Brahma chickens: The giant teddy bears of the backyard
Brahma chickens have three features that set them apart from most other breeds:
They are gigantic with males reaching about 12 lbs
They have fully feathered legs and feet that look like pants
They are incredibly gentle and sweet-natured
Brahma chickens are great if you’re a backyard chicken keeper looking more for personality in your flock than for eggs. But do you have the right backyard setup to care for these magnificent birds?
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know to decide if Brahmas are the right fit for you, including:
What Brahma chickens look like in their many different colors and patterns
Climate considerations for Brahma chickens (are they a good fit for your region?)
Brahma temperament (are they right for you and your family?)
This post contains affiliate links for my favorite products from Amazon. As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Have Brahma chickens?
Brahma chicken facts
“The Brahma is a wonderful breed and can be highly recommended to those who want something stunning, placid, and gentle to admire.”
Category: Pet & Meat
Origin: Asia
Egg-laying ability: Moderate-good
Broodiness: High
Meat production: Good
Cold tolerance: Exceptional (if dry); poor (if wet)
Heat tolerance: Poor-moderate
Predator evasion: Poor-moderate
Foraging ability: Moderate
Toleration for confinement: Good
Temperament: Docile
Aggression toward flock members: Low
Noise level: Low-moderate
Origin of Brahma Chickens
The Brahma chicken, named after the Brahmaputra River in India by 19th century American breeder, George Burnham, may be from India. It does have some similarities to Indian Chittagong chickens.
Or it may be from China. It also has some similarities to Shanghai chickens (the progenitors of Cochins). Or it may have been developed from both breeds. Or it may have some of its heritage from Malay chickens.
What is known for sure is that the breed was developed in America from Asiatic stock in the mid-1800s.
The Brahma, along with the Cochin, began the great “hen fever” or “hen” madness, a time period in which exotic chickens became very popular. Some of these chickens sold for what would today be considered extravagant amounts of money.
During the late 1800s, the bantam (i.e. miniature) varieties of Brahmas were developed.
The Brahma was the leading meat bird in the mid-1800s and up until 1930. The downside to raising Brahmas for meat is that they take a long time to grow to maturity. They cannot, therefore, compete with modern, industrial broilers, but they are still used for meat by homesteaders.
The Livestock Conservancy has given Brahma chickens a conservation rating of “Recovering.” Though their numbers are low, they are becoming more and more popular with backyard chicken raisers.
What do Brahma Chickens look like?
Brahma feather colors and patterns
Brahmas come in 5 varieties recognized by the American Poultry Association.
These are:
Black
Buff
Dark
Light
White
The Buff variety isn’t a solid buff color, but rather is a buff Columbian pattern. The Dark Brahma has a silver penciled plumage pattern. And the Light Brahma has a typical Columbian pattern. Light Brahmas are the most common variety.
Breeders have developed several other varieties of Brahma as well, such as:
Blue
Blue Columbian
Blue Partridge
Gold
Partridge
Pyle
Red
In the video below, you can see Brahmas of both the Buff (again, with a Buff Columbian pattern) and Blue Columbian varieties. They look similar except that Blue Columbians have blue (i.e., gray) feathers in place of the Buff’s black feathers.
What is notable about the Brahma chicken’s appearance?
“Brahmas are known for their ‘beetle brows’ that can give them a rather stern expression.”
The Brahma is marked by several notable characteristics:
Overhanging eyebrows (‘beetle brow’)
Densely feathered
Long, feathered legs
Feathered feet
Short tails
Upright posture
Large, impressive stature
Brahmas also have small pea combs, medium-size wattles, reddish brown eyes, red earlobes, and yellow beaks, shanks, and feet.
How big do Brahma chickens get?
Roosters: 12 lbs
Hens: 9.5 lbs
Bantam roosters: 38 oz
Bantam hens: 34 oz
Brahma chickens are one of the largest chicken breeds around. They look both tall and stocky. Their feathering is so dense that they appear even larger than they are.
What do Brahma chicks look like?
The coloring of Brahma chicks will vary depending on the plumage variety, but all Brahmas are born with their feathered legs and toes.
Below you can see videos showing some different varieties of Brahma chicks.
Buff Brahma chicks
Light Brahma chicks
Dark Brahma chicks
Slightly older Brahma chicks look so adorable with their dense feathering.
