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Believed to be a cross between the Malay and Cochin breeds the Brahma Pootras or, as the name was shortened to, the Brahma is an Asiatic breed. First brought to North America in the early 1840's by a sailor who said he got them from the banks of the Brahmapootra, a river near Shanghai.
North American breeders immediately went to work improving the breed. Under their careful breeding programs the Brahma became the large, majestic bird we see at poultry shows to-day.
The light and dark Brahmas were entered into the APA Standard of Excellence (the forerunner of the Standard of Perfection) in 1874 and were followed in 1924 by the buff variety.
Described in the 1998 Standard of perfection as a general-purpose breed, some strains are good egg producers, but were never considered desirable for egg farming, being noted instead for the abundance of their flesh, which is of a superior quality and texture. Having feathered shanks and toes Brahmas are quiet and docile, not easily frightened, very slow in movement and good foragers.
Tipping the scales at 12 pounds for cocks and 9 ½ pounds for hens the Brahmas are among the heaviest of the standard breeds of chicken. Their body is large and well proportioned for length, breadth and depth with a well-rounded breast.
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The outstanding claim of the Brahma is its size and on the table may be mistaken for a young heritage breed of turkey. There is an unusually large quantity of meat on the breast, which is an advantage, as it affords several slices when carved.
Eggs range in color from light to dark brown but are no larger than those produced by the more popular utility breeds found on the pre WWII farms of North America.
Brahmas sport a pea comb, and are one of the most majestic and beautiful of our domestic fowl.
The light Brahma's colors are lustrous greenish-black and pure white, and these are laid on the bird in such a way as to give the greatest contrast and most striking effect. The black is confined to its tail, wing, hackle and toe feathers, which are laced with white.
The color of the buff is the same as the light with the white feathers being replaced with a golden buff color. The shank and toe feathers of both male and female are black, laced with buff.
Dark Brahmas are also white and lustrous black, but the color arrangement gives the birds a steel gray effect with the shank and toe feathers of the female being penciled.
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