Make sure that their foot feathering is healthy and clean as well. According to Guinness World Records Matilda was the oldest living hen at fourteen years of age. The Buff Brahma chicken also has the characteristic foot feathering, red comb, wattles and yellow legs of the breed standard. Since the Brahma chicken’s feathering is very tight and dense all over their bodies, they are also more susceptible to mites and lice. Brahmas mature slowly due to their size and as such, should you get chicks or pullets, you will have to wait until your girls are six to seven months old for them to start laying (compared with the average hen at 4 months). The good news is that Brahmas are relatively easy to care for and can adapt to most climates. You should be clear and honest with yourself regarding the reason for wanting a backyard flock. We have constructed a list of chicken treats that you can have a look at to decide which is best for your chickens. Brahmas are calm and quiet and will do well with most other pets. The Brahma has one of the most controversial histories of all the chicken breeds and it is also one of the oldest breeds still available today. This is a natural repellent for mites and lice. The penciling means that their feathers are decorated with concentric lines almost resembling a “magic eye” work of art. However, if you have an aggressive breed you might want to keep a close eye on them for a while as Brahmas won’t stand up for themselves if bullied by other birds and in this way can get hurt. We were going over the basics like Cornish crosses, Rhode Island Reds and other really common breeds. The eighteenth-century Brahmas were said to be heavier birds with the hens weighing 13 pounds (6.5kg) and the roosters 19 pounds (9.5kg)! Brahmas don’t need intensive care or grooming, but they will require regular health checks due to their foot feathering. A giant stepping out of a coop. (Giant Brahma Video) Roosters can weigh in as much as 18.25lbs – though 12lbs is average. They are happy to accommodate any size order and allow you to mix and match multiple breeds of the same poultry type so you can start your mixed-breed flock right here! This chicken breed lays brown eggs, although the shade can vary from layer to layer. Your average Brahma chicken will most likely be around 18 inches (45cm) tall. It is a generally accepted fact that Brahmas make excellent mothers. If you provide a good quality commercial-grade feed that is at least 16% protein, additional calcium and omega-3 supplements and veterinary care if necessary, your Brahma chickens will lead long, full lives. Inspect their feathers often, parting them so that you can see the skin and keep an eye out for any traces of lice eggs, lice or mites on the skin or feather bases. On average, they are 10 pounds or 4.5kg and are the second largest chicken breed in the world! However, the Chinese version of the breed was first called a Shanghai due to the fact that they were brought to the US and UK by sailors who had visited the city of Shanghai. Do you live in a cold, snowy winter area? The Dark Brahma rooster sports lacing on his covert and hackle feathers and also has the red comb and wattles and yellow legs as per the breed standard. Well, stick around, because between myself and my poultry peeps, we collectively have over 30 years’ worth of first-hand Brahma-keeping experience and this took us months to develop and put together for you! If you are passionate about Brahmas and live in Australia, your best port of call for starting your very own flock of backyard chickens is the Brahma and Cochin Club of Australia. Brahmas are trendy brooders. The Brahma was known as the King of ‘Chickens’ until equaled or surpassed in size by the Jersey Giant.If you think you might like to have Brahmas among your flock, do a mental check list of things that will be a bit different from your regular, standard chickens.You may need to modify the coop and its’ ‘furniture’ to accommodate these large birds. Several years ago, I was teaching a poultry science lesson to high school agriculture students about various chicken breeds. toes. Brahmas chickens live on average 5 to 8 years depending on the care they receive, just as any other breed of chicken. It is best to introduce chickens to other pets when they are still chicks. The Brahma rooster, like any other rooster, will be larger than their hen counterparts and will crow several times a day. You should regularly inspect your Brahma’s feathers for signs of mites and lice to catch infestations early. Brahmas are large and physically intimidating, which means that they often fall quite high in the pecking order. By the end of this article we will leave you wanting Brahmas, or wanting MORE, because there is just so much to adore! Brahmas are friendly and docile creatures and work very well in mixed breed flocks. Brahma Chicken – All About These Giant Chickens and Roosters. Please leave us a comment below, ask any question you may have in your heart, or share your own Brahma stories and reviews. To be on the safe side, consider the Brahma rooster like you would any other rooster. To manage foot injuries or the minute you spot blood on your Brahma’s foot, you should inspect their legs to determine the source. Do Brahma chickens work well in a mixed breed flock? As Brahmas are large chickens, they tend to eat more than regular chickens. Things you will need to specifically consider are coop door sizes, perches, roosts, overall coop strength and the size of the nesting boxes. The