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Just make sure you keep them well fed and you will have a happy chicken. The breed standard includes the Light Brahma, Buff Brahma, and Dark Brahma but you can find a variety of colors like black, blue and gold partridge, or solid white feathers. The Brahma is a very imposing bird standing around 30 inches high. Due to their enormous size roosters of 18lb were not unknown. 20 Best Egg Laying Chickens (Illustrated Guide), When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs? In fact because of their size they are usually pretty high in the pecking order and smaller breeds tend not to bother them. While the frequency and size of eggs will vary according to the diet and age of each bird, one things for sure, if you have a happy chicken, you could certainly enjoy more eggs! A Brahma hen can go into egg production as early as 6 to 7 months old; however, it is not uncommon for some birds to start laying as late as 12 months. But, they still could make wonderful flock mates because of their gentle nature. Brahmas are not commonly a broody chicken, but if you do happen to come across a broody hen she will be very stubborn when it comes to sitting on the nest and trying to hatch her eggs. This, of course, depends on the quality of care that you provide. There are also rarer Brahma varieties that you Chickens and More 2022 - All Rights Reserved, 4 Best Walk-In Chicken Coops: The Complete Buyers Guide, The 5 Best Chicken Waterers: The Complete Guide, 5 Best Automatic Chicken Feeders: The Complete Guide, Cuckoo Maran Chicks: A Complete Guide (With Pictures), 6 Best Heated Chicken Waterers (Reviews and Buyers Guide), The 17 Best Pet Duck Breeds For Backyards, Rhode Island Red Chicks: Top 5 Best Hatcheries, 3 Simple Ways To Tell If An Egg Is Fertilized, 5 Best Electric Chicken Fences: Buyers Guide & Top Picks, 17 Best Small Chicken Breeds (Ranked by Size), Top 12 Best Chicken Breeds With Feathered Feet, 35+ Types of Ducks: Identification Guide (with Pictures), Chicken Egg Colors Chart: Blue, Purple, Green and More. Written by Amy Fewell with a foreword by Joel Salatin, this book teaches you how to hatch your own chicks, prevent and treat common chicken ailments, start a poultry business, cook delicious recipes with your fresh eggs, and much more. Know Your Chickens is a free resource dedicated to teaching backyard chicken owners more about their flock. The first thing to do when rearing these species is to accord them plenty of protection from predators. Heres a list of where you can buy Brahma chickens from: Brahma is a unique breed of chicken, not only for their size but for their hardiness and pleasing personality. These giants are great backyard chickens because they are relatively easy to care for and are friendly. Brahma Hen Egg Production While many people raise Brahmas for meat, they're decent egg producers as well. However, you may want to put some special considerations when taking care of them because these are large birds and require larger nests, more feeds, and lots of petting. These roosters are incredibly friendly, making them an excellent choice if you want a more docile flock. Their incredibly calm dispositions make them a fabulously friendly addition to the flock. barred varieties of Brahma. Being a cost-saving option is a bonus if you have land space for it. Today's bird is a bit smaller than its ancestors and a rooster will weigh in around 10lb with the hens at 8lb. Brahma Chicken. Most chickens dont usually lay during the shorter days of the year unless you provide supplementary light. Yet, they are one of the largest chicken breeds. Brahma chickens usual only require attention to parasites such as lice, mites and worms. But assuming these are all in place, and a chick is carefully taken cared of, here are the average sizes to expect: Age and Sex. Overall they are robust and healthy birds. They are a heavy bird which means they do not fly well (if at all). 33. Soon, they became expensive exotic fowls that people kept for meat, eggs, and ornamental purposes. Partridge is a unique color distinguished by mottled feather patterns, as opposed to the softer filigree feather patterns found across the body of darker Brahmas. To keep your hen happy, the nesting box should provide the following features: Brahma chickens are considered consistent egg layers compared to other chickens of a similar size. While the Brahma has very dense feathers to keep them comfortable during cold temperatures, they are prone to foot problems if left to roam in muddy and damp soil. The rooster has some feathers on his feet but the hens have none whatsoever. There is nothing better than