Unique Brahma Chicken Characteristics That Will Make You Love Them
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the Brahma chicken breed.
You will get to know about the origin, characteristics, lifespan, egg-laying capacity and so much more about Brahma chickens.
This article will guide you to make the decision whether to get the Brahma chickens for your backyard poultry or for commercial purposes.
Before the end of this article, you will also find answers to all the frequently asked questions about this chicken breed.
So, without much ado, let’s get into details about the most exciting characteristics of this bird.
What are the characteristics of Brahma chickens?
1. Brahmas are extremely hardy chickens:
What this means is that they can survive very harsh weather conditions, especially cold winter seasons.
They are able to continue laying eggs throughout the winter season.
2. They come in three color varieties:
Brahma chickens usually come in dark, light, and buff colors.
These colors are very beautiful and make the chickens stand out, especially in homes.
That is why many families love to keep them for beautifying their homes.
3. They are taller than most other chickens:
No doubt, this chicken breed is quite tall.
Although the rooters are taller than the hens.
When they are standing, they almost appear to form a V.
They reach a height of almost 30 inches high and that can be very intimidating to some folks, especially small children.
4. They are very heavy birds:
The rooters for this breed weigh up to 18 lbs while the hens weigh up to 13 lbs.
That’s about the same size as many heritage turkey breeds.
However, later varieties of this chicken weigh a lot less than their ancestors.
5. Brahmas have plenty of feathers:
The plumage of this chicken consists of feathers that make them fluffy.
Their feathering extends down the legs and covers the two outer toes with feathers.
6. They are also good egg-layers for their size:
This chicken is still able to lay a lot of eggs even with its huge size.
Interestingly, they produce much of their eggs in the winter season between October and May
Their eggs are large and uniformly medium brown in color.
In addition, the hens tend to go broody in early summer and will sit devotedly on their nests.
A good precaution to practice is to ensure that the hen does not go close to the chicks after hatching.
This is so that she will not trample on the chicks with her heavy bodyweight.
After a few days of keeping them apart, you can let the chicks roam around with their mother.
7. Brahmas have a large head:
The head of Brahma chickens is really large in comparison with other chickens.
Also, they have a slightly overhanging brow which gives them a mean look.
In addition, they have a pea comb with a short but powerful beak.
8. It is easy to tell the difference between a rooster and a hen:
By looking at the coloration on the feathers of the chicken, you can tell whether it is a rooster or a hen.
The hen has a dark grey and black penciled coloration with the same hackle as the light.
On the other hand, the rooster has black and white hackles and saddle feathers, and a black base and tail.
The wings are White-shouldered, and the primary feathers are edged with white.
9. They can’t fly:
Brahma chickens have very powerful wings.
However, they can’t fly because of their huge body weight.
The powerful wings can not carry their body weight, so they often walk around the farm.
10. Brahma chickens do not make a lot of noise:
The noise level is relative.
So, when you compare Brahmas to other chicken breeds, you will discover that they rarely make a lot of noise.
If all they make noise at all, then it’s probably because they are quackling to lay an egg or it could be a predator alarm.
Whichever one it is, it will most likely occur less frequently.
Because of this characteristic of being less noisy, Brahma chickens are great birds for an urban setting as long as they have enough space to roam.
What are Brahma chickens?
Brahma chickens are a unique breed of chickens that are great in size, strength, and vigor.
Because of their huge size and weight, people often refer to them as the “King of All Poultry.”
The Brahma chicken can serve many purposes on the farm.
Hence, it is a must-have for both backyard farmers and commercial farmers.
You can both rear this amazing breed of chicken for meat and for egg production.
In addition, its beautiful appearance makes it an appealing pet to have around the house.
The fact that this breed of chicken is gentle and less noisy also makes it more suitable for beginners in poultry farming or families.
Let’s go on to learn about the origin of this massive chicken breed.
What is the origin and history of Brahma chickens?
There are many controversies and confusion over the origin of Brahma chickens.
Even the name “Brahma chicken” is not the original name of this breed.
It has about twelve different names but we settle with “Brahma” because the chicken is an Asiatic poultry breed named after the Brahmaputra River in India.
The likely origin of this bird that we know today is from historians who put together clues left in the poultry books and journals of the 1800s.
The Brahma chicken was developed in the United States of America from very large fowls imported from China via the port of Shanghai.
Its unique head shape and pea comb show that the Chittagong birds from India were used in producing this breed.
This obvious feature of the Brahma chicken breed differentiates it from the Shanghai breed (now known as the Cochin).
Until the rise of industrial birds in the 1930s, the Brahma chicken was one of the most sought-after birds for meat and eggs.
Things changed because the industrial chickens take a shorter time to reach maturity than the Brahma chickens.
However, with the rise of backyard poultry farming, the Brahma chicken breed is begging to see a huge demand again.
Why choose Brahma chickens?
If you are still considering whether or not to choose the Brahma chicken breeds for your farm, then these reasons will convince you.
1. Brahma chickens are very beautiful and perfect for ornamental purposes:
This breed of chicken is very beautiful.
As a result, many Brahman chicken owners keep them for the purpose of beautifying their homes.
2. Brahma chickens are huge in size and produce much meat:
If you love to have large chicken cuts in your meals, then the Brahma chicken is a good one to use for that purpose.
This breed of chicken grows large in size reaching about 30 inches in height and weighing as much as 18lbs.
3. They are calm and docile:
Unlike most other chicken breeds, the Brahma chicken is really calm and less noisy.
Also, the fact that they cannot fly is another advantage.
