These chickens grow slowly, which is why they are often overlooked as a potential backyard chicken species. Thank you. Brahmas may not be the best choice for the commercial market because of their slow growth rates, large size, and need for consistent care. However, the breeds slow maturity rate made it lose its popularity in favor of other quickly-maturing chicken breeds. Most breeders suggest that this is due to its pea comb as well as its tight feathering and extensive down. Originally, there were dozens of different names and strains of this bird, leading to the formation of the Brahmapootra breed in 1852. Also known as the King of All Fowls or the yards gentle giant by most hobbyists, the Brahma chicken is a pretty breed of poultry that you can rear for meat and eggs. In the early 1850s after successfully breeding Brahmas, George Burnham, a poultry enthusiast, had a few gray shanghaes delivered to Her Majesty Queen Victoria of England. Although most people argue about its exact origin, some sources suggest that it developed in America after crossbreeding the Shanghai birds from China with the Malaysian birds known as Gray Chittagong chicken. chickensandyou.com is reader-supported. However, there are certain breeds (especially giant dog breeds) such as the Pyrenean Mastiff, the Beauceron or the Saint Bernard, which may have an extra finger on the dewclaw. Brahma chickens are slower to mature and lay eggs later than most backyard breeds. It also has medium-sized wattles, reddish-brown eyes, short tails, yellow shanks and feet, red earlobes, and short, strong, and yellow beaks. You can expect the brown egg size to be medium to large. Perfect for anyone wanting to take a natural approach to backyard chicken keeping! These birds are easy to tame and enjoyable to raise, making them the breed you should be raising in your backyard chicken coop. The Livestock Conservancy recognizes them as recovering, for a long time dropping from popularity but experiencing a resurgence in growth as they become more popular with backyard chicken keepers. However, it would be best to keep these species in hot climates because they dont handle heat well like other breeds. Yes, this breed is cold hardy and will usually lay eggs in the winter. Brahmas are a hardy breed of chicken, tolerant to the cold thanks to their profuse feathering. Hens also have feathered feet but are less profuse. Brahma chickens, like all other chickens, have relatively long life spans. The Brahma hen is well known to go broody in early summer, with the rest of the year seeing them quite relaxed about the state of their eggs. Initiate their relationship gradually while monitoring their interaction. When they get hungry they have a tendency to bully other flock members so it is better to keep them fed and happy. They dont tend to wander far but are relatively good foragers. Just make sure you keep them well fed and you will have a happy chicken. Your local temperature, current flock, and space limitations will mean they are either a terrific choice or a terrible mistake. These birds are so large that they often accidentally trample their own eggs or baby chicks once they hatch. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Chickens And More is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and any other affiliated sites. This unusual-looking chicken is exceptional hardy, making it resilient in both the summer and winter months. Now you can say it with confidence! American standards also require thin feathers on the feet with a large or heavy-set body. In the winter these balls can freeze causing frostbite and in severe cases the loss of toes. Today, this breed, which is officially recognized by the American Poultry Association, is considered a heritage breed. It needs a lot of space to move in, and being tall, they also need more ceiling and door height for their enclosures. As a meat bird, the Brahma is beyond comparison. Referred to often as the King of All Poultry, this chicken breed would make a fantastic addition to your backyard flock. Read our Breed guide below to find out if the Brahma chicken is for you. Write us at info(at)knowyourchickens.com with any questions or concerns! Larger nesting boxes will accommodate their larger size and provide other chickens ample space to lay without stress. Light Brahma hens dont have as much black feathering apart from the tail. They are a heavy bird which means they do not fly well (if at all). Brahma cockerels are hushed crowers while hens do not loudly cackle while they lay. Both are considered egg and meat birds. One way of minimizing these issues is by ensuring that their enclosures are clean and can withstand severe climates. