The Jersey Giant is the only other chicken that is bigger than the Brahma Chicken. They are gentle monsters, even though they look big and scary. They are great to have in any group and can even help protect the other birds from smaller animals that might try to eat them.
The Brahmas are beautiful chickens that move with purpose and style. Does your home have enough room for the king of chickens?
Brahma Chicken History
It’s not clear where the Brahma Chicken came from, just like many other birds that lived during the Victorian hen craze (mid-1800s). Most likely, the parents were Shanghai’s, Chittagong, and Malay birds.
Shanghais came from China, and Chittagongs came from the eastern part of India, which is now Bangladesh. You can see that their family tree is, at best, confusing.
They came to the US for the first time in the 1840s and grew over the next few years. In 1852, a group of chicken judges in Massachusetts picked the name “Brahmaputra” from a list of other names for the breed.
Brahma became a shorter form of this over time. Because they were so big, a rooster weighing 18 pounds was not uncommon. Between the 1840s and 1930s, they were the main type of meat chicken in the US.
A lot of people liked Brahmas at this time; Queen Victoria of England even kept some.
In 1874, the American Poultry Association agreed to let both light and dark shades join. As of 1924, the chubby Brahma was okay.
Brahma Chicken Overview
If you lived before the 1930s, the Brahma chicken was one of the best birds for the table.
In the business world, they lost favour, but small flock owners still liked them because they can do two things.
She is one of the biggest chicken types, and her pretty feathers make her even more appealing. No matter how big they are, they are very gentle chickens that are great for newbies or families.
They do best in cooler places and do very well in the northern states, where it can get very cold. Another nice thing about Brahmas is that they like to lay down when it’s cooler outside. They’ll lay eggs all winter long, but as spring approaches, they’ll slow down. It’s a good time because other breeds will soon be laying eggs.
With more people having chickens in their yards these days, this old favourite has become more popular again.
| Lifespan: | 8+ years. |
| Beginner Friendly: | Yes. |
| Weight: | Hen (8lb) and Rooster (10lb). |
| Color: | Dark, light or buff. |
| Egg Production: | 3-4 per week. |
| Egg Color: | Brown. |
| Good With Children: | Yes. |
| Known For Broodiness: | No. |
| Cost of Chicken: | $5 per chick. |
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Great hen that can do two things.
- Very kind to kids.
- It comes in white, light, and dark shades.
- Huge size and a unique look.
- During the winter, it lays eggs.
Cons:
- It might be seven months before they lay their eggs.
- Feed costs can be high if they eat a lot.
- When hungry, they may hurt other birds in the group.
Appearance Of Brahma Chicken
The Brahma Chicken is a big bird, but most of its weight comes from its feathers. It will have strong wings and a body that is long, deep, and wide. They have strong wings, but their weight makes it hard for them to fly.
There should be a lot of tension between the feathers, which makes the plumage thick but fluffy. Their feathers cover the two outside toes and go all the way down their legs. Brahmas have big heads with brows that hang over a bit, making the bird look mean. They have a pea comb and a small but strong beak.
It can be hard to have sex with them. Most of the time, the pullets will feather in more quickly. The boys will get a bigger comb and wattles, and they will be more interested in everything. You can be sure when the hackle and sickle feathers start to grow, but most of the time it takes at least 5 months.
Size and Weight
The Brahma is a big bird about 30 inches tall. Some people, especially small children, find its size very scary. In the 1800s, their weight was really strange.
Today’s birds are a bit smaller than their ancestors. A rooster weighs about 10 pounds, and a hen weighs about 8 pounds.
Bantam Brahmas are much smaller than Brahmas. Hens weigh about 34 oz, while males weigh about 38 oz.
Color Varieties
Most Brahmas are the following three colors:
- Light.
- Dark.
- Buff.
The spelling has changed a few times over the years, but none of them are truly correct.
Getting good birds from the dark-colored Brahma needs two mating methods.