This is because they are not able to destroy things for you or give you trouble when you want to catch them.
4. Brahma chickens are also good layers:
Besides having a huge body size and producing large quantities of meat, the Brahma chickens are also good layers.
They lay up to 3-4 medium-sized eggs per week, especially during the cold season.
So, when other chicken breeds have stopped laying, your Brahma chickens will continue to give you eggs even in the very cold winter season.
5. They do well in summer and winter:
Unlike other chicken breeds, this chicken thrives very well in summer and winter when the weather is very cold.
They do very well, especially in the Northern states.
The reason is that they have a very dense plumage that protects them from harsh weather conditions.
6. They are friendly and easy to handle:
Despite their huge size, Brahmas are very gentle chickens, friendly, and easy to handle even by children.
As a result, they make great pets for the house and are good for families.
The downside of having Brahma Chickens
1. Brahma chickens take a long time before they start laying eggs:
This breed of chicken is obviously not the best layers chicken.
That is because they can take up to 7 months before they start to lay eggs.
Also, they only lay about 3-4 eggs per week, whereas there are other breeds like the ISA brown chicken breeds that lay up to 300 eggs per year.
2. They can become bullies when hungry:
Just like we say “a hungry man is an angry man,” this breed of chicken also follows this quote.
We already know that they are gentle and calm, but the reverse is the case when they are hungry.
They can easily use their big size to bully smaller birds when they are hungry.
3. They consume a lot of food:
The bigger the size, the more food they consume.
As a result, Brahma chickens can greatly increase your feed bill within a very short time.
4. Their feet can collect a lot of mud:
If your environment is muddy, then you may have a problem with the Brahma chickens.
This is because they have feathers covering every part of their body down to their feet.
So, when the area is muddy, mud clings to the feet of the chicken.
Also, frostbite becomes possible for their toes.
Conclusion
Brahman chicken breeds are one of the best chickens to have as pets on your backyard poultry farm.
This is because they have a very beautiful physique and they can be a source of meat and eggs for your kitchen.
Their calm and gentle temperament makes them friendly animals to have around the house even in urban areas.
Your little children can play with this chicken and not be hurt and your neighbors will not disturb you because Brahma chickens are not noisy.
Also, if you are going to keep Brahma chickens, be sure to set aside enough money to foot their feed bill.
The reason is that the chicken is a voracious eater and will consume a lot of food because of its size.
You can also allow them to forage and feed on worms and insects in the yard.
With all of the amazing characteristics and features of the Brahma chickens, we can safely conclude that this is a good breed for anyone who wishes to rear them.
You can check the FAQ section below to get answers to the frequently asked questions about Brahma chickens.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brahma chickens
What is the lifespan of Brahma chickens?
Brahma chickens have the same lifespan of 5-8 years as any other types of chickens such as silkie chickens, Araucanas, or speckled Sussex chickens. However, their ability to reach those long years will depend on the quality of care you provide to them. By providing a daily meal of 16% protein chicken feed, freshwater, a warm home, and veterinary care, you can extend their lives.
Are Brahma chickens good for meat?
Brahma chickens are great for meat production because of their huge body size. The only downside is that they take a longer time to reach maturity.
Can Brahma chickens be trained as pets?
Absolutely yes! You can raise the Brahma chicken breed as pets in your backyard poultry. They are gentle and have a good temperament. Also, they are beautiful and their huge size just makes them unique. So, having them as pets in your home is a good bet.
Are Brahma chickens the biggest in the world?
Brahma chickens are not the biggest in the world. Actually, the Jersey Giant is the biggest breed of chicken in the world. While it is possible for Brahmas to sometimes grow to be just as large as the Jersey Giants, the Jersey Giants are slightly larger on average.
Are Brahma chickens noisy?
Brahma chickens are not noisy. They are calm and docile. If you ever find them making noise, then it could be that they are being attacked by a predator or they are about to lay an egg.
What do Brahma chickens eat to grow big?
Brahma chicken breeds are heavy feeders and excellent foragers. They can feed by themselves chasing bugs and worms in the yard. However, you still need to provide them with feed as foraging alone will not sustain them. If you have egg-laying Brahma hens, then you must feed her feeds rich in calcium and protein as well as greens. Calcium and protein feed enable them to lay a high number of eggs and improve their laying schedule.
How fast do Brahma chickens grow?
Brahma chickens are slow-growing breeds. As a result, they can take a very long time to reach maturity. It will take up to 2-3 years for a Brahma chicken to get to that giant size. As long as you keep feeding them regularly, they will attain a huge size in a short time.
Are Brahma chickens good egg layers?
Considering the size of this chicken and the frequency with which they lay their eggs, we can conclude that the Brahma chickens are good layers. They produce the bulk of their eggs in the winter season between the months of October to May. Their eggs are usually large and have a uniform medium brown color.
What is the habitat and environment of Brahma chickens?
Brahmas thrive best on dry, well-drained soils, and moist, cool climates. Their ability to adapt to cool climates is because of the huge plumage that the Brahma chickens have on their body. In essence, they thrive in the northern states where the weather can be brutally cold.
References:
- Newcastle Disease; Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention Tips
- Poultry Farm Equipment: All You Need to Start Poultry Farming
- 15 Awful Reasons Why Your Chickens Are Not Laying Eggs Yet And Solution
- What Can You Feed Chickens to Make Them Lay Eggs?
- What is a Pullet chicken?
- How to Make The Best Organic Chicken Feed For Your Farm
How or where can one gets the day old of this Braham birds in Nigeria
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