EcoxoMic Merits of Brahmas: 26 



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like the ultimate or mature form then, than at a later or intermediate stage, when the bird becomes 

 raw and "gawky," and often so unutterably ugly that no one but a genuine Brahma fancier would 

 retain any faith in him at all. We have often been interested to observe how, after this period of 

 transition, the shape and very gait of the ten-weeks chick have been reproduced in the matured 

 cock. But at four or five months old, Brahma cockerels, either Light or Dark, are^well, 

 certainly not handsome ! and it is a singular fact that the rawest and ugliest bird of the lot generally 

 turns out the best in the end. He is making frame while the others are looking "pretty," and 

 eventually, when his great body has filled out and "settled" a little, and his feathers — especially 

 that tail which seemed as if it never would grow — are come at last, turns out a magnificent giant, 

 perhaps " the best bird you ever bred." A young cock, therefore, should never be discarded for 

 being leggy, which will, in nine cases out of ten, disappear with age. 



Light Brahma chickens often show a considerable amount of black where not wanted, especially 

 in the shape of spots on the backs of the pullets or fluff of the cockerels. As much of this will 

 often moult out at from six to seven months old, they should not be discarded for this fault unless 

 very prominent. Dark pullets with almost white breasts will also frequently develop beautiful 

 pencilling as the feathers change, though we certainly prefer to see them with perfect pencilling 

 from the very first. Cockerels of the Dark breed, again, need not be rejected merely for brown on 

 the wing, which often moults out by the age of six months (though here again it is better if the bird 

 be clear in colour from his first feathers) ; but very streaky dark pullets, or such as show great 

 splashes of white or brown, may be safely condemned, as may cockerels with nearly white breasts, 

 a few of which may occur in any strain. Birds whose combs appear large and misshapen at an 

 early age are also rarely worth keeping. 



The economic merits of Brahmas are very great That we have a high opinion of the breed, 

 and take a very special interest in it, has long been known, and it has often been said that 

 we are unduly partial ; but facts will strongly corroborate our view of its good qualities. Imported 

 into England in 1852, it shared with Cochins the "mania" which then prevailed, and the com- 

 parative decline which followed. But while Cochins, so extravagantly lauded at first, are rarely 

 heard of now except as fancy birds, with Brahmas the case is precisely opposite. It has taken time 

 for the fowl to make itself known, but its steady growth in popular favour has been the most extra- 

 ordinary poultry phenomenon of late years. Long before we had even thought of giving a special 

 exposition to the breed, the entries in Brahma classes had been every year steadily increasing at all 

 English shows, and the number of people who kept the breed likewise : since then both have 

 more than doubled, until the class for Dark cockerels at Birmingham, in 1871, reached the enormous 

 number of 105 entries, by far the largest poultry class ever exhibited. It has been hinted that this 

 increase is artificial in its character, and the result of special effort ; but it will at once be seen that 

 such cannot be the case. It is beyond the power of any individual to force a fowl into popularity ; 

 and the Dorking and the Game Fowl have also had special works devoted to them, but without 

 any approach to similar results. A fowl must have real and great merits thus to make its own way 

 into general popularity; and such the Brahma truly has; possessing as it does a handsome 

 appearance, great size, very good quality of flesh, great fecundity, a strong constitution and 

 remarkable power of adapting itself to the most varying circumstances. 



The size we have already spoken of; and we will maintain our assertion that the quality of the 

 meat is also good. We often see or hear it called coarse ; and there are strains, carelessly bred, 

 which deserve the title, while the best are not so good as the very best table breeds. But this is not 

 fair comparison ; to be a first-rate table breed, the breed must be bred for the table, as these breeds 

 for years have, and as the Brahma never has been. But a young Brahma of a well-bred strain is at 



