BJG x Black Australorp

[Airyaman]

So I think I've got two Black Jersey Giant roosters. I know one is a rooster, but the other...at 25 days I'm not sure.

They were a "trojan horse" breed into my flock, they got mixed up with some Bielefelder eggs. In fact, the one I know is a roo is already named "Trojan" (none of my other chicks have names yet).

I now also have 9 Black Australorp chicks (1-2 days). I'm thinking I get some hens out of that 9 so...

Who here has done this cross? It seems rather boring of a cross, both black with light brown colored eggs, but I can see some advantages to "sustainability".

Thoughts? Worthwhile endeavor in breeding or "why?".

 

[LaurenRitz]

My current primary roo (cockerel) is ((JGxRIR)xRIR) and my newest set of chicks is the BA part of the cross. I picked the JG for a number of reasons, behavior and size being primary. They also lay a large to extra large egg.

My BA is an excellent forager, a great mom, and goes broody twice per year.

I picked the RIR to bring in early maturity.

With the JGxBA cross you'll likely get precocious, interested chicks that love to forage, love exploring, and are not shy about telling you when something is wrong. They will be alert but not flighty. They may develop slower than you would like, but the roosters will be protective and fight predators rather than running.

Note that slow development does not mean slow sexual maturity. Be aware of that.