This breed of chicken comes in dark, light, buff, black, and white bantam sizes. People think of black and white as rare colors. Bantams aren’t always easy to find, but there are places to look!
What’s It Like To Have A Brahma Chicken?
The Brahmas are good at finding food, and they like to spend most of their day wandering around. They can live in a small space, but they’d rather be free to move.
They are heavy, so they don’t fly well, if at all. A fence that is two to three feet high is enough to keep them in. It is important to give them shade and water in the summer because they don’t do well in hot weather.
Personality
This type of breed is one of the calmest ones out there. She is very calm and doesn’t flit or jump around. Because they are small, not much scares them.
People don’t think they fight or bother other birds.
Because they are so big, they usually sit pretty high on the food chain, and smaller breeds don’t bother them much.
She stays put and is friendly with people. She’s not quite a lap bird, but she won’t say no to treats if she wants them.
Little kids might be scared of them at first, but after a few hugs, they’ll feel better.
Egg Production Of Brahma Chicken
It can take up to seven months for brahmas to lay eggs, but the wait is worth it.
Every week, they’ll give you three to four medium-sized brown eggs as a treat.
Because Brahma likes to lie in cooler weather, she does so from October to March, when the other girls are starting to wind down for the year.
Most of the time, Brahmas are not known for being sad. If they do get broody, they will stay right on their eggs until they hatch. Moms are very big, so it’s important to keep an eye on the hatchlings so Mom doesn’t step on them.
| Color: | Brown. |
| Eggs Per Week: | 3-4 Eggs. |
| Size: | Medium to large. |
Noise Levels
They don’t make a lot of noise because they are quiet birds.
They only make noise when they are singing their daily egg song or when they are scared of a predator, which should not happen very often.
To live in cities, they should have enough room to roam because of this.
Health Issues
In general, they are strong and healthy birds. Parasites like lice, mites, and worms are usually the only things that Brahma chickens need care for. They can also get scaly leg mites because their feet have feathers on them, so keep an eye on their legs and feet. Another problem that feathered leg birds often have is that mud or poop builds up on their toes. During the winter, these balls can freeze and cause frostbite, which can lead to the loss of toes in the worst cases.
Keep the birds out of the mud and clean the pens as much as you can.
The best way to get these balls off your feet is to soak them in warm water.
Feeding
They do best when they are free-fed. For most of the year, a 16% layer feed will work well. When they start to moult, they will need a little more energy.
These big birds like to eat a lot. It can be hard to figure out how much to feed a Brahma, so we suggest the free feed option.
They tend to pick on other birds in the group when they are hungry, so it is best to keep them fed and happy. It would help if you let them roam free because it will keep them busy and save you money on food.
Coop Setup and Roaming
The Brahma is a big bird, so it needs more room than a normal chicken.
Each chicken in the coop should have 5 to 6 square feet of space.
Do not go below this because birds will act badly if they don’t have enough room, like pecking and feather picking.
Give them about 8 to 10 inches of room each to roost. Because these big birds have a hard time flying, perches should be low for them to reach (12 to 18 inches). If you set the perches too high, the birds could hurt their legs or feet when they land from the roost. A 12×12-inch breeding box will work for Brahmas, but they will like a 14×14-inch box better. These extra few inches give you some room to move.
Like the seats, the nest boxes should be close to the ground.
Now for the outside the coop rules.
Tolerance is fine as long as there is enough space in the pen. This friendly giant needs 12 to 14 square feet for each one. The best surface for your pen is stone or sand. Pens with a dirt floor get dirty very quickly, and because Brahmas have feathered feet, they may have trouble with their feet.
This breed does best when it can move freely, so try letting them do that.
Because they are so big, hawks rarely attack humans.
Summary
It’s beautiful to look at Brahma. Their face and head make them look scary, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This peaceful bird gets along with everyone and can bond with its owners. They are great with kids, but watch out if these huge birds could knock over your child.
Your chicken will be happy as long as you feed it well.
They are a good breed for people who want to raise their meat and eggs because they can give you a lot of both.