48 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



helping them to sell stock at fancy prices. Records show that in 

 many cases fabulous prices were received. The hen fever ran 

 high about this time, which was in the early fifties. There was a 

 craze for pure-bred poultry, and the Light Brahma occupied the 

 center of attraction. In later years their popularity abated some- 

 what with the advent of other breeds, though to this day they 

 still remain high in the esteem of poultry lovers who prefer a 

 heavy fowl. 



Shape. — The Brahma is different from the other meat breeds, 

 and must not be confounded with the Cochin or the Langshan. 

 It has a long, deep body, with full, broad and round breast, carried 

 well forward, which is characteristic of prolific birds. It is by far 

 the best layer of the Asiatic breeds. Numerous hens have made 

 ' enviable records in laying contests, though the average flock pro- 

 duction should be placed at about ten dozen per year. 



The plumage of the Light Brahma is white and black, with the 

 white predominating. Any other color is a disqualification. The 

 body plumage is white, the tail feathers are black, with the sickles 

 a greenish black. The neck hackle is white with a black stripe 

 running down the center of each feather and terminating in a 

 point. The shanks are well feathered, with the feathering ex- 

 tending down the middle toe. This feathering may be white, or 

 white marked with black. 



Feathered shanks and toes is probably the most distinguishing 

 feature of the meat breeds, for all of the Asiatics have them. 



The Light Brahma has a small pea comb ; its face, wattles and 

 earlobes are a bright red. The shanks and toes are yellow. 



Brahmas are excellent mothers; they will hatch and rear large 

 broods of chicks. In fact, their maternal instincts constitute a 

 drawback to the poultryman who is after eggs in large numbers. 

 For capons the Brahma is in a class by itself ; it has size, shape, a 

 small comb and all the other qualifications that make for prime 

 table poultry. 



Dark Brahmas are not so popular, and never have been. This 

 is due to the great difficulty of breeding them true to a uniform 

 color. The head and neck of a Dark Brahma male are similar to 



