Breed Profile: Brahma Chicken

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The Brahma chicken was a huge sensation in the mid-1800s and has remained a popular heritage breed for those who love their large size, gentle nature, and beautiful plumage. In origin an oriental chicken, the breed is mainly descended from Chinese fowl with some input from landrace chickens from Chittagong, Bangladesh. The standards and colors we know today were developed and refined in America.

History of the Brahma Chicken

Around the 1850s, large oriental chickens became hugely popular in America and Europe in a sensation known as “hen fever.” They arrived on ships from Shanghai and the Indian subcontinent in the late 1840s. Chickens were carried on board to supply sailors with meat and eggs. On arriving in port, sailors sold their excess stock under various names. A distinctive bird from Shanghai became known as the Cochin, but another large gray oriental bird also caught the eye of several breeders.

The problem was that the origin and name of these birds were ambiguous and there was strong dispute over this for some time. They were often called Brahmaputra and Chittagong, suggesting an origin in the area that’s now Bangladesh. These days we consider that they mainly descend from landrace Shanghai birds with some influence from the Malay-type chicken of Chittagong, which conferred the small comb and pronounced brow. A publisher shortened the name to Brahma to save space in his magazine in the early 1850s.

Breed Development

Once in America, breeders worked to perfect their color and utility, resulting in the popular Light variety, then later the more decorative Dark variety. Buff was present from early on but took longer to catch on.

When Queen Victoria of England received Light Brahmas and Cochins shipped from America, their popularity surged, triggering “hen fever.” From then on, their value soared. Until around 1930, the Light Brahma was the top breed for meat. Eventually the breed lost favor with commercial breeders to faster-maturing and rapid-growing modern breeds and hybrids.

Conservation Status

The Brahma population waned once modern poultry strains took market prominence. However, due to the conservation efforts of The Livestock Conservancy and dedicated breeders, the breed is no longer endangered. It graduated from the Conservation Priority List in 2023.

Characteristics of the Brahma Chicken

Description

Brahmas are large, tall, heavy-boned, with abundant feathers and down. Feathers extend down the outer side of the shanks and toes. The head is broad with a prominent brow, pea comb, and small wattles, between which, in the female, a small dewlap extends. The body is wide and deep, usually held horizontally, while gently sloping up to the tail.

Features

• Skin color: yellow;
• Egg color: brown;
• Beak color: yellow, often with black shading;
• Eye color: orange-red;
• Shanks and toe color: yellow;
• Comb: pea.

Varieties and Plumage Colors

Light Brahmas have white plumage with gray under-color. The hackle and saddle have black striping. The tail plumage is black. Coverts and flight feathers also have some black markings. Buff Brahmas have the same black markings on an orange ground.

Dark Brahma roosters have a silver hackle and saddle, marked with black. The wing bow and shoulders are silver, while the tail, breast, and underside are black. The hens’ feathers have a delicate gray and black penciling over the body. Black hackle feathers are edged in white.

The American Poultry Association (APA) accepted the Light and Dark standards in 1874 and the Buff in 1924. Some countries have developed other varieties, such as the Golden Partridge in Europe.

Temperament

Brahmas are gentle and rarely aggressive toward other birds. They’re calm and easy to tame and handle.

Adaptability

Brahmas’ legendary cold-hardiness stems from their warm, abundant feathering, along with their small wattles and pea-comb, which resist frostbite. Feathered shanks trap warm air over their toes. However, their feet must remain dry to benefit. In damp conditions, muddy soil clings to the feathers, so that feet stay wet and are prone to freezing. Although Brahmas thrive in cool climates, they need dry shelters and well-drained soils. They struggle in hot, damp climates, needing ample shade and water. They’re easy to contain as they don’t fly well or range far, but they do like to spend most of the day foraging. As a large bird, they consume more feed than smaller breeds.

Biodiversity

The Brahma derives from centuries-old breeds of landrace poultry in the Far East. At least two genetic pools have converged, and were subsequently selected to eliminate certain colors and physical forms. The remaining gene pool combines hardy, resilient, and useful traits.

Productivity of the Brahma Chicken

Hens lay mainly between October and May and tend to go broody in early summer. They can make good mothers, except that heavy birds may accidentally trample young. Young birds grow and mature slowly.

Popular Use

Dual purpose. Good winter layer.

Breed Averages

• Yield: 150 to 200 eggs per year;
• Egg size: large;
• Weight: adult hen 9½ pounds (4.3 kg); rooster 12 pounds (5.4 kg); pullet 8 pounds (3.6 kg); cockerel 10 pounds (4.5 kg).

Sources

• Heritage Poultry
• The Livestock Conservancy

Originally published in the February/March 2025 issue of Backyard Poultry and regularly vetted for accuracy.