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. They also have a broad, wide head with a skull that sits out over the eyes. Brahmas can also develop small mud balls between their toes that may cause damage to the foot. Raising chickens means providing them the right environment thats designed to accommodate their needs throughout all growth stages. The Brahma is a tall, erect bird despite its size (approx 10lb for a rooster, 8lb for a hen). On average, a Brahma chicken will lay about 150 to 200 eggs per year. Chickens And More is quickly becoming the online destination for all backyard chicken enthusiasts. Chickens And More. Just got my first group of 51 Rooster and 4 egg laying Hens. These are features not commonly found with traditional coops. There are countless benefits to raising these chickens, with perhaps the most notable being their ability to: However, perhaps one of the greatest benefits of raising a Brahma chicken is that these birds are adaptable to most climates, meaning you can raise a Brahma chicken no matter where you live. For example, most chickens raised for meat will only grow two toes whereas laying hens tend to develop four or five toes per foot. Though the Brahma chicken is a giant breed, they are not the noisiest birds. Dark Brahma chicks have darker coloring and stripes down their backs, while Light Brahmas have a lighter, solid coloring. and other members of the flock, Thrive in confinement with minimal There is little you need to know about raising Brahmas as chicks they require the same conditions as other young chickens. Unlike Plymouth Rock, this chicken breed with feathered legs is not aggressive towards humans and other chickens. You can expect 4-5 medium-sized, brown eggs per chicken every week during the spring, summer, and fall. Brahmas are stately and elegant in their demeanors. Brahmas flock is also docile, peaceful, and has low noise levels making them an excellent fit for urban dwellers and beginners. And this breed usually lays its eggs from October to May, just when other breeds are shutting down for winter. 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Retrieved from: https://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/poultry/chickens/brahma, 18 Friendliest Chicken Breeds For Your Backyard, most expensive chicken breeds in the world, Large fowl: 4.5-5.4kgs (9.9-12lbs); bantam: 900g (32oz), Relatively low maintenance; feather care required, 8-10 weeks (broilers); 8 months (roasters). Soon, they became expensive exotic fowls that people kept for meat, eggs, and ornamental purposes. And the "s" is silent. This makes it much easier to care for them, especially with those feathered feet. Now we know a little bit about them and where they came from, lets move to their physical features. There were several different names for the breed and at a meeting of poultry judges in Massachusetts in 1852, the name Brahmaputra was chosen. They give a little bit of everything you would need and want from a chicken. Just keep an eye on the eggs. The females have a more uniform black partridge pattern with white piping throughout their bodies. Similar to the perches nesting boxes should be low to the ground. At the time, no other chicken looked anything like the Cochin. Keep reading to find out what its like to actually own a Brahma. The original Brahma chicken colors included the Dark and Light Brahma up until the 1950s. Unfortunately, your chicken can exhibit anti-social behaviors like pecking and picking if you put them in less space. Cover the box with a screen to eliminate the likelihood of drafts (and other pets!) Brahma is a unique breed of chicken, not only for their large size but for their hardiness and pleasing personality. Because of their size not too much intimidates them. You should also position the nest boxes low to the ground or add a sturdy chicken ladder to the nesting and roosting area. Here are a few questions you might have before making that decision. Brahma Chicken. Thanks. The extra toe these breeds have is generally located higher up than their first toe (the hallux) and faces upwards. Why do some chickens have 5 toes? - Pets and Animals Guide The white feathers have a gray undertone, while the black feathers have a white stripe around the edges. Some larger breeds will require even more space. Retrieved from: https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/brahma, About the Brahma. Since the Brahma chicken breed is slow-growing, it is crucial to provide quality feed to Brahma chicks to ensure their growth. The Brahma chicks can take up to 9 months to develop a full plumage. Make sure to get a breathable mesh harness for when you want to take them on walks. If you are able to raise your Brahma chickens on green grass, you shouldnt have a problem, but keep the health needs of this chicken in mind before you take the leap in purchasing one. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. A large Brahma chicken will take much longer to mature than other chicken breeds. Their feathering extends down the legs and covers the two outer toes with feathers. For comfort and better egg-laying, you can provide Brahma chickens with high-quality feed, enough water, and clean nest boxes. A general indication of egg color is to look at the tiny feathers on the ear lobes. If you are considering having Brahmas among your flock, it would be best to prepare for a mental check of items that might be different from the traditional chicken breeds. For this reason, ensure that you offer your flocks lots of other feeds. Brahmas cost greatly depends on the chickens age, sex, demand, and color variety. These chickens are also great with children, and most birds wont mind a kind and gentle cuddle every now and then. Brahmas stay the healthiest when they are raised in a damp, cool climate. You can also purchase bantam Brahma breeds that are about six inches tall. They also have a pea comb with a short but powerful