You’ve probably seen the video. It’s grainy, looks a bit like it was filmed in a backyard in Kosovo, and features a bird so massive it looks like a person in a very convincing mascot suit. People lost their minds. "Is that a dinosaur?" "Is it a 4 foot tall chicken or a hoax?" The internet, predictably, went into a tailspin. Honestly, it's one of those rare moments where the truth is actually just as weird as the clickbait.
The bird is real.
His name is Merakli. He is a Brahma chicken. While the "4 foot tall chicken" headline makes for a great thumbnail, the reality of these birds is a mix of fascinating livestock history and some very clever camera angles. But make no mistake—standing next to a Brahma isn't like standing next to your average Leghorn or Rhode Island Red. It’s an experience.
The Brahma: How a bird gets that big
If you're looking for the origin of the giant chicken myth, you have to go back to the 1800s. These birds didn't just appear out of nowhere. The Brahma breed was developed in the United States from large birds imported from the Chinese port of Shanghai. For a long time, they were the undisputed kings of the poultry world.
Why? Because they are massive.
A standard Brahma rooster usually weighs around 10 to 12 pounds. Hens are a bit smaller, usually hitting 8 or 9 pounds. But that's just the average. Heritage breeders—the people who actually care about the genetics and not just selling eggs—often produce birds that blow those numbers out of the water. We’re talking roosters that can tip the scales at 18 pounds or more. When you have a bird that heavy, with thick, fluffy feathers and a "beetle brow" that makes them look permanently grumpy, they appear much larger than they actually are.
Merakli, the star of that viral 2017 video, belongs to Fitim Sejfijaj in Kosovo. While Merakli might not literally be 48 inches tall (most top out around 30 inches), he certainly hits the "waist-high to an adult" mark, which is plenty terrifying if you aren't expecting it.
Debunking the 4 foot tall chicken myths
Let's get real about the measurements.
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If a chicken were truly four feet tall, it would be as tall as a ten-year-old child. Biologically, that presents some issues. Chickens have hollow bones. They have a specific respiratory system that doesn't scale up to "Big Bird" proportions without some serious skeletal problems. Most people who claim to have seen a 4 foot tall chicken are usually seeing a very large Brahma (about 2.5 to 3 feet) standing on a bit of a hill or being filmed from a low "worm's eye" angle.
It's a perspective trick.
Think about how Lord of the Rings made the hobbits look small. You do the same thing with a rooster by putting the camera on the ground and having him walk toward it. Suddenly, he looks like a T-Rex.
Why the Brahma is called the King of All Poultry
- They have feathered legs. This makes them look like they're wearing bell-bottom pants from the 70s. It adds significant visual bulk.
- Their temperament is shockingly chill. You’d think a bird that big would be a nightmare. Nope. They're basically the Golden Retrievers of the bird world.
- They handle cold weather like absolute champs. Because they’re so big and have so many feathers (even on their toes), they don't mind the snow.
The meat and egg reality
Back in the mid-19th century, "Brahma Pootra" birds triggered what historians call "Hen Fever." People went crazy for them. A pair of these birds could sell for the equivalent of thousands of dollars in today’s money. They were the ultimate "triple-threat" bird: they were massive enough for meat, they laid huge brown eggs even in the dead of winter, and they looked impressive in a show ring.
Eventually, the commercial industry moved toward faster-growing birds like the Cornish Cross. A Brahma takes a long time to grow. You can't rush greatness, or 15 pounds of muscle and feathers. Because they take so long to mature—sometimes up to two years to reach full size—they fell out of favor for industrial farming.
But for the backyard enthusiast? They’re perfect.
Can you actually own one of these giants?
Yeah, you can. But don't expect to just walk into a local feed store and find a "4 foot tall chicken" waiting for you. You have to look for "Light," "Dark," or "Buff" Brahmas.
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If you want the size seen in the viral videos, you have to go to a breeder who specializes in "Large Fowl" Brahmas, not the "Bantam" versions (which are miniature). You also need a lot of space. These aren't birds for a tiny suburban coop. They need room to roam, and they eat a staggering amount of feed compared to a standard hen.
Keep in mind that their leg feathers need maintenance. If they live in mud, those feathers get caked and nasty, which can lead to foot rot or mites. It's a high-maintenance look for a high-impact bird.
The weird science of avian gigantism
There’s a reason we don't have 6-foot chickens running around. Aside from the bone density issues, there's the heart. Pumping blood through a body that size, especially one that grows as fast as a chicken does, puts immense strain on the cardiovascular system.
Selective breeding has pushed the limits of what a bird can be. In the 1900s, the average weight of a chicken was much lower. We've effectively doubled the size of many breeds through genetics. But there is a ceiling. The "4 foot tall chicken" represents the absolute edge of what is biologically possible for the species Gallus gallus domesticus.
What most people get wrong about giant birds
Most people assume big means aggressive. With Brahmas, it’s the opposite. The smaller the chicken, the more likely it is to have "Short Man Syndrome." Seramas or Old English Game birds will try to fight your shoes. A Brahma rooster will usually just stand there and let you pet him.
They are remarkably docile.
This docility is actually a survival trait for them. When you're that big, you don't need to be fast or twitchy. You just exist. However, their size does make them a target for predators that might think twice about a smaller, faster bird. A hawk might struggle to carry off a 15-pound rooster, but a fox or a stray dog will see a slow-moving, massive target.
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How to spot a fake "Giant Chicken" video
Since the Merakli video went viral, dozens of copycats have popped up. Some are real, but many are edited.
Look at the surroundings. If the grass looks unusually thick or the buckets in the background look slightly "off" in scale, it’s likely a forced perspective shot. Also, look at the movement. A real, heavy bird like a Brahma has a distinct, weighted gait. They waddle slightly because of their width. If the bird in the video is moving like a nimble ballerina, it's probably a smaller breed being filmed to look huge.
Practical steps for the aspiring giant chicken owner
If you’ve decided you absolutely need a dinosaur in your backyard, don't just jump in.
- Check your coop height. A standard chicken tractor is often too low for a bird that stands 30 inches tall. They will rub their heads on the ceiling, leading to sores and feather loss.
- Invest in high-protein feed. Growing that much bone and feather requires serious nutrition. Don't skimp on the quality during the first 12 months.
- Prepare for "Broodiness." Brahma hens are notorious for wanting to sit on eggs. Because they are so heavy, they can sometimes accidentally crack the eggs they are trying to hatch. You have to provide extra soft bedding.
- Secure your perimeter. These birds cannot fly. At all. A two-foot fence is basically an impenetrable wall to them, but it’s also no protection against a predator jumping in.
The 4 foot tall chicken might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the 18-pound Brahma is a very real, very impressive reality of the poultry world. They are a link to a time when "Hen Fever" ruled the world and bigger was always better. Whether they're 3 feet or 4 feet, they remain the most imposing birds you can find in a farmyard.
To get started with giant breeds, find a local APA (American Poultry Association) sanctioned show. Seeing a Brahma in person is the only way to truly appreciate the scale. Talk to the breeders there about "Standard of Perfection" heights. Most are happy to explain why their birds look like they belong in a prehistoric jungle rather than a modern coop.
Focus on heritage lines if size is your goal. Hatchery-grade Brahmas are often bred for egg production and lose that massive "monster" frame over generations. True giants come from lines that have been carefully managed for decades to maintain that "King of Poultry" stature.