Brahama comes second to the Jersery Giant, which is the biggest chicken breed in the world, standing up to 26 inches or 66cm. Time to peek inside those poultry nesting boxes and gather all the egg-ceptionally fresh eggs! But just who do we have to thank for bringing this giant ball of love into our lives? Now that you know all there is to know about this beautiful giant chicken breed, you probably want to know how to go about getting your own flock started – let’s take a look. Click here to view it now! Their beaks are short and strong and they have a pea comb. The Brahma is chicken renowned for its gigantic size. Nesting boxes can be made out of anything from wooden boxes to crates, and should be lined with a dust-free bedding that gets cleaned on a fairly regular basis. After that – they’ll regularly produce your breakfast for up to two years when their production will naturally start to decline, the same as any other layer hen. They have some specific requirements and needs that you will have to consider should you wish to start with this breed. Their small pea comb, great size, and heavy plumage make them almost immune to cold weather. However, I have heard from numerous Brahma parents that some of their girls have been known to still produce eggs for up to 5 years. They can live in confinement with other breeds, however, having very docile, calm personalities. Our poultry expert will contact you soon. This breed are of a friendly nature who are happy to be with family and are gentle for children. If you are interested in chickens that lay colorful eggs, check out the Eggs course on Chickenpedia – you won’t be sorry. For more information click here. If you are letting your Brahma hatch her own chicks, be sure to check on them as the size of the Brahma can cause her to trample either her eggs or the chicks. There are some chicken diseases and illnesses that have no cure and can mean the loss of your entire bird stock if they get it. Brahmas are well known because of a video of a giant rooster that went viral (owned by a man named Fitim Sejfijaj, based near Kosovo) and boasts the title of “Biggest Chicken In The World” (Guinness Book of World Records). For a veritable mine of information on ultimate health for Brahma chickens, visit our friends over at Chickenpedia, they have a comprehensive course that covers everything you could ever need when it comes to keeping happy and healthy chickens. In addition to this, Brahmas will need a roost that is not too far off the ground. Mud that cakes in the foot feathering can cause problems or infection, and snow or ice that accumulate in the feathers can cause frostbite on the foot. The Brahama comes second to the Jersery Giant, which is the biggest chicken breed in the world, standing up to 26 inches or 66cm. The Brahma hen is known for her gentle nature and can go broody, especially if there are other hens about that are also starting to go broody. The rooster in question has all of the characteristics of a Brahma chicken, a large breed of chicken cultivated in the US. If you want a very large chicken that is friendly and likes a cuddle and will still produce a fair amount of eggs for you – the Brahma is the right choice. September 02, 2020. Clean Bum: A chicken’s vent area should be clean and dry. If the chicken you’re interested in is not scratching or pecking around at the ground, that could be an indication of illness in the bird. They should also have straight legs with even coloring and no extra (or missing!) However, they are not at all aggressive and are actually very people-friendly and docile. If you don’t mind keeping a couple roosters, it can be a very fun experience to actually have the Brahmas hatch from the egg right in your backyard! Now that you know what to expect from the breed in general, why don’t we take a look at what real-life Brahma parents have to say about their favorite feathered friends. Bright Eyes: Hold up your bird and check their eyes, they should be clear and bright without malformations, cloudiness or tears. These gorgeous chickens sport stunning layers of caramel-colored plumage featuring black detailing in the form of a neck scarf, mostly concentrated on the back of the neck, and at the tip of the tail. However, these are easily prevented with proper vaccinations. So, there you have it. And how will their temperaments mix with your other chicken children? The Brahma chicken will require more grooming and care than your average backyard chickens simply because of their feathering. We love reading your input and feeding back our expertise to make every chicken keeper’s journey a happy one. They offer you the ability to buy live baby chicks, fertile hatching eggs and chicken supplies! Providing your chickens with a dust bath filled with Diatomaceous Earth is a good way of naturally eradicating external parasites. Also remember that if the coop is not on solid ground, that it needs to have enough support for the weight of the Brahma. It is also highly beneficial to add a calcium supplement in the form of oyster or shell grit in a separate bowl to ensure your chickens never run the risk of soft-shelled eggs. It is one of the most rewarding experiences to raise young chicks to fully grown fowl – and it takes a surprisingly short amount of time and fairly little effort on your part. Click here to read it now. If you are already familiar with the Brahma chicken, you will know that they are very large birds. There are conflicting opinions about the Brahma rooster’s crow with some saying