Chicken Breed Focus - Brahma

[sumi]

There has been considerable controversy over the true origins of the Brahma breed, but appears to have developed in the US originally, from birds imported from China. They were send off from the port of Shanghai and were thus known as "Shanghai birds". Brahmas as we know them were first exported to England in December 1852, when George Burnham sent nine "Gray Shanghaes" to Queen Victoria as a gift. The Dark Brahma variety was developed by English breeders from this stock and later exported to the United States, where the Brahma was the principal meat bird from the 1850's to around 1930. Some of these birds were very big, with males weighing in at up to 18 lb and females at 13 lb.
The Light and Dark Brahma were developed and included in the first edition of the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1874 and the Buff variety was added in 1924. The Australian Poultry Association has accepted black, blue, partridge, crele and barred varieties of Brahma in addition to the standard light, dark, and buff.

Details:
Breed Purpose: Dual purpose
Comb: Pea
Broodiness: Average
Climate Tolerance: All climates
Egg Productivity: Average
Egg size: Large
Egg Colour: Light brown
Breed Temperament: Friendly, easily handled, calm, bears confinement well, docile
(Some) Breed Colours/Varieties: Light, Buff, Dark, Gold, Black, White, Blue and Blue Columbian (Breeders, please reply to thread with more)
APA/ABA Class: Asiatic


Rooster pic by @Sjisty



Hen pic by @Missi



Chicks pic by @NestingHillsSC



Pic by @bumpercarr



Pic by @Tim63

Breed reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/brahma

Breed discussion threads:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/873000/brahma-breeders-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/734972/backyard-brahmas/0_30

Do you own Brahmas? Are you a Brahma breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

 

[Kiramet]

Interesting read for all Brahma enthusiasts:

http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/82246#page/1/mode/1up


Some of my Brahmas in Finland:

 

[TropicalBabies]

Speaking of Brahma's.... look who showed up today! They have the Brahma dot on their head and feathered feet!!!

I hi-jacked a broody with Brahma, BR and BO eggs lol. 3 eggs left to hatch.... most exciting!!!

 

[Lawrence Lovestock]

There has been considerable controversy over the true origins of the Brahma breed, but appears to have developed in the US originally, from birds imported from China. They were send off from the port of Shanghai and were thus known as "Shanghai birds". Brahmas as we know them were first exported to England in December 1852, when George Burnham sent nine "Gray Shanghaes" to Queen Victoria as a gift. The Dark Brahma variety was developed by English breeders from this stock and later exported to the United States, where the Brahma was the principal meat bird from the 1850's to around 1930. Some of these birds were very big, with males weighing in at up to 18 lb and females at 13 lb.
The Light and Dark Brahma were developed and included in the first edition of the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1874 and the Buff variety was added in 1924. The Australian Poultry Association has accepted black, blue, partridge, crele and barred varieties of Brahma in addition to the standard light, dark, and buff.

Details:
Breed Purpose: Dual purpose
Comb: Pea
Broodiness: Average
Climate Tolerance: All climates
Egg Productivity: Average
Egg size: Large
Egg Colour: Light brown
Breed Temperament: Friendly, easily handled, calm, bears confinement well, docile
(Some) Breed Colours/Varieties: Light, Buff, Dark, Gold, Black, White, Blue and Blue Columbian (Breeders, please reply to thread with more)
APA/ABA Class: Asiatic


Rooster pic by @Sjisty



Hen pic by @Missi



Chicks pic by @NestingHillsSC



Pic by @bumpercarr



Pic by @Tim63

Breed reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/brahma

Breed discussion threads:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/873000/brahma-breeders-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/734972/backyard-brahmas/0_30

Do you own Brahmas? Are you a Brahma breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

I have one brahama. She’s on top
of the pecking order.

There has been considerable controversy over the true origins of the Brahma breed, but appears to have developed in the US originally, from birds imported from China. They were send off from the port of Shanghai and were thus known as "Shanghai birds". Brahmas as we know them were first exported to England in December 1852, when George Burnham sent nine "Gray Shanghaes" to Queen Victoria as a gift. The Dark Brahma variety was developed by English breeders from this stock and later exported to the United States, where the Brahma was the principal meat bird from the 1850's to around 1930. Some of these birds were very big, with males weighing in at up to 18 lb and females at 13 lb.
The Light and Dark Brahma were developed and included in the first edition of the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1874 and the Buff variety was added in 1924. The Australian Poultry Association has accepted black, blue, partridge, crele and barred varieties of Brahma in addition to the standard light, dark, and buff.