beak. It also stands tall, up to 30 inches, a size that can be intimidating at first. Generally speaking, Brahma chickens start laying their first egg at around 7 months of age. Walk-in chicken coops offer your chickens an off the ground coop, external nesting boxes and high roosts. During this same period, the Light Brahmas from the US led to the development of Dark Brahmas in the UK and later on, the Buff Brahma. If you purchase a light Brahma, it will have a base color of white with black and white hackles and a black tail. If you are ready to raise a gorgeous chicken that can provide you with both meat and eggs, the Brahma chicken is the bird you should include in your backyard flock. Technically, these silkie chickens are not adhering to the Standard of Perfection and therefore cannot be entered into competitions.) They're well known for being broody in the early summer and for remaining relatively unconcerned about the condition of their eggs throughout the rest of the year. But, researchers believe that the Brahma breed was developed in the United States from very large fowls or birds imported from Shanghai. Their plumage is smooth and consists of dense down all over the body. She is one of the largest chicken breeds and has a beautiful plumage which only adds to this special breeds appeal. They are soft, gentle, and dont fight back when attacked. Australian Poultry Association recognizes partridge, blue, black, crele, and Brahma hens rarely become broody, but this depends on the individual hen, as it does with all breeds of chickens. Brahma chicken - Wikipedia Written by Amy Fewell with a foreword by Joel Salatin, this book teaches you how to hatch your own chicks, prevent and treat common chicken ailments, start a poultry business, cook delicious recipes with your fresh eggs, and much more. Just like many birds of the Victorian hen craze era (mid-1800s) the Brahma has somewhat uncertain lineage. Related: 18 Friendliest Chicken Breeds For Your Backyard. Brahmas are indeed large, but not quite so absurdly so. Your Brahma hens will also need a finely tuned diet with proper portions of protein in order to maintain a reliable egg laying schedule. Both the light and dark colors were accepted to the American Poultry Association in 1874. Although their large sizes can be overwhelming for new parents and children at first, it is easy to grow to love these birds. Interestingly enough, lighter ear lobes usually mean lighter eggs! Other relevant egg-laying details about the Brahma include: Although the weather is colder, Brahmas are one of the best winter-layers, next to their cousins, the Wyandottes and Chantecler. The Brahma is a striking bird to look at. Formally known as the Shanghai Chicken, the Cochin breed was created in China and imported to the US in the 1800s. The yolks, in particular, are exceptionally large and great for using in cooking or baking. Here is a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about this illustrious bird. Despite their size they are a very gentle chicken that is well suited for beginners or families. In fact because of their size they are usually pretty high in the pecking order and smaller breeds tend not to bother them. Great timing since other breeds will be just starting to lay. The dark Brahma has the most notable difference between cock and hen: the hen has a dark gray and black penciled coloration with the same hackle as the light, whereas the cock has black and white hackles and saddle feathers, and a black base and tail; the wings are white-shouldered, and the primary feathers are edged with white. Keep the Brahmas surroundings dry, particularly in the winter, when frostbite can be a serious concern. Im fairly new to the chicken kingdom, just started about 2 years ago so Im still learning. They are not skittish, and dont mind being handled by the chicken keeper. This brooder box should be at least eighteen inches higher is better. They are quiet and communicate in low tones. A single chicken is a "Marans" and two chickens are "Marans.". They also have broad brows with heavy eyebrows. Typically Brahmas start laying eggs when they're 6 or 7 months old. I love chicken as my favorite PET. Although they fell from industry favor they remained popular with small flock keepers as they are a dual purpose hen. This is largely due to the breeds massive size and complacency in being housed in confinement. One of the main issues with these birds would be that their feathered legs and feet are especially at risk of clumping when they get wet or muddy. For their neck, chest, and back, the features are mostly silver with black centers. Brahma chickens have become a firm favorite among poultry fanciers over the last 50 years. Owners should understand that these fowls are great foragers and are happier chasing bugs and worms in the yard. Therefore, if you must have Brahmas, keep them around other friendlier chicken breeds and household pets like cats. Because they have feathers on their toes and shanks, damp or muddy ground can lead to an increased likelihood of infection or frostbite in cold weather. So, they cant scale low fences, and they wont fly away if theres no fence. They'll start by laying smaller 'pullet' eggs. The average Brahma chicken can grow to be 18 inches (45 cm) tall and can weigh up to 8 pounds (3.6 kg).