If you are in search of a breed that is friendly and beautiful, the Light Brahma chicken breed will fit the bill nicely.
As you can see by the pictures above, this breed is beautiful! Pictured on the top is my cockerel, Jethro. The other picture is a hen that I found on Photobucket and is owned by Mikaela Rodriguez. They are a large size bird weighing about 9lbs. full grown. From what I have read they are slow to mature.
Here is a little of what I discovered about this breed:
- Very gentle and can be easily handled
- Lays medium brown eggs
- Good brooder chicken
- Feather footed
- Has a variety of colorings: Light, Buff, and Dark
- They come in standard size or bantam
- Very hardy in heat and cold
My first rooster was a Light Brahma Rooster and he was the best. As stated above he was gentle and enjoyable to be around. In my experiences I have had with my latest addition, Jethro, he is also very friendly and will eat out of your hand.
I did note that due to the feathers on his feet he tends to lift his feet higher than the other chickens. I read somewhere it is best to keep this breed in a well-drained yard because if they run around in mud etc, they can develop mud balls on their toes. If this is not removed, the loss of nails or the tips of the toes may result. Being here in Florida it is sandy that I have not had that experience with either my past rooster or Jethro.
My future plans include acquiring a mate for Jethro so I can have lots of little Lt. Brahma’s running around.If you have any experiences you want to share with the readers about this breed, please comment. We love to hear from you!
Also if there are readers out there that want to submit photos to me to share your breed with the other readers, please email me and send me the photo detailing the breed and age. To send me an email, click here.
8/19–Additional note: I saw someone was searching for question about when the Lt. Brahma cockerel starts crowing–Jethro started crowing at four months old. It will vary from chicken to chicken but I would say anywhere from 3 to 5 months you will be hearing your young rooster crowing. Pullets will start laying at approximately 5 to 6 months.
2/10/09–Owner/breeder of the hen pictured is Mikaela Rodriguez of Rodriguez Poultry in Oklahoma. The company previously bred Light Brahmas but now raises Langshans.
Another article concerning the Brahma breed~~Raising Light Brahma Chickens
Tags: chicken breeds
October 8th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I have three Brahma hens, now four months old. I got them at one month, and they’ve bonded intensely with me. All three run and jump into my lap when I sit down in their pen, and contentedly cuddle together with my arms around them for minutes on end. Never in a million years did I ever dream chickens could be so affectionate!
The clay soil where I live, when wet, has amazing adhesive properties. I solved the problem by keeping a couple inches of pine wood chips on the ground in the chicken pen. I’ve not had any problem with feathered feet getting gummed up. The wood chips also act similar to cat litter, and the poop dries up quickly. I have it in their coop and it makes it easy to pluck out the droppings, keeping things sweet smelling in there.
How old will my hens be before they start to produce eggs?
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October 20th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Carole, Glad you found Fowl Visions and took the time to comment. Normally a pullet will start laying anywhere from 5 1/2 to 6 months but this depends on the breed. My RIR started laying at six months while my SLW started laying at seven months. Be patient, it will happen in its own time.
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November 25th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
i hatched out 6 light brahmas. i am dying to know which ones are male/female. what’s the fist indication for this breed? i know all of the other, standard characteristics. of the six,the only difference i can see is that there are two whose wing and tial feathers are not as long, or grown out as the others. i have a hard time seeing if they are the first to get up and check things out like little roos would or not. other than the feathers, i can’t tell any features that are different. they all are very friendly to me so far, i love them!!
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January 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Patrice, By now you have probably determined the sex of your chickens. There is another post on this blog concerning the sexing of chickens and it will probably be of more help to you. Be sure to read through the comments as one of the readers left a link to an informative website.
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February 5th, 2009 at 11:15 am
I have 5 Lt. Brahma hens, which I love. They are very sweet, and a pleasure to have around. I’d like to breed some nice specimens for my sons to show in 4-H. Mine have good coloring, but the feathering on their legs is a bit light. I’ll probaly get another batch of chicks from one of the larger hatcheries to fill out the flock, but does anyone know where I can get a few really good chicks for breeding?
Thanks!
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February 10th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Hey, that hen pic looks exactly like a friend’s of mine. Did you get permission for that?
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February 10th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Cheryl, The hen picture came from Photobucket and pictures posted on that website are open to the public to use without limitations and as far as I know there is no way to contact the person who post the picture on Photobucket. A lot of the photos on this blog come from that service.
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April 4th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Carole, I love your chicken pictures and information. I have a small flock of light Brahmas, Silver Wyandotte and what I think is a Buff Orphington. I am passing your website on to a neighbor who is also raising chickens. Keep up the good work.
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May 19th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Hi Carol,
I am just starting into this adventure with chickens. A small black hen came and layed her eggs in an old dog house with hay in it. To my supprise she appeared with 14 chicks. But in the night the Hen was taken by something bigger than her, the chicks were all huddled in the dog house. I have them in this large avery, they are about two weeks old and doing great. Infact, they have gotten the tail feathers, its just to sweet. I love the pictures of the Light Braham, but where would I get the chicks? We have started a great coop and my husband is working hard to get it finished.
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May 20th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Deborah, Congrats on your new little flock! Before you know it they will be laying fresh eggs just for you. If you want to increase the variety of breeds you have, you can check out my previous post, A List of Hatcheries. Hatcheries are a great resource for baby chicks.
I also frequent flea markets and craigslist and find lots of resources to purchase new chickens. Also check out the local chicken forums listed on the blog. Alot of times they will list a trade day that may be going on in your area. You will find a variety of offerings at these.
Good luck with your flock!
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November 7th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
hello i hope im doing this right . but i have 21 chickens of all breeds. and have been around them all my life . but i ordered some chicks and one is unlike any i have or anyone i know has ever seen . she is very beutiful and the one on this page is very simaler . i would love to find out what she is.
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November 16th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
My chickens are 7 months old this month(November) and they still have not layed any eggs or crowed. Could it be the time of year or am I doing something wrong?
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Carole Reply:
November 17th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Melissa, I personally believe it has to do with the time of the year being fall and less lighting than summertime. Also the Brahma breed is a slow grower and do not fully mature until two years of age. But at seven months old I would expect to hear some crowing very soon. I have an eight month old that crows frequently, morning and evening.
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March 19th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Brahma are great.
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June 18th, 2010 at 12:03 am
Please someone help me..I have 3 light brahma hens. They are all sweet hearts! They can jump up and take bread from your hand. We have always been proud to show them off to friends and family. As of the past 3 or more days one of the hens can hardly walk. Her tail is pointed down and is sleeping in a bottom nest. Some days she sqwats and kinda waddles along slowly. What is wrong with her?????????? Someone give me advise what I can do for her.
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Jessica Frances Reply:
July 6th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
She probably has an egg cracked inside of her. You would need to see a vet for this, as she will die if you dont have the vet get the egg out. Eggs break inside of Hens when they do not have enough calcium in their diet. This causes the shell to be thin and sometimes crack inside of the hen.
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July 6th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Hello!
I would like to purchase some Brahma Hens, but i want to know if I should get them as chicks or buy them when they are older. I would like them for eggs. I also wondered when they started laying eggs.
Thanks!
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