes are also feathered and pubescent. The posture of birds is proud, which is why their growth seems to be larger than it really is. chickens weight - 1.5 kg, males - 2.5 kg. Egg production is low, up to 80-100 pieces per year. The weight of the testicle is 35-40 g, the shell is dark, strong.
Dark Dwarf Brama
The appearance of a dwarf dark Brahma is almost the same as that of a large one. Females have a black color with a light pattern on the feathers. In roosters, the body is black with an emerald sheen, the plumage on the neck, back and head is silvery-gray. Pants on the legs are only on the back. The weight of the birds is 1.5-2 kg, the egg productivity is low.
Dwarf Dwarf Brahma
Males of this variety have a bright red neck and back, brick wings and a black body, cast with mother-of-pearl. The feathers on the tail are multi-colored. Fawn chickens, with a beautiful pattern on the feathers. Layers are distinguished by high productivity, they can produce up to 270 eggs per year, weighing up to 40 g. Roosters are 1.5 times larger than females, they look very impressive in the courtyard.
Features of the content
Raising Brahma chickens is not that difficult, but this decorative breed requires more attention than regular layers. The birds are quite large, therefore they need a spacious barn. For 1 sq. m of area, you can settle 2-3 individuals of the usual size or 5-6 dwarf chickens. Perches are made 40 cm high and 30 cm wide, using strong and thick boards. If you make the nesting space smaller, the hen will not be able to sit on the eggs.
To increase egg production, additional lighting is provided in the house. Daylight hours should last 14-16 hours. In winter, it is worth considering heating, chickens do not tolerate cold weather. Also important proper ventilation and no drafts. Chickens Brahma can live only in free-range conditions, cages are completely unsuitable for them. The corral should be spacious, at least 4-5 sq. m per individual. It is important to properly enclose the walking area so that a dog, cat or wild predatory animal does not get there.
The beautiful plumage of chickens and roosters gets dirty quickly, so you should take care of cleanliness. The bedding is made from straw or high-quality peat. Sprinkle on top of it with wood ash, which prevents birds from appearing parasites, effectively fights against pathogenic bacteria. Wood ash is poured into a separate container where the hens can take dry baths. Change the bedding every week. They carefully monitor that it is not too wet, the breed does not tolerate dampness.
In the chicken coop and in the aviary, there must be drinking bowls with fresh water, separate containers for wet mash and grain. If parasites appear on the legs of chickens, the feathers become disheveled, they are treated with tar. To protect pedigree birds from disease, chickens are vaccinated. Vaccination is carried out in the first days after birth.
Bird feeding
To raise strong and healthy individuals, the feeding of Brahma chickens must be balanced. The diet includes all the necessary substances: vitamins, minerals, proteins (plant and animal), carbohydrates and fats. In order to meet these needs, the daily menu should be as follows:
- grain - 50-55 g;
- wet mash - 30 g;
- boiled potatoes - 100 g;
- herbal flour - 10 g;
- bone meal - 2 g;
- chalk - 3 g;
- table salt - 0.5 g.
A special table will help to correctly determine the amount of feed. In summer, the diet consists largely of greens obtained from the garden. Chickens are given zucchini, pumpkin, skins from watermelon and melon, cucumber trimmings. In winter, the menu includes sunflower or soybean meal, brewer's yeast, and vitamin supplements. The need for animal proteins can be replenished with skim milk, meat broth. In summer, birds are happy to eat snails, worms, flies.
You need to feed the birds 3 times a day. In the morning and in the evening they give grain, at lunchtime - greens, vegetables, wet feed. The diet of hens with chickens varies somewhat. You need to give them feed that is easy to digest, contain more proteins, vitamins and calcium. The house should always have fresh water at the rate of 1.8 parts of liquid per 1 part of dry feed. To improve digestion, a container filled with fine gravel, shells or large river sand is always placed next to the feeder.
Bird breeding
For breeding the Brahma chicken breed, the farmer can buy a hatching egg, small chickens or adult birds. When buying eggs, they can be placed under a hen of a different variety or hatched in an incubator. The incubation of eggs of Brama chickens does not have any peculiarities. It should only be taken into account that hatchability of chicks is not too high. It is best to take eggs from hens at the age of 110-115 weeks, they are better fertilized, the chicks from them come out more viable.
The chicken family consists of 1 rooster and 10-15 hens. When selecting birds for a tribe, they determine the quality and color of their plumage, weight, and check for defects. You cannot mix different breeds in one pen, their purity will be lost. Brahm's hens are not bad brood hens with a developed maternal instinct. So the natural incubation of eggs shouldn't be difficult.
Chick care
Caring for chicks in the early days consists of good heating and correct lighting... During the first days, it is necessary to provide the young animals with a temperature of 28-30 ° C and turn on the lamp for the whole day. Then the temperature is reduced by 1-2 ° daily, and the lighting is reduced by an hour. At 2 weeks, chickens begin to be released outside.Monthly chicks can already look for food on their own.
In the first days, the chicks are fed with crumbly porridge mixed with a boiled egg and cottage cheese, then the crushed grain, peas are steamed until the chicks learn to eat them dry. Also, boiled vegetables are added to the diet from 3-4 days, and potatoes from the second week. A few crystals of potassium permanganate can be thrown into the drinker to prevent intestinal infections. Vaccinations are advisable in the first weeks.
Chicken cost
How much does the Brama chicken breed cost? If we talk about the price, then a hatching egg can be bought at the CFM for 50-60 rubles. The price of an adult chicken is around 1000 rubles, day-old chickens cost 250-300 rubles. It is necessary to buy birds on proven farms that are purposefully engaged in breeding this breed and receive good reviews from the owners. They must have all the certifications. It is desirable that hens and roosters participate in exhibitions. Bram is sold in many regions, in Russia the largest selection is offered by farms in the Moscow region.