The Brahma Fowl
A White Brahma cockerel
The Brahma is a unique large breed of chicken which originated in the re-gion of Brahmaputra, India. The first Brahma was imported to the U.S.A in 1846 and they quickly became a popular utility breed. It was originally famous for its egg laying abilities and good crop of meat, but these traits were soon breed away in favor of ornamental purposes and the utility properties were lost. However the breed was never imported to Australia before the 1949 ban on the importation of live animals from overseas.
A Partridge (or Dark) Brahma cockerel and hens
But in the last 30 years a project to recreate the breed has been in place, and the Brahma is slowly coming up to standard in Australia. The Brahma has been introduced to the Australian Poultry Standard and it is now begin-ning to be shown at poultry shows around the country.
In 2010 the Rare Breeds Poultry Club of Tasmania featured the Brahma at there annual show.
A Columbian Brahma cockerel
This new ‘recreated’ Brahma still possesses the qualities its American and English counterparts have long since lost; its egg laying abilities and meat-producing qualities. Some of the colours this stunning breed comes in in-clude Dark, Columbian, Columbian, White, Buff, Black, and many more colours.
The breed is friendly, beautiful, and a great layer and broody. The Brahma’s all have unique personalities and a great temperament and they make great mothers. All in all the Brahma is a great breed to keep wherever. The Brahma can live anywhere from a medium size suburban garden to a farm yard, they adapt to most weather conditions quickly (Those that are not overly extreme) and they are resistant to disease. Their eggs are medium sized, white or cream and they come in excellent quantity, numbering about 250 a year.
All images © coypright Isaac Walker.