Janty Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 Please help to put my mind at rest. One of my brahmas has just mounted one of the hybrids. I have had the brahmas since 7th October and this is the first time I have seen this. I know that brahmas don't mature until they are 18 months old...she (hopefully) is nearly 6 months old. There has been no crowing but I don't know if they do this at an early age. Here are some photos of my brahmas....can anybody tell me if they are definitely girls? Thanks. I know that I am being a paranoid chicken mummy but the family are winding me up to the point where I am getting worried. My brahmas are so friendly and I would hate to have to rehome one or both of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 (edited) The one on the right looks very male like to me Could you take photos of the body and tale as it is hard to tell from the small comb. By the fact one of them mounted one of your hybrids isn't a good sign...are they at the top of the pecking order? Sorry can't help much, but I would say the one on the right is male Please don't rely on my answer though, as I'm no expert! xx Edited December 26, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 Erm.......*gulp*........the one on the right has rather extravagant tail feathers. Not an encouraging sign I'm afraid. Can you photo her/him from the side for a better view? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 26, 2007 Author Share Posted December 26, 2007 Here are some clearer photos taken from the side. Is it true that the male brahmas do not really crow that much? I have a book which says that they are not prolific crowers. Is this true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 Sorry, I would say the first one is definatly a cockerel Not sure about the second one, but that tail is very suspicious... Not sure about crowing As far as I know all cockerels crow. Why don't you post on the practical poultry website, if you are not a member then I'd be happy to post on your behalf as it takes atleast 24 hours to join. Have you checked for spurs? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 Just googled "Brahmas" Not good news I'm afraid. From the plumage and colouring I would say they are both boys. Sorry. Gold Brahma Cockerel Gold Brahma Hen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 Here are some Brahma cockerels, scroll down to about the middle of the page and they look very much like yours http://featherside.com/Poultry/CGA/Brahma/BRKBrahma.htmlhttp://featherside.com/Poultry/CGA/Brahma/BRKBrahma.html xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 26, 2007 Author Share Posted December 26, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 If they were sold to you as hens then the breeder might be prepared to take them back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 26, 2007 Author Share Posted December 26, 2007 She probably would but we have grown so attached to them...they are real characters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 If they don't crow you could keep them perhaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 26, 2007 Author Share Posted December 26, 2007 That's what I'm hoping. I have just checked their legs...no spurs but there is the tiniest of little lumps on the back of their legs. You would only notice it if you were seriously checking. Would these have developed more by 6 months? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Judging by Eglutines pics, yours does look like a male gold brahma. Mine is a female and looks spot on like the pic she posted. Her tail feathers are a lot more fluffy looking than yours. If you want you can come and have a look at mine to compare with, which should hopefuly save you a long jurney if yours does turn out to be female. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 They do look like cockerels Will you be able to keep them if they are, or do you have close neighbours? We have two cockerels kept in the same pen together - they don't fight because they were brought up together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Hi (again) I found this for you http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=d1slF6n0U00 its not that bad really... You could go and talk to youfr neighbors and explain the situation. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Just looking at the colours, they are definitely cockerel coloured for partridge brahmas, the females should be a completely different colour: This is a partridge cockerel with hens. Sorry Janty Am I right in thinking you got them from Merrydale? If so, she is very helpful (not that that is much consolation) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 27, 2007 Author Share Posted December 27, 2007 Thanks for all your help. On Saturday I am taking the Spice Girls to Suffolk Rare Breed Poultry. The lady there breeds brahmas and will be able to tell me for certain. Karen at Merrydale Poultry in Leicester has also been fantastic. She has said that if they are confirmed as males, she understands that a journey back to Leicester to return them would be unrealistic and so if we are able to re-home them, she will refund me what we paid for them. However, the lady at Suffolk Rare Breeds has said that she is willing to have them as part of her breeding flock and she will give me two pullets instead. Everybody has been lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Being hard nosed about it, even if you get 2 replacement pullets from the Rare Breed place, I would still seek a refund from Merrydale. I know everyone regularly says how lovely breeders are, but it will encourage them to be more careful about sexing birds in the future and save other new owners from the heartache you've been through over the last couple of days. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Trouble is it is notoriusly difficult to sex some breeds at a young age, so breeders will routinely offer to swap cockerels for pullets if they have got it wrong, not a lot else they can do. It isn't the breeders fault that Janty lives so far away and it is a reminder to us all that this is a risk when buying pure and non auto sexing breeds. Sounds like a good solution though Janty, and your local breeder is probably glad to have some fresh blood for her own breeding programme! They are certainly good looking birds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Wise words, Snowy. A bitter disappointment for you Janty, but I'm sure you will get to love your replacement girls very quickly. Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