collecting your own eggs from free ranging chickens! Brahma chickens identify with three official color classifications; dark, light, and Buff. They are not skittish, and dont mind being handled by the chicken keeper. Since Brahmas are heavy, it is vital to ensure that the runs and the coops are wide and tall enough to accommodate their sizes. As these big birds struggle to fly perches should be fairly low for them to access (12-18 inches tall). It will take a year and a half for a Brahma chicken to mature. Ensure that the chicken coop gets about eight hours of natural light, especially during winter. Dark Brahmas have black spots, silver and white highlights, and a black-striped carriage. The light and dark Brahma was admitted to the American Poultry Association in 1874. The plumage consists of feathers that should be tightly held together making them dense but fluffy. Your feed conversion ratios will not be as profitable, as they are so slow to mature, and it may be difficult to find space for them in the chicken run and coop. Typically Brahmas start laying eggs when they're 6 or 7 months old. Or you can look at the vent at 1 day and see a protruding organ which are boys.Or wait 6 months and the one that crows is the rooster. And the "s" is silent. The Giant, the King, the Brahma. You can extend the lifespan of your Brahma chicken by providing it with quality food, water, shelter, and veterinary care. How much room does a Brahma chicken need? If they stop laying eggs when it gets cold, that could be a sign that their living situations arent ideal or that theyre unhealthy. can pursue. Here are some general commonly shared traits. This will prevent the more daring Brahmas from trying to perform high jumps to get down from the box, thereby preventing leg injuries. Don't panic though, it's not long before these huge chickens start laying large brown eggs a few times a week. Size And Weight Of A Brahma chicken. The American poultry standard for the Brahma chicken includes the Light, Dark, and Buff Brahmas. Contrary to their intimidating size, the giant Brahma breed is very docile. They are also trusting, love attention, being handled, and can grow quite attached to their owners. Their legs and feet are feathered and each foot should have four toes. These can still be found today, but remain less popular than the light and dark varieties. They can live in confinement with other types of chickens, however, having very docile, calm personalities. Make sure to get a breathable mesh harness for when you want to take them on walks. These are features not commonly found with traditional coops. They became the primary meat chicken of the US from the 1840s until the 1930s. My 6 month old Brahma rooster is already towering over my mature Orpingtons and Australorps, they are certainly the giants of the chicken world! They also get along with kids, making them one of the ideal breeds to make as pets. The Brahma chicken is an Asiatic poultry breed named after the Brahmaputra River in India. Both the light and dark varieties are popular among American fancier breeders, however, the penciling feather patterns in the Dark Brahma remain a fan favorite. Despite their size and intimidating appearance they are gentle giants. The roosters of this variety will have black stripes on their saddle feathers. The size can be very intimidating to some folks (especially small children). Your pen area should ideally be stone or sand. But between free-ranging and medicated feed, what do chicks eat? Back in the 1800s their weight was very impressive. These chickens grow slowly, which is why they are often overlooked as a potential backyard chicken species. We publish weekly guides and articles written by experienced chicken enthusiasts! While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Buff Brahmas are a color variation of the regular Brahma and they are certainly eye-catching. If you make the perches too high you run the risk of a leg or foot injury when they come down from the roost. Brahma chickens can live up to 8 years. You can then reduce the temperatures every week by five degrees Fahrenheit until the chicks are old enough to be independent. If you notice some blood on the foot of your chicken, it is best to look at the quills. Also, Brahma chickens have the pea type comb and are not prone to overheating, despite the extra feathering and larger size. It takes 21 days for the chicks to hatch, after which the Brahma hen provides the hatchlings heat until they are old enough to regulate their body temperatures. While there will be some variation among the individuals of the species, these are some general similarities in appearance of the breed. Retrieved