Chicken Breed Focus - Brahma

[Mother Bawker]

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.

Do you have any recent pics of Sandy? I currently have Light & Buff Brahmas and I'm curious what they'd look like mixed

 

[Liddy]

This thread has wonderful information, presented with gorgeous photos.

A month ago I selected two Light Brahmas from the options at TSC, because I had to purchase 4 and 2 were friends for a Polish a friend gave me. I love the feathered legs and have missed them since I lost my last 2 Cochins in late February to an infection that took a quarter of my flock.

I am anxiously awaiting their full feathers. One appears to have a lot more black feathers coming in...I hope this means I will be able to tell them apart at a glance. I have 19 chicklets this year and after reading this thread, I do believe I shall have to come up with a naming scheme. One that will allow me to incorporate hobbit monikers for these two.

 

[BrahmaMom1797]

I have 2 dark Brahmas who I love so much, but here pictured is my late light Brahma who was my lovely baby Winnie. She passed recently and the tree pictured is her resting place. Brahmas are probably my favorite birds and I’m so lucky I had her

 

[Huntress78]

So sorry for your loss. The tree is a nice touch.

 

[Jandsloch]

This is second year with chickens. My first flock was purchased at a feed store, where happened to find some Langshans. I really wasn't at all nowledgeable about chicken breeds, but I loved the feathery feet!! So this year, I ordered my hips from a hatchery. I live inSouthwest Texas, where some breeds are very hard to find. Most of the chickens around my border town are related to game birds
So I ordered a Feather Footed Fancy, including Brahmas, Cochins, and Langshans. Is pretty sure my order is mostly Brahmas and Cochins, which is fine with me. My favorite, most friendly, chick is, I believe, a male Light Brahma.

I've named him Roy Acluck, since my theme this year is old time Country Music stars. ( ialso ordered a few Easter Eggers, soo have one named Patsy Cluck and one named Loretta L'Hen. ).
Ialso have one Brahma chick, I'm not sure what to call the color? But here's a picture. What color doyouthinkits going to be?

At first, I thought this was a silver laced Cochin chic, but it has a pea comb, then I saw this thread and the opening pics have a hen that looks like what think this one will grow up to be, but I still don't know what it's called.
I'm really enjoying my Brahmas sp far!!

Do you have any updated pics of the mystery mostly black Brahma? I ask because I ordered 4 and one looks like that lol I posted pics previously

 

[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!

 

[Lawrence Lovestock]

View attachment 1799538 View attachment 1799539 I have 2 dark Brahmas who I love so much, but here pictured is my late light Brahma who was my lovely baby Winnie. She passed recently and the tree pictured is her resting place. Brahmas are probably my favorite birds and I’m so lucky I had her

Winnie looks like my Fofo

 

[Curtisclan]

I just got 9 light Brahmas. They range in age from 1-5 weeks. I love that they have boots and that they are a large breed. Some of the Brahmas are mixed with a silver Wyandotte’s, giving them more grey feathers in the body rather than just black points at the tail and neck. I’m excited to have them and can’t wait to see what they look like fully feathered

 

[Curtisclan]

This is second year with chickens. My first flock was purchased at a feed store, where happened to find some Langshans. I really wasn't at all nowledgeable about chicken breeds, but I loved the feathery feet!! So this year, I ordered my hips from a hatchery. I live inSouthwest Texas, where some breeds are very hard to find. Most of the chickens around my border town are related to game birds
So I ordered a Feather Footed Fancy, including Brahmas, Cochins, and Langshans. Is pretty sure my order is mostly Brahmas and Cochins, which is fine with me. My favorite, most friendly, chick is, I believe, a male Light Brahma.

I've named him Roy Acluck, since my theme this year is old time Country Music stars. ( ialso ordered a few Easter Eggers, soo have one named Patsy Cluck and one named Loretta L'Hen. ).
Ialso have one Brahma chick, I'm not sure what to call the color? But here's a picture. What color doyouthinkits going to be?

At first, I thought this was a silver laced Cochin chic, but it has a pea comb, then I saw this thread and the opening pics have a hen that looks like what think this one will grow up to be, but I still don't know what it's called.
I'm really enjoying my Brahmas sp far!!

I’m in Texas as well. Can I ask which hatchery you ordered your chicks from? I recent ordered chicks from a hatchery but they came from Minnesota !! I’d like to find a more local hatchery