Light, Buff, Dark, Gold, Black, White, Blue, and Blue Columbian.
Breed Size
Large Fowl
APA/ABA Class
Asiatic
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.
Brahma eggs
Brahma chick
Brahma juveniles
Brahma hen
Brahma rooster
For more about Brahmas and their owners' and breeders' experiences with this breed, see our breed discussion here:
Pros: So fluffy!
Cuddly
I love the feather pattern!
Cons: not heat hardy
My brahma is so cuddly and fluffy. I love her so much even though i'm pretty sure she hates me. I'm in New England, and we have cold winters (why I got a brahma) and very hot summers (which i forgot to consider). Also very unpredictable weather. My Light brahma is very big and covered with dense fluff, not great when we got a heat wave this year. However I'm definitely getting more brahmas, I love their massiveness, maybe a buff.
Are Brahma roos as sweet as the hens? Or rather, less aggressive than some other breeds?
Have 2 Buff hens and love them to pieces, and am getting 4 Light this spring, but just in case I accidentally get a roo, I want to have an idea of whether to get rid of him immediately. Also EE roos' temperament? Thanks!
What are the average weights today? I thought the Jersey Giants were the only chickens this big until today when a friend of mine got some chicks and said they were giants. My auto response was oh you got Jersey Giants. He said no they are Brahmas. I had heard of Brahmas before but never realized they were so big.
It's one of those things that just depend on the chicken. Some can get to be pretty large (About and/or almost the size of Jersey Giants.) while others are just "large". You won't know til they've grown to their full size. Either way they're adorable <3 .
I have all three varieties, Dark, Light, Buff. I’ve raised other chicken varieties before these girls. Only negative thing I have found with Brahma breed, their not very smart. Other than that, they are a wonderful breed. Going into the first winter with these girls, we’ll see how they do!
I am so excited for my Brahmas to grow up!! I have 6, straight can't wait to see what I get, hoping to have at least one Roo! really want me some Brahma babies!!
Are Brahma roos as sweet as the hens? Or rather, less aggressive than some other breeds?
Have 2 Buff hens and love them to pieces, and am getting 4 Light this spring, but just in case I accidentally get a roo, I want to have an idea of whether to get rid of him immediately. Also EE roos' temperament? Thanks!
from what I've read Brahmas are one of the most docile breeds. Kinda like draft horses of the chicken world. I really hoping for a Roo out of my group. Best of Luck!
I am so excited for my Brahmas to grow up!! I have 6, straight can't wait to see what I get, hoping to have at least one Roo! really want me some Brahma babies!!
Yes, they roost just the same as other chickens. I raised mine with my other standard chickens, all dual purpose, and they began roosting the same time as all the other ones. They occasionally stay up a bit later but I don’t know if that’s just mine. They also roost on the lower branch but that’s just because the top one is full by the time they hop on; but one of my Buff Orps does that too occasionally. So basically; the same as most other breeds.
She is probably not a pure Brahma. If she is part Brahma you might be able to breed for it but she would not be pure, and if there is a chance she has no Brahma you can still make a mix with a Brahma and some of the chicks might have feathered legs.
Is there any way to see who posted the specific photos? There is a gold brahma roo in that last photo and I am trying to track one down to have as the leader of my flock! Could anyone point me in the right direction? Side note: people have corrected me and said they're "gold partridge brahma" and then people have corrected me saying they're just called "gold brahma" so I'm referring to the brahma rooster with golden hackles, black pants & tail, gold saddle, red wings, maybe prone to/carry the gene for vulture hocks which I don't care about because I am not planning to breed, sell or show.
I am curious as to whether to which breed would be better . The Brahma or the jersey giant. Are they both about the same in size ? which would be the better of the 2 breeds?
