Brahma Varieties

Light, Dark and Buff in large fowl — plus the bantams

In poultry standards, a breed is defined by shape, size and type, while a variety is a color or pattern within that breed. All Brahmas share the same build — a large, deep body, broad head with an overhanging brow, pea comb and feathered yellow shanks — but they come in several recognized colors. Which colors count as "official" depends on which standard you consult.

Large Brahmas in the American standard

The American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection recognizes three large-fowl Brahma varieties. Farm and Dairy, Oklahoma State University, The Livestock Conservancy and Wikipedia all list the same three.

Weights for Dark and Buff are those given by Oklahoma State University and by Farm and Dairy. A University of Arkansas summary notes that in 1883 the Light standard was set a pound above the Dark, and that the Dark weights were eventually raised to match; it lists a single set of large-fowl weights (cock 12 lb, hen 9.5 lb, cockerel 10 lb, pullet 8 lb). If you are showing birds, check the current edition of the APA Standard itself.

Light Brahma

The Light is the original Brahma and, according to Farm and Dairy, the bird in the viral 2017 "giant chicken" video appeared to be a Light. The Livestock Conservancy notes that Light Brahma prices jumped dramatically in the 1850s after George Burnham shipped birds to Queen Victoria.

Dark Brahma

The Dark variety was developed by English breeders and later shipped back to America. Wikipedia describes the Dark hen's coloring as dark gray and black penciled. The Livestock Conservancy reports that Darks originally ran about one pound lighter than Lights.

Buff Brahma

Buff birds turned up periodically from the earliest days of the breed. The Livestock Conservancy and the University of Arkansas give 1924 as the year the Buff was accepted by the APA; Wikipedia notes that some sources say 1929.

Bantam Brahmas

Bantams are miniature versions of large breeds. In the US they are standardized by the American Bantam Association (ABA) as well as the APA; Brahma bantams sit in the ABA's feather-legged class. According to the University of Arkansas summary:

The same source gives bantam standard weights of 38 oz for a cock, 34 oz for a hen, 34 oz for a cockerel and 30 oz for a pullet — roughly a fifth of the large fowl's weight.

Varieties outside the US

Other countries' standards recognize more colors. Wikipedia reports that the Australian Poultry Association accepts black, blue, partridge, crele and barred Brahmas in addition to light, dark and buff. None of these extra colors is among the three APA large-fowl varieties.

Shared breed traits

Whatever the color, the standards describe the same type. The Livestock Conservancy lists feathered yellow shanks and toes, a pea comb, reddish-brown eyes, red earlobes, yellow beaks and dense down throughout the plumage, with a broad skull projecting over the eyes ("beetle brow"). Seen from the side, the feathered legs form a narrow "V." Hens lay brown-shelled eggs, and the skin is yellow.

Sources