Details:
Breed Purpose: Dual purpose
Comb: Pea
Broodiness: Average
Climate Tolerance: All climates
Egg Productivity: Average
Egg size: Large
Egg Colour: Light brown
Breed Temperament: Friendly, easily handled, calm, bears confinement well, docile
(Some) Breed Colours/Varieties: Light, Buff, Dark, Gold, Black, White, Blue and Blue Columbian (Breeders, please reply to thread with more)
APA/ABA Class: Asiatic


Rooster pic by @Sjisty



Hen pic by @Missi



Chicks pic by @NestingHillsSC



Pic by @bumpercarr



Pic by @Tim63

Breed reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/brahma

Breed discussion threads:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/873000/brahma-breeders-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/734972/backyard-brahmas/0_30

Do you own Brahmas? Are you a Brahma breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

I have 1 in my flock of 15 hens. She’s top of the pecking order. She gets along well with everyone. I’m a new hen mom so I’m learning along the way. Our girl has feathered feet. She started laying eggs early and gives us a pink toned egg daily.
I saw the you tube videos on the big oversized Brahma and it made me curious to own one! I don’t breed, I just wanted to try raising hens and ive fallen deeply in love with my flock!

 

[Jandsloch]

My big boy at 9 months he’s quite the dumbest chicken I’ve met but he makes me giggle. His big feet make him very clumsy!

 

[Chamberlain]

We chose dark brahma for or first flock due to thier cold hardiness. They are still young and not producing eggs but have been a wonderful addition to the family. Our kids love them.

 

[HappyHen2010]

I have 3 brahmas in my flock, a light brahma, a dark brahma and a light/buff laced cross. When I got chickens 5 years ago, I wanted chickens that would be friendly, easy going, and good layers. I chose brahmas because they were known as the Gentle Giants and light brahmas are known for laying well in the wintertime. My light brahma, Sweet Caroline, is one of the best birds I have in my flock. She is so friendly, wants to be held and snuggle, very smart, great with kids and one of the head birds of my flock. She has laid 3-5 eggs a week for 4 years but she has slowed down to 2-3 a week now that she is 5 years old. She lays the biggest eggs, light brown with dark spots. Every time some one thinks about getting chickens I always mention the light brahmas. All 3 of my brahmas are great birds but Caroline is my very special girl.

Betsy Boo (the Dark Brahma), Caroline, and Ebony, (the black Cochin) hanging out.

Sandy, the light/buff laced cross and Caroline's daughter.

NorthFLChick: Yes, all brahmas have feathered legs and on their middle and outside toes but not the inside toe.

 

[Henry&Friends]

Florence Henderson is my light Brahma, who we received with my buff Brahmas. She’s got bell-bottomed feet

 

[RaineyTN]

Some of mine still young

 

[Blooie]

I can’t imagine ever having a flock without at least one Light Brahma in it! Our littlest granddaughter Kendra (now 8) was born with Spina Bifida. She is also Autistic, mostly non-communicative (she can speak very well, can read and write, she just can‘t make verbal conversation), she’s developmentally delayed, and has seizures. But oh, how she loves the chickens, and has since she was just two years old.

Tank, a light Brahma, was the only one we kept out of the combination of 8 Buffs and 8 Lights we had. We got them as layers and meat birds, and after allowing them to mature and lay for a year, we followed the plan and did the processing - except for Tank! She was the friendliest, most curious, and Kendra loved to laugh at her as she lumbered across the yard in that peculiar “Brahma Run”. We had a black and white English setter with similar markings to Tank, and they were buddies. We used to call them “The Bookends”.

One day when Kendra was about 3 or 4, we had her outside in her wheelchair enjoying the late spring air, when suddenly Tank flew up into Kendra’s lap! Naturally if Kendra was outside she wasn’t left unattended for a second, especially if the chickens were also out, so I grabbed Tank and kinda tossed her to the ground. She flew right back up there. Kendra was laughing, flapping her arms and kicking, but Tank was totally unaffected. Ken was working on a project but I hollered at him to come and grab Tank and carry her off further, away from Kendra. Minutes later, guess who was back? This time I picked her up and gently placed her on Kendra’s lap. She snuggled right down as if she was supposed to be there. Suddenly Kendra took off in her wheelchair, giving Tank a ride! And that stupid, big black and white chicken sat there like Cleopatra riding in a chariot! Tank looked down at the other chickens and that unique, haughty Brahma face they all have made it look as though she was thinking, “Peons. Mere peons!” So riding in Kendra’s lap became a usual occurrence. I‘d take Kendra outside, strap her into her chair, and she’d be yelling, “Chicken! Chicken,” as Tank came waddling across the yard. Oh, how I wish I had pictures of that, but as I’ve said...if Kendra is outside I am not out there to focus on anything besides her. Things happen with her way too fast! Hindsight is 20/20....thinking back I probably did have opportunities to grab at least a few photos. But what if that was the one time I lost focus on Kendra and something happened? Nope.

We had to rehome our flock a little over 2 years ago due to my health and a travel schedule that would tax a 20 year old. We knew the man who was taking them very well, so we got regular updates. Tank adapted to her new home immediately, and began the habit of tapping on Jim’s glass doors first thing in the morning. He’d finish his coffee, go out and pick her up, and carry her down with him to do chores. Every morning!

Brahmas? Absolutely! Any bird that will race as fast as her chunky body will take her to make our Kendra smile and giggle is more than perfect for me! We are finally able to have chickens again, and Tank Two is doing very well!