from: https://www.americanbrahmaclub.com/, Poultry Breeds Brahma Chicken. Brahma chickens have become a firm favorite among poultry fanciers over the last 50 years. Although males tend to be taller than females, both genders have strong feet and even stronger posture. Google it. Brahma chickens are very friendly and can be trained to enjoy the company of humans. Its appealing outlook and demeanor places it among the best backyard chicken pets for any family. It was after that that the re-exportation of the chicken variety to America began. The white feathers have a gray undertone, while the black feathers have a white stripe around the edges. Like other chicken breeds, it would still be best to observe a minimum of 16% proteins and commercial grade feed for layers most of the year or when molting. These birds usually start laying at around six or seven months of age. With consistent egg production in winter and the ability to adapt to confinement, you should definitely consider this chicken breed for your flock. While their origins date as far back as the 1800s, today these beautiful birds have become a popular addition to the backyard flock. Brahmas flock is also docile, peaceful, and has low noise levels making them an excellent fit for urban dwellers and beginners. Because of these characteristics, the Brahma chicken breed is one of the most expensive chicken breeds in the world. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary advice. : 2023 Chick Feeding Guide, Top 5 Chicken Fencing to Keep Your Flock Safe (2023 Review), Bantam Chickens: Breed Profile and Care Guide (2023), Araucana Complete Care Guide: All You Need To Know (2023), The Polish Chicken: Breed Profile and Care Guide (2023), The Best Chicken Hatchery: A Guide to Buying Chicks Online, Best Egg Washer To Help You Clean Eggs Quick and Easy (2023), Best Animal Repellent to Protect Your Flock (2023) Guide, Best Chicken Starter Kit: All You Need to Raise Chicks. Allow your chicken to free-range and run around regularly. Brahmas can produce about 140 eggs per year. Brahmas have a pea comb and dense and fluffy feathers to keep themselves warm. A Brahma hen is particularly broody in the summer, attentively sitting on its eggs most of the time. Do you have enough space to accommodate the king of chickens? Whats important to recognize is that Brahma hens are more likely to exhibit broody behavior if another hen has gone broody, leading to a copycat pattern that can quickly spread amongst your entire flock. I have 6 hens and the are in their third season, how many years will the hens lay? Brahmas can even be as heavy as 12lbs for cocks and around 10lbs for hens. When it comes to common egg color brown and pink are the norm. These birds are easy to tame and enjoyable to raise, making them the breed you should be raising in your backyard chicken coop. Although Braham chicken varieties are affordable, they may need extensive habitats due to their sizes and more food budget because they take too long to mature. Brahma chickens make excellent meat and egg birds but you have to wait for it. For shows and exhibitions, three types of Buff Brahma can only participate (2). Brahma chickens are one of the largest chicken breeds. It is also vital to check for lice, fleas, mites, and other parasites that could harbor your chickens thick plumage. The Dark Brahma exhibits the greatest differences between hens and roosters, with a dark gray hen and a black rooster. Keep the Brahmas surroundings dry, particularly in the winter, when frostbite can be a serious concern. Brahmas are elegant chickens that move with grace and purpose. Similar to the perches nesting boxes should be low to the ground. As for roosting space give them around 8-10 inches each. I have one beautiful rooster of Brahma. The Brahma is a massive chicken and is only rivaled by the Jersey Giant. Are Brahmas the right birds for you? Interestingly enough, Dark Brahma chickens were cross bred with Black Langshans to produce the Jersey Giant. Retrieved from: https://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/poultry/chickens/brahma, 18 Friendliest Chicken Breeds For Your Backyard, most expensive chicken breeds in the world, Large fowl: 4.5-5.4kgs (9.9-12lbs); bantam: 900g (32oz), Relatively low maintenance; feather care required, 8-10 weeks (broilers); 8 months (roasters). Dark Brahma chicks have darker coloring and stripes down their backs, while Light Brahmas have a lighter, solid coloring. In the winter these balls can freeze causing frostbite and in severe cases the loss of toes. Being familiar with how they look is a good start. Some additional space considerations are perches and nesting boxes.