The video below shows 42 day old chicks (labeled as Pearl Grey Brahmas)
And this video shows 7 week old Light Brahmas.
Brahma chicken growth
Brahmas grow very slowly. They can take 9 months for their plumage to be fully developed. And they can take up to a year and a half before they reach their full, mature size.
Are you getting Brahma chicks?
Share your photos, week by week!
Brahma chickens and egg laying
Egg color: Brown
Egg size: Medium-large
Age of lay: 6-7 months
Eggs/week: 2-4
Eggs/year: 150-200
Brahma chickens aren’t prolific egg layers, but, unlike many breeds, they do lay a good amount of eggs in the winter.
Their eggs tend to be medium to large in size, but some strains will actually lay small eggs. Many first-time Brahma owners find this disappointing.
Broodiness: Do Brahma hens want to hatch their eggs?
Brahma hens tend to be a broody bunch and they do have dreams of motherhood.
They are reliable brooders, so if you’re looking for a broody hen, Brahmas do stay on the nest. However, be aware that Brahma hens do occasionally break eggs by accident, simply because they are so large and heavy.
The Livestock Conservancy also warns that, “…because of the size of the hen, trampling of the chicks must be guarded against for the first few days after hatch.”
Brahma hens are very loving and devoted mothers. They have strong maternal personalities in general.
Below, you can see a video of Brahma mamas with their chicks.
Meat Production of Brahma Chickens
Brahma chickens produce a substantial amount of meat. Their market weight is 8-10 lbs.
However, Brahmas can take up to a year and a half to reach their full size. Many chicken keepers who raise Brahmas for meat will butcher them long before they reach their market weight.
Some chicken keepers will even butcher their Brahma Bantams. Typically, these are keepers who are breeding their birds and kill most of their roosters anyway.
Brahma Chickens: An exceptionally hardy breed in the right weather conditions
How do Brahma chickens do in the cold?
The Livestock Conservancy describes Brahma chickens as “an ideal fowl for northern climates.” They say Brahmas were once considered “the least susceptible chicken to cold and exposure.”
Brahma chickens thrive in cold temperatures due to their large mass, small pea comb (not prone to frostbite), and their tight yet dense feathering. However, the Brahma only thrives in conditions that are dry.
These birds need to be living on dry substrates. Otherwise, their feet and leg feathers get wet and they can get severe frostbite. Many people keeping Brahmas in cold climates have birds who have lost their toes to frostbite or worse.
So, if you’re going to keep Brahmas in a cold climate, you absolutely need to make sure that they stay dry. A large, covered run is part of the way to accomplish this. And a clean, dry, sanitary coop is the other part. If you’re not able to keep your chickens dry, Brahmas are not the right breed for you.
Even if your temperatures don’t drop below freezing, don’t get this breed if your soil is muddy. These birds will be absolutely miserable as their feet and legs become encased with mud.
How do Brahma chickens do in the heat?
Brahmas don’t like the heat. They don’t handle it as well as most other breeds. One chicken keeper said, “…our Brahmas stood around panting in the summer heat more than any other of our chickens.” You’ll hear this a lot from Brahma keepers.
These birds should not be kept in hot climates, and if you have hot summers, make sure you take measures to prevent your birds from getting heat stroke.
Brahma chickens vs. predators
Brahma chickens don’t fare well against most predators. They just aren’t good at escaping. Their large bodies and densely feathered legs and feet make it hard for them to move quickly. They also are too heavy to fly. If you have predators in your area, your Brahmas will need a lot of protection.
Below is a video that shows Brahmas running for treats. Although they look absolutely adorable and hilarious when they run, you can see how they’d be easy for a predator to catch.
However, Brahma chickens are less likely to be attacked by hawks and other birds of prey simply due to their large size. So, they do tend to fare better against aerial predators than many other breeds.
One chicken keeper said she had a flock of Brahma roosters and one year, a Red-Tailed Hawk tried to attack one. All the roosters ganged up on the hawk. She said, “When the hawk finally flew up to a branch, he looked like he had taken a beating… they take care of each other.”
However, you’ll find just as many anecdotes about fearful Brahma roosters as you will about brave ones. It’s still a good story, though.
Brahma chickens and foraging
Brahma chickens love to forage.
