“Of all the chickens I've had in 10 years of backyard flocking, my light brahma is the one I loved best and miss the most. Lucy lived a long time (9 years) and endured massive molts and an attack from a dog. She wasn't a terrific layer, but that was expected. Mostly she was such a steady, easygoing, friendly chicken. She had a lovely purring cluck and always talked to me when I was out in the yard. She was our alpha chicken and kept a diverse, sometimes changing flock in good order as a benevolent dictator. As good as it gets. I now have Mille Fleur Bantams and they're like having fun-loving toddlers running around compared to the Light Brahma!
As noted, they are not particularly heat tolerant. She handled our California summers well until the last two years of her life when she would get overheated during a heat wave. I would have to bring her into the deepest shade and put her feet in cool water. If you live where temperatures are regularly in the 90s and 100s in the summer, I don't' recommend this breed.”
“Our Light Brahma, Explorer, was named for her repeated escapes from the brooder, and even the box at the post office. (Not that it wasn‚Äôt packaged well, the postmaster had felt bad for the chicks and was trying to get them some fresh air.) Explorer was always the largest chick and is now a giant, bumbling sweetheart. She overheats VERY easily, in fact, she was so hot one day we took her into the basement to cool her down. This upset her greatly, but she forgot her woes when she found a pill bug or two. When the other chickens are cold and shivering, she seems to be thinking ‚ÄúWhy are you guys all so cold? It‚Äôs finally the right temperature!‚Äù She is one of the biggest chickens, but even Bina, a Buff Brahma Bantam, who isn‚Äôt nearly a quarter of Explorer‚Äôs size, bosses her around! Explorer is very sociable with us though, even hopping into our laps and sneaking into the house to eat dog food. She is a very pleasant chicken to have around.”
“This big boy is NOTHING like I was expecting. Gentle, tame, and protective of the standard girls and even my bantam male. Luther-Calvin is an excellent flock guardian:‚Äô)”
