Chicken Breed Focus - Norwegian Jaerhon

[Newyorkrita]

So between the Jaerhon and Icelandic Jaerhon might win due to the auto sexing.

 

[SacredWaves]

The Norwegian Jaerhon is the only chicken breed that is considered truly Norwegian in origin. It was developed around 1920 near the town of Stavanger on the Southern Atlantic coast of Norway, and was introduced to the US about twenty years ago.

While a small breed, with the hens only around 3.5 pounds, it is a good layer and the hens lay medium to large white eggs. They are an active and hardy breed, that is rather reactive in temperament and good at avoiding hawks. They are excellent foragers, good and persistent flyers bordering on escape artists, and will roam widely if given the chance.

They are single combed and clean legged. They come in three usual colors, with their feather pattern looking like they have bad barring in dark brown, light yellow, and another color called Flame that was developed by Sandhill Preservation Center. Day old chicks are auto-sexing.

Details:

Breed purpose: Eggs
Comb Type: Single
Broodiness: Seldom
Climate Tolerance: Average
Weight: Hens 3.5 lbs. Roosters 5.0 lbs
Egg Productivity: Good
Egg Size: Medium/Large
Egg Color: White


Pic by @becky3086


Pic by @Roosterfry


Pic by @Amyable


Pic by @Roosterfry

BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/norwegian-jaerhon-chicken

BYC Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/8796/norwegian-jaerhon/0_30

Do you own Jaerhons? Are you a Jaerhon breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

I never heard of these. Beautiful chickies.

 

[Imse]

I never heard of these. Beautiful chickies.

They are really beautiful, many of them looks like wild birds in their colors.
They are almost wild too Do not free range them and keep the run covered, the actually do fly. They are likely to be found roosting in tall trees. I've heard of jærhøns been seen far, far from home

The one thing they don't do is getting broody. It is not just seldom. They do not get broody at all. I have had hens for 2years and never heard about any here in Norway that has had or heard about broody jærhøns.

But the bantam jærhøns do get broody.

 

[PDXJULES]

Now 2 months old

Her coloring and body look exactly like 2 of my Basque Chicks. others look a lot like what is now being called Swedish Flower.

 

[Newyorkrita]

They are really beautiful, many of them looks like wild birds in their colors.
They are almost wild too Do not free range them and keep the run covered, the actually do fly. They are likely to be found roosting in tall trees. I've heard of jærhøns been seen far, far from home

The one thing they don't do is getting broody. It is not just seldom. They do not get broody at all. I have had hens for 2years and never heard about any here in Norway that has had or heard about broody jærhøns.

But the bantam jærhøns do get broody.

Do you have pictures of your flock?

 

[Imse]

Do you have pictures of your flock?

I don't have jærhøns now . Our veterinarian have, and no wonder, they have chickens roosting in the trees

Right now we have swedish hedemora, since they actually do get broody. And they are more local for us, than a breed from the other side of the country. We live on the border to Sweden, not far from hedemora.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Anyone in the US have this breed? Wow! I am in LOVE!!!

 

[MountainMarans2012]

Anyone in the US have this breed? Wow! I am in LOVE!!!

Sandhill preservation has the Flame Jaerhon https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/chickens
& Ideal Poultry has the Norwegian Jaerhon
https://www.idealpoultry.com/product/1410/0

 

[MountainMarans2012]

Ideal Hatchery shows they might be available sometime between February and end of May.

Yes Ideal Poultry shows they sell them but have to be on a wait list.

 

[Bethany101]

I know it's a long shot, but does anyone in this thread still keep this breed and sell eggs? I recently lost my whole flock of chickens to a large pack of coyotes and I'm trying hard to find various sources for each of the breeds I had, so I can hopefully get them all ordered around the same time once I'm ready to do so. I'm in Washington state if that helps. Thank you.