they don’t make much noise and others saying they crow as much and as loudly as any other rooster. They stand head and shoulders not only above their hens, but any other chicken that might be wandering around your yard as well. Let’s find out. Returns, Replacements, Refunds & Warranties. It is best if pets grow up together. Generally speaking, a coop for your Brahmas will need at least 4 square feet (a third of a square meter) of space per chicken in which to roam freely. Buff (caramel) with black detailing on hackles, feet and tailfeathers. They can get mud balls caked in their foot feathers which can result in nail or toe loss and be very painful for the bird in question. Compared to hens who can come in at 13lbs. Do I own any other pets? The brahma chicken is a heritage breed and was once one of the most popular chickens available on the market, raised for both meat and eggs. Black, blue-columbian, buff-columbian, dark, gold, light or white, More expensive to keep than regular chickens. Although they are physically large and can appear intimidating, they are not aggressive at all and do well in mixed-breed flocks and as backyard additions for families with small children or other pets in the household. Breeding Brahma for over 30 years. Call or text 936-229-6130 email [email protected] Their heads are lighter than their bodies almost approaching white and their tailfeathers are inky black. Brahma chickens are like any other chicken – they love a good snack. Their are various varieties, Light, dark and buff, they are all good winter layers of large brown coloured eggs. Though Brahma chickens were primarily bred for meat, they do have fair egg production. Cornish chickens … However, they’re just a touch smaller. So, without further ado, let’s have a look at how you can be sure to pick the best Brahma in the bunch to join your little feathered family. In layman's... It’s a very common practice among backyard chicken keepers to keep LOTS of egg-exquisitely different breeds! You might think that with their heavy body and thick feathering, they would be intolerant to heat but this is not true. Therefore, if you simply want a gentle giant that will make a good addition to your family or backyard flock – the Brahma is for you. Do I have small children or family who are scared of birds? As with all Brahma chickens, they have red combs and wattles and yellow legs and beaks. Depending on your expectations for eggs, Brahmas can be considered not to be one of the most prolific layers. It is the largest purebred chicken in the US and probably the world! This is a list of almost everything you can and can’t feed a Brahma chicken. If you’re interested in the causes of soft-shelled eggs or how to prevent egg- and hen-related problems, be sure to visit our friends over at Chickenpedia! It may take 3-5 minutes. Yes! In breeds where this is possible, this is called auto-sexing. How much run space does a Brahma chicken need? The average Brahma hen lays 3 to 4 medium-to-large eggs per week which amounts to approximately 150 eggs per year. Click here to view it now! They handle confinement pretty well but because they are good foragers, it is a good idea to allow them some backyard time to scratch. The Buff Brahma is essentially a color copy of the Light Brahma with the Buff coloring, that delicious shade of caramel, taking the place of the white. One of the most eggs-citing parts about getting a new pet, is choosing a name! Coccidiosis is a big killer of baby birds and chicks can be vaccinated for it. Beacause of their size, it's a good idea to have plenty of space for housing. From the very start, they were regarded as one of the largest chickens in the country, and remain a favorite of those who prefer larger-bodied breeds today. Despite its considerable proportions, the Brahma chicken is docile, calm and friendly – a true gentle giant. The Buff Brahma rooster looks very similar to the hen albeit larger in size with a longer tail and a more upright stance. Gender Bender: When Your Hen Thinks She's A He! This means that they will require more feed, more attention and more space. The Brahma breed is very similar in size to the Jersey Giant. Behaviour. Once they are stronger though, few rival the Brahma as a supermom. I love my Brahmas but my coop was way too small. Brahmas are very large, stately, docile birds who make good reliable broodies which can cover a large number of eggs due to their size. Hens are one of the most captivating creatures on the face of the earth. The Shanghai was then crossed with the Grey Chittagong, a breed native to India but specifically an area near the Brahmaputra River in what is the currently Bangladesh. Their size is perhaps their most distinguishing feature, apart from the feathered feet. Brahma Chicken – If ever there was a “king of chickens,” then it would be the Brahma chicken because of its great size, majestic plumage, and dual purpose as an egg and meat bird. Brahmas need protein to grow and build their significant body mass and muscle. Did you know that Brahmas aren’t just giant feathered beauties? After all, this decision is for life, so you are going to want to pick names that you love. To reduce the risk of external parasites, provide your Brahmas with dust baths filled with sand, Diatomaceous Earth and wood ash. Do Brahma Chickens Lay Large Eggs? However, they are very large and because of this can be intimidating especially to small children or people that are scared of birds. 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