Chicken Breed Focus - Jersey Giant

[mommaofchickens]

I just brought home a jersey giant rooster and he is so big and so sweet. I also brought home his girl friend a jersey giant female and she is super shy, she lays about 1 egg every other day and they are pretty small still she is only 6 months. I have pictures but can upload them for some reason. this is my first post ever. I will post it in the Facebook post.

 

[jesse ohara]

I got my 3 JG's , from www.chickensforbackyards.com. All are very big! and almost 2 easy going!! they are the youngest of my flock 3months old(the rest are almost 4 months old) and next to my turkey (BBW got at same time as JG's) are biggest in flock, and bottom of pecking order( so far! but some day they'll see they are 2 or 3 times bigger then the rest.) mine don't like to be held at ALL! most likely my fault. turkey took most of my time as chicks.


8 RIR,s, 8 bantys, 3 Jersey Giants and 1 Turkey! ( my phone is tripping out so I can't upload photo's right now!)

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Do they get along in a multi breed flock?

Mind does. She's the alpha and there's usually one good peck to let the newbies know that she is the resident queen in charge. After that, nothing. She'll even break up a fight if the youngsters squabble. She's been around Orpingtons, Andalusians and Easter Eggers.

I wish I had more land cuz I'd get a whole bunch more JG's.

 

[maruadventurer]

Just started a flock of Black Jersey Giants. They are now 10weeks old. Any JG owners provide some insight? As of right now --

* Roosters are about 14" from ground to the flat of the back.
* Hens are about 12" from ground to the flat of the back.

That about right for this stage of development?

Temperament is very good considering I don't handle them too much. Roosters in their little bouts of who has the most mojo so culling is in the future. Heard one attempt a crow this morning. Unless you let them forage they can be heavy eaters. But so far I like what I see in them.

Will post pics this weekend.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

I have one JG. She'll be 5 years old this fall. She was a random purchase from the feed store. I wanted a Black Astralorp but they were out. She's a hatchery bird so a bit small for a JG at 8lbs. But wicked smart. Very sweet and sensitive. She knows here name and will come running when I call her. She also loves banana more than anything in the whole wide world.

I would love to have more property and I'd get a whole flock of Jersey's.

Jersey Giant knows her name and comes when called:

Jersey Giant LOVES banana

 

[maruadventurer]

Don't know if mine like banana but they will tear down a watermelon quarter in nothing flat. When they are done there is nothing left but the quarter inch of hide of the melon.

 

[lesleelay]

I LOVE my Jersey Giants from Shawn Smith at West Coast Jersey Giants. They have generations upon generations of champion ship lines. Jersey Giants do have a nice temperament. They mature slower. It could take up to 2 years for them to reach their full size. If kept separate from each other the males will get massive!! When people come over they ask me, "What kind of turkey is that?" Jersey Giants love greens and feeding them such helps them to reach their max size. The girls are good layers except when the temperature is repeatedly over 100. Then they are average.

I decided on Jersey Giants from an article I read in Back Yard Chicken. But, I made the mistake of first purchasing them from a hatchery. Those birds were 1/3 the size of the Jersey Giants we now breed. Do research on Jersey Giants Standard of Perfection or SOP. Not all breeders are created equally. Find you a good breeder. Then do research on that breeder before purchasing. (Check out Jersey Giants or Jersey Giants SOP on Facebook)

I breed our birds for eggs, meat, and selling chicks. The eggs are big and come in pretty colors ranging from lite peach to medium. The meat is dark like most home grown chickens are. If slow roasted even the 2 year olds are moist, tender and delicious. For more info and pictures of the above Jersey Giants growing up check us out on Facebook, Lay's Land in Waxahachie, TX.

LesLee Lay

 

[lesleelay]

Feed them yogurt. Make sure it has the bacteria in it. This will encourage them to grow. At 3 months separated the boys and girls or the boys will work on becoming sexually mature instead of growing taller. First they get tall and lanky then at about 9 months to a year they start getting broad. They also love greens and this will help them to grow bigger. My cock loves tomatoes.

Hope this helps.

 

[mcrooke45]

how tall do they get? you said its the largest purebred chicken, are they taller than the saipan jungle fowl?

This is Titan my Blue Splash Jersey Giant. Counting his comb he is 27.5" tall. He is a little over a year old. That is a a regular Jersey Giant hen beside him that I got from someone they had for sell off of Craigslist for comparison to size.

 

[1cock2hens]

This is Titan my Blue Splash Jersey Giant. Counting his comb he is 27.5" tall. He is a little over a year old. That is a a regular Jersey Giant hen beside him that I got from someone they had for sell off of Craigslist for comparison to size.

thank you, that is pretty big.. very beautiful .. i have heard saipan jungle fowl reach 3 feet.. the jersey giant obviously has a lot more mass