Nine birds were sent to Queen Victoria in 1852, shortly after the Cochin (Shanghai) was first shown in 1850. These two large, feather-legged breeds caused a sensation and set off great rivalry amongst breeders. In 1853 a Dark Brahma made 100 Guineas (£105). The first Book of Poultry Standards (1865) lists just the Light and Dark. It was well into the 20th Century before the Gold, Buff Columbian and White were bred.

Brahmas are large, tall and stately birds, docile but quite active. They are tall with a broad back, deep body, short tail and feathered legs. The head is small with beetle brows and a triple or 'pea' comb. They are not great layers, producing up to 150 tinted eggs a year. Being well feathered, they do go broody, particularly the Gold.

We have two varieties:

Gold: Hens are like the Dark variety, but with the grey replaced with gold. The cock birds, however, are magnificent. The head is a rich gold which extends down the neck hackles with their black centres. The back is gold, the tail shiny black and the body a dull red and black.

Dark: The hens are grey with a dark pencilling following the outline of each feather. The heads are silvery and the hackle feathers are grey with a black stripe. The cock birds are a wonderful contrast of black and white which show off the red hackles, comb and ear lobes well

Bantam forms do exist, though we do not have any.