Brahma Chickens

About Brahma Chickens

A very old breed of feather-footed chickens that originated from Asia and were imported to this country in the 1840s developing over the next few years. During this time Brahmas were so popular even Queen Victoria in England kept them. Just like many birds of the Victorian hen craze era (mid-1800s) the Brahma has somewhat uncertain lineage. The likely parent birds were Shanghae, Chittagongs and Malays.

Shanghae were from China and Chittagongs from eastern India (now Bangladesh). There were several different names for the breed and at a meeting of poultry judges in Massachusetts in 1852, the name Brahmaputra was chosen. This was later shortened to Brahma. Due to their enormous size, they became the primary meat chicken of the US from the 1840s until the 1930s.

The Brahma is a massive chicken but despite their size and intimidating appearance they are gentle giants. Brahmas are exceptionally quiet, gentle, easy to handle and kid & pet friendly. They are not flighty or skittish and because of their size not too much intimidates them.

In fact because of their size, they are usually pretty high in the pecking order and smaller breeds tend not to bother them. They are not known for fighting or fussing with other birds but when hungry they can bully flock mates and these large birds have large appetites so, it is best to keep them well fed and happy. This is a breed that thrives when roaming so try to let them free range – they will enjoy the freedom and variety and this will occupy their time and reduce your feed bill.

Brahmas thrive when they are free fed. A 16% layers feed will be ideal for most of the year. They will need slightly more protein when they start to molt.

Brahmas come in three colors, Light, Dark and Buff. Both the light and dark colors were accepted to the American Poultry Association in 1874. The buff Brahma was accepted in 1924. There have been a few other variations over the years but they have not been officially accepted.

The dark color Brahma requires a double mating technique to ensure good quality birds.

Their small pea comb, great size and heavy feathering make them almost immune to cold weather. In the summer months care should be taken to provide them with shade and water as they do not tolerate the heat well.

Roosters can stand 30 inches high and weigh up to 12 pounds. Hens can weigh up to 10 pounds, are good brown egg layers, especially in winter, are likely to set, and make good mothers to their young.

Brahmas are good foragers and prefer to spend the majority of their day roaming. They are a heavy bird which means they do not fly well (if at all). They can easily be contained behind a 2-3 foot high fence.

The Brahma is a big bird so they need more space than the average chicken.

We recommend 5-6 square foot for each chicken in the coop.

Do not go below this as less space leads to anti-social behaviors such as pecking and feather picking.

As for roosting space give them around 8-10 inches each. As these big birds struggle to fly perches should be fairly low for them to access (12-18 inches tall). If you make the perches too high you run the risk of a leg or foot injury when they come down from the roost.

Although they prefer roaming, they will tolerate confinement as long as they have enough room in the pen. These gentle giants need 12-14 square foot each. Your pen area should ideally be stone or sand. Dirt floor pens get muddy very quickly and with feathered feet the Brahmas may develop foot problems.

Brahmas can take up to 7 months until they come into lay – however the wait is worth it.

They will reward you with 3-4 medium brown eggs each week.

The Brahma prefers to lay in cooler weather so when the other girls are winding down for the year, the Brahma will be laying from October through March.

For the most part Brahmas are not known for broodiness.

Whilst Brahmas can fit into a 12″x12″ nesting box they will appreciate a larger 14″x14″ box. These extra few inches create a bit of maneuvering room.

Similar to the perches nesting boxes should be low to the ground.

Brahmas are quiet birds and rarely make a lot of noise.

The occasions when they do make noises are the daily egg song and predator alarm calls. This makes them ideal for an urban setting as long as they have enough space to roam.

Overall, Brahmas are robust and healthy birds usually only requiring attention to parasites such as lice, mites and worms.

With feathered feet, scaly leg mite can be a problem too so keep a close eye on those legs and feet. Another common problem with feathered leg birds is the accumulation of either mud or poop on the toes. In the winter these balls can freeze causing frostbite and in severe cases the loss of toes.

Try to keep the birds out of the mud and be sure to keep the pens as clean as possible.

Probably the best way to get these balls off the feet is soaking in warm water.

Because of their large size hawk attacks are rare in adults.

The Brahma is an impressive bird to look at.

While their head and brow give them a fearsome look, nothing could be further from the truth.

This placid bird gets along with everyone and can become attached to their owners. They are very good with kids just watch out for them being knocked over by these humongous birds.

Just make sure you keep them well fed and you will have a happy chicken.

They are a good breed for those wanting to raise their own eggs and meat birds since they can supply both in great quantities.

Noise Level

Quiet

Egg Production

3-4 eggs per week

Light brown

Medium to Large

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Pros:

Great dual-purpose hen.

Very gentle with children.

Comes in dark, light and buff colors.

Huge size and unique appearance.

Lays eggs throughout the winter.

Cons:

Can take 7 months before they start laying.

Eat lots so feed bill can be expensive.

When hungry they can bully flock mates.