My favorite chicken breed is the Light Brahma.  They are an Asiatic breed originating in Brahmaputra, India. They were first brought to the US in the late 1800s. Charlotte, one of my all-time favorite pets, greeted me by jumping up on my shoulders. If I was leaning over, she would jump on my head or back. A chicken can theoretically live 20+ years; Charlotte made it to 5, which is quite good for a chicken.

Our friend Tim Moses brought his daughter to meet our Brahmas at the old house.

Brahmas are extremely gentle. Ours seem only mildly annoyed when our 5-year-old chases them around the yard. When she does manage to grab an unsuspecting hen, the bird will sit quietly until the petting session is over.

The American Poultry Association publishes the American Standard of Perfection. The AMA recognizes three varieties of brahma:  light, buff and dark. We have light and dark. Our hens will weight 8 – 10 pounds when full-grown. When they are a about 5 months old they will lay large brown eggs. We can expect about 140 eggs per bird, per year.  You can tell a Brahma by its yellow skin and pea comb. They have small wattles and feathered feet and toes. Their size and feathers make them hardy in cold weather — winter can be chilly in Nashville and as long as they have water they will do just fine.

Jessica, pictured below behind the white crested black polish, is my new favorite. She’s in her “awkward teenage” stage of development. You can see her plumage starting to fill out, but she’ll be even prettier in a few months.

Jessica, standing behind Crowded Place