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Brahmas The leading variety of the Asiatic class is the Light Brahma (fig. 9) AncestryThis fowl has a history that would fill pages were it recorded. These are the fowls which caused the "hen fever" of the 1850's, about which so much has been written in the late 1800's. Their early history is a matter of controversy, the best authorities differing as to their origin. They were first known as the "Brahma Pootras", "Gray Shanghais", "Chittagongs", "Cochin Chinas", and other names. The early breeder named them according to his fancy for high sounding and sensational names to sell his stock. Fabulous prices were paid for them when the craze for fine poultry was at its peak in the early days of the last half of the 1800's. The standard of the present Brahmas was fixed in 1869, and no deviation from the type then adopted has been made. They have stood in popular favor since then without abatement; the vast number of breeders who are raising them fully attest their worth as a practical bird to the industry. DescriptionUnlike other varieties, the Brahma should not be confounded in shape with the Cochin. The average Light Brahma male is in height 26 inches; back from the ground, 16 inches; keel from the ground, 8 inches; length of body, front of breast to rear fluff, 14 inches; height of tail, a trifle over 21 inches; saddle hangers to rear fluff, 2 1/4 inches; eye, from tip of beak, 2 1/6 inches; length of head and beak, 3 1/2 inches; breasts to rear of a drop line from point of beak, three-fourths to 1 1/4 inches. As specimens depart from this proportion they become awkward and valueless as exhibition stock, and often also as egg producers. In shape, oblong, with full, broad, and round breast, carried well forward. The fullness and oblong shape is typical of the Brahma and is characteristic of prolific birds. The curves of neck and back are similar to those of the outlines of an egg. In plumage the male is pure white, excepting hackle, tail, and flights, which are black, and white striped with black. Any other color but white and black is against the standard-bred bird.  The hackle is white with a black stripe extending down the center of each feather and tapering to a point near the extremity (see fig. 10). The tail feathers are black, and sickles are glossy greenish black. The shanks are well feathered, with the feathering extending down the middle toe; the toe feathering may be white or white sprinkled with black, pure white preferred. A small pea-comb (fig.9), broad crown, projects over the eyes; bright red face, wattles and ear lobes are essential to a good head. The shanks and toes are bright yellow. The Brahma female is much like the male in head qualities, having broad comb, projecting well over the yes, and small pea-comb. The head of female should be masculine in appearance. The head is white; hackle, white striped with black, as in male; cape, white and black, but is completely covered by hackle when the bird stands erect; tail black, excepting the two highest main tail feathers, which may be edged with white; tail coverts, one or more rows, distinctly covering a part of both sides of the main tail, two rows preferable, are black edged with white. The Dark Brahmas are not so popular as the Light. The difficulty being in breeding them true to feather. Their delicately marked plumage is extremely pretty when bred to standard requirement, but if not so bred it becomes most disagreeable and unsatisfactory to the breeder. The head and neck of a Dark Brahma male are similar to those of the Light, the head being white and the hackle rather more striped. The back is nearly white, a little black appearing here and there. The black should predominate between the shoulders, but is nearly hidden by the hackle flowing over it. The saddle feathers are, like the hackle, silvery white, striped with black, which should be distinct. As the feathers approach the tail the stripes become broader till they merge into tail coverts, which are rich, glossy green-black, with a margin or lacing of white. The tail is pure black, with green gloss. The wing coverts are black, forming a distinct black bar across the middle of the wings, while the ends of the secondaries have a large black spot on the end, making the top edges of the wing appear almost black. The remainder of the secondaries are white on the lower half and black on the upper. The flights are all black, except a narrow fringe of white on the lower edge. The breast is black; the thighs and fluff either black, or black very slightly mottled with white. The shank feathering should correspond with the breast, being black if the latter be black, and slightly mottled with white if not. The shanks are deep yellow, inclining to orange. The color of Dark females is a white ground, closely penciled with dark steel gray, producing a beautiful, frosted or silver gray in appearance. There should be no show of pure white in the plumage except in the margins of the hackles. Unless extreme care be taken in mating, the hens are likely to have a dingy color, and the pullets are apt to have necks almost white for some distance down. These light-necked birds generally breed to worse, but the evil may be remedied by choosing birds for breeding whose heads are distinctly marked. The shape and character of the markings of the Dark Brahma pullets also vary. They should be medium-sized, so that the pencilings can be clearly discerned at a short distance. A great point in regard to color and marking in Brahma pullets is that it should be uniform over the body, and the hackles should be silvery white, heavily striped with rich black, and the shank feathering penciled same as body. For practical purposes the Dark Brahmas are not to be commended as highly as the Light. The close breeding for points in feathers is likely to interfere with their productiveness, yet with proper attention and care they can be bred profitability as well as for beauty. CharacteristicsThe light Brahmas are valuable birds for the farm. They have always been made to pay for their keep and have seldom been set aside by any who have bred them. They are the largest of domestic poultry and do as well in confinement in small runs as on free range. As layers they will average from twelve to thirteen dozen eggs a year, and lay exceptionally well in winter. Their eggs are large, about 7 to a pound, of a rich brown color and excellent flavor. For table purposes the birds are good; they do not mature as early as do the varieties of the American Class, yet they are hardy, and can be raised with as much ease as any of the earlier-maturing varieties. As sitters and mothers they are fair. Standard weight for the Brahmas are:
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