One chicken keeper said of her flock, “They are excellent forages, and love chasing bugs in the field! That’s something I could sit outside and watch all day, in fact—chicken TV!”
However, although Brahmas love to forage, they aren’t able to forage a high percentage of their sustenance. Even if your Brahmas are free range, you will need to provide them with lots of feed. Because these birds are so large, they do require a lot of calories to remain healthy.
And despite being good foragers, Brahmas don’t tend to scratch as much as a lot of other breeds, and so they can be an excellent choice for backyard chicken keepers. They are less likely to destroy your yard.
Brahma chickens: Should they be confined or not?
“Brahmas do alright in confinement if given sufficient space, but do better when given access to the outdoors.”
Brahma chickens, despite being large, can handle confinement. But, if you’re able to free range them or give them a large yard, they’ll be much happier. Of course, you will need to make sure they have plenty of protection from predators.
You will need to have a covered run available for your Brahmas during inclement weather to ensure they stay dry.
Because Brahmas are heavy, a two-foot fence is enough to keep them contained. However, make sure you build your fence high enough and strong enough to keep any predators out.
If you get Brahmas, you will need to take their size and weight into consideration when you design your coop. Because Brahmas are so large, you will need more space per bird. (Also keep that in mind when deciding on how many Brahmas to get—they do take up a lot of space!)
Brahmas also need lower roosting bars than your average breed because they are heavy and can’t fly. If they jump from too high up, they can damage their legs and feet. And you’ll also need to make sure your roosting bars are wide enough for your Brahmas' extra-large feet.
Additionally, you will need a larger pop door hole for your Brahma chickens than you will for your more average-sized breeds. Make sure your door is large enough that your Brahmas can easily get in and out.
Below is a video of a pop door hole that is too small. You’ll laugh when you watch the giant Brahma come out of it.
Brahma chicken temperament: Just what kind of birds are they?
One word: mellow. Both roosters and hens tend to be good-natured, easy-going, docile, and gentle birds. A flock of Brahmas tends to be a peaceful flock.
One chicken keeper said of her Brahma hen, “She had the most gentle and amazing spirit from the get. Her calm, unbelievably chill nature affected the entire flock.”
Brahma chickens are very trusting and adore attention, so they become tame very easily. Many of them enjoy being handled.
One chicken keeper said her Brahma hen is “very sweet and gentle… loves to sit with me and let me pet her.”
Another said of hers, “She is very loving and sweet and she loves to be held.”
Brahmas also can become very attached to their keepers. One chicken keeper said “My sweet Brahma pullet, who was brought up with us as a chick, still jumps up on my back.”
Another said of her Brahma, “She is my hen that will wait to go into the coop at night until I get home from work, so that I will pick her up and hold her before tucking her in.”
Brahmas are also very intelligent birds. They can be easily trained and enjoy working with their keepers. One chicken keeper said of her Brahma hen, “I taught her to count to 7, scratched my pant leg with her beak, to get a peanut. Best chicken ever.”
Other chicken keepers have commented that their Brahmas get along very well with their other pets. Below is a video of a Brahma rooster and hen who are being friendly with a cat in the yard.
How are Brahma chickens around children?
Because Brahma chickens are so easy-going, gentle, and loving, they come highly recommended for children. They may be one of the best breeds available if you want chickens who will tolerate (and some will even enjoy) handling by young children.
One chicken keeper told the story of her daughter and their Brahmas. She said, “My 7-year old daughter carries our huge 13+ lb Brahma rooster around and he just doesn’t care. He is the pussycat of all my roosters.”
And another said of her Brahma hen, “She is gentle enough that my 4-year old daughter is able to carry her around.”
Brahma chickens in a mixed-breed flock: kings or peasants?
Due to their great size, Brahma chickens are commonly referred to as the kings of the chicken world. Many say the Brahma breed is the king of all the breeds.
Well, humans might think that Brahmas are kings, but nobody else does. Your other chickens certainly won’t treat your Brahmas like kings. In fact, Brahmas are, perhaps surprisingly, often the victims of bullying.
One chicken keeper said she loves how gentle her Brahma hen is, “but that can be both a blessing and a frustration—she is so sweet that she never, ever fights back!”
Another said of her Brahmas in their mixed flock, “If they’re being picked on, they will never dish it back.” She said of one hen, “…even though she is the biggest hen now, everyone still is extra rough with her because they can.”
If you’re going to get Brahmas, you’ll need to keep this in mind. Brahmas will do much better with other Brahmas or with friendlier chicken breeds.
And the consensus is the same, one Brahma is not enough. Obviously, you don’t want to keep one Brahma by herself, but you also don’t want to put one Brahma in with mixed chickens. She might be do well, but she might also be friendless, lonely, and bullied.
Are Brahma chickens aggressive to other chickens?
One chicken keeper said of her Brahma, “It’s like having a giant teddy bear that’s actually a chicken.” That’s the perfect characterization of a Brahma—not a king, but a teddy bear. And that’s how they act in the coop and the yard.
“Brahmas are tolerant chickens, so you need not expect problems when keeping them together with other breeds. Even cocks tolerate one another.”
Brahma chickens are one of the few breeds where rooster-to-rooster aggression tends to be low. And you may actually be able to keep more roosters in a flock than you would with another breed. This is largely due to their docile nature.
Additionally, Brahma roosters aren’t as efficient at mating as other breeds. They do not breed as frequently as other roosters. In fact, if you want to breed your Brahmas, you’ll be most successful if each rooster has only 2-3 hens.
Another benefit of Brahmas is that they tend to be nurturing. They often serve as the loving matriarch to mixed flocks. One chicken keeper told a touching story about her Brahma hen, Morgaine. “…when one of the girls had internal laying and got sepsis, after her surgery, she slept under Morgaine’s wing for at least a month.”
Others have told stories about how their Brahmas grieve when another chicken dies. One chicken keeper said of one of her Brahma hens, “When her sister died, she was sad for a week, not eating and drinking…”
Because of this loving and caring nature, Brahmas can be wonderful birds to mix with small breeds that are also friendly. In the video below, you can see a couple of Brahma roosters free-ranging side-by-side with bantam roosters and hens.
Are Brahma roosters aggressive to people?
Although it’s always possible to end up with an aggressive rooster from any breed, Brahma roosters have a reputation for sweetness. They tend to be just as docile and loving as their hen counterparts.
Below is a video of a 5½-month old rooster eating out of his keeper’s hand:
Brahma chickens: Are they noisy?
Although there are always exceptions, Brahma chickens, overall, tend to be a quieter breed on average.
“In spite of their bulk, Brahmas are moderate. Even when crowing they know how to behave: They make relatively little noise and are not fanatic crowers.”
Below, you can see a video of 6-month old roosters quietly talking in the chicken yard.
And below you can hear a beautiful Dark Brahma rooster’s crow.
Brahma chicken health problems and life expectancy
Brahma chickens tend to be healthy except that they are prone to obesity. You will need to keep an eye on their weight. They’ll have a much better chance of staying healthy if you provide them plenty of room for exercising.
You can expect for your Brahma chickens to live as long as the average chicken breed, which is 5 to 8 years.
Breeds you may want instead of Brahmas
Cochins and Langshans are breeds that are very similar to the Brahma breed. Also hailing from Asia, these are incredibly large and friendly chickens with feathered legs.
Cochins have a different body type than Brahmas. They are much rounder, sometimes described as a ‘feathery ball with legs.’ They also come in many more plumage varieties than Brahmas, so if you’re wanting a giant chicken with a very particular feather color or pattern, chances are you can find a Cochin with the right look.
Langshan chickens are taller than Brahma chickens and, although they are also very sweet, they don’t tend to let other chickens pick on them the way Brahma chickens do.
You might also want to consider Jersey Giants. The largest of all chicken breeds, Jersey Giants don’t have the feathered legs and feet of the Brahmas, and, therefore, can withstand wet conditions much better.
For more information on these other breeds, check out my articles:
Like this post? Pin it!
Brahma sources
Bassom, Frances. Mini Encyclopedia: Chicken Breeds and Care. Dorking: Interpet Publishing, 2011.
Damerow, Gail. Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens. North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2017.
Damerow, Gail. The Chicken Health Handbook. North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2015.
Ekarius, Carol. Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds. North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2007.
Verhoef, Esther and Rijs, Aad. The Complete Encyclopedia of Chickens. Lisse: Rebo Publishers, 2005.