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Jersey Giant

Jersey Giant
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42 reviews
95% Positive Reviews
Rated #24 in Chicken Breeds
Pros:
“Docile, beautiful, very large”
“Large size, decent layers of brown eggs.”
Cons:
“slower growth and slightly poorer egg production”
“Flighty,shy,never comes in the coop at night,and slow to mature”
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Posted
By guineatech

Pros: Docile, beautiful, very large

Cons: slower growth and slightly poorer egg production

We had Black Jersey Giants. One became our flock rooster for a couple of years. He was huge and beautiful, with solid black eyes, iridescent plumage, and a very upright "proper" stance. We could pick him up and carry him around, and he wouldn't fuss, yet we have had him jump on a hawk that had one of his hens pinned down. Harvey was our favorite chicken ever, and was only let go because so many in the flock were his offspring. Harvey moved to a nearby farm where he is still going strong, despite being 5 years old!

 

Very large birds that grow a bit more slowly than the other heavy fowl. Extremely docile. Hens did go broody for us some, and laid reasonably well year round. Eggs were usually large and x-lrge. They were quiet birds for the most part, and not aggressive with other members in the flock. Easy to make these into pets. They faired well in free range life, foraging well and not being plagued with any health issues. Seemed undisturbed by heat and cold. The docile temperament is evident even in crossbred offspring.

 

Crossbred chicks from Jersey Giant crosses have grown very fast and reached processing weights much faster than did the purebred. Carcass of the purebred is acceptable, and they picked surprisingly clean for a black-feathered breed.

 

A good homestead bird, but not a steadfast producer like the plymouth rock or rhode island red.

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Posted
By Happy Houdan

Pros: None

Cons: Flighty,shy,never comes in the coop at night,and slow to mature

 Jersey Giants are horrible chickens they make the worst pets ever because there super flighty. They never come into the coop at night and roost in trees (they only come in to eat). I would never even get this breed even if I had to.

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Posted
By midasmychicken

Pros: lay very large eggs sweet.

Cons: grow very slowly HUGE

I have one black giant, Penguin, she is very sweet. Let me tell you that they are HUGE when full grown. Roos can be 12-13 pounds, and females 11-12.
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Posted
By outdoorsii

Pros: Huge & interesting, teddy bear attitudes, very beautiful

Cons: Huge

I have 1 full blooded JG, she is only 4 months old but she's a looker :) and then I have a mixed JG who I love to death!

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Posted
By SaraChristine

Pros: Sweet, large eggs, full bodied

Cons: only laid every other day

Loved them! They were so sweet and always ran out of the woods to greet me. They were big enough that the dogs left them alone too.
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Posted
By jeep381

Pros: Lays an egg every day, nice brown color. Always talking and giving her opinion.

Cons: None

these chickens are great, smart, always looking for something new to peck at.  Gives me one egg a day, each of them.  They are black/blue in color.  I am a first buyer, so I also bought two leghorns and two RIR's.  

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Posted
By chickenzoo

Pros: Good natured, eat little for their size, get along with other chickens, people friendly

Cons: Large size can interfere with high egg yield,

Love mine, Roos have been sweeties and they always get noticed.
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Posted
By MA Mama

Pros: nice temperment, big eggs

Cons: eat alot

I have two and I love them.  They are really cool personalities.  I wouldn't call them sweet or affectionate, more like chill and relaxed.  They let me big them up with no problem, but not because it seems like they like it, more like because they can't be bothered to run away.  They are curious, they talk to me, and they like to cuddle with the other chickens at night.  I notice them trying to mother younger chicks, but sort of in a mildly bullying way..  like "I want to cuddle, DO IT" peck peck type of way.  It's really funny.  But they aren't bullies even though their size would allow them to be.  I get an egg a day pretty much, but I haven't had them over a winter so I don't know how they lay in the cold.  I think I will always have at least a few of these.  They are so un-skittish and un-chicken like - it's a fun difference.

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Posted
By SteeleFaithFarm

Cons: may not fit well in a small backyard coop in an urban seeing

I like my Jersey hens. They are pretty friendly and do well free ranging on my farm.
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Facts and Details

Jersey Giant
Description:

The Jersey Giant is the largest chicken variety (roosters average 13 lbs., hens average 11 lbs.). This breed was originally called the Jersey Black Giant, being named after its developers, the Black Brothers, in the 1870s in New Jersey. The breeds used in development of the Jersey Giant were Black Javas, Black Langshans, and Dark Brahmas. These birds are rugged, and are slow growers, putting on their frames the first year and then filling out in the second. Because they are a slow-growing variety, they have lost some of their popularity. This breed is known to be very friendly and get on well with other varieties of birds and pets. Australorps are often confused with Jersey Giants, and you can tell the difference by their legs. Jersey Giants’ legs are black, the bottoms of their feet being yellow. Australorps’ legs are black, the bottoms being pinkish-white.

Details:
DetailValue
Breed PurposeDual Purpose
CombSingle
BroodinessSeldom
Climate ToleranceCold
Egg ProductivityMedium
Egg SizeLarge
Egg ColorLight Brown
Breed TemperamentFriendly,Easily handled,Calm,Docile
Breed Colors/VarietiesBlack, White, Blue, Splash
Breed SizeLarge Fowl
APA/ABA ClassAmerican
Models:
Model Name/TypeMPNEAN/UPC
Links:
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Guide: Jersey Giant

Chicken Breed Info:

Breed Purpose: Dual Purpose
Comb: Single
Broodiness: Seldom
Climate Tolerance: Cold

General Egg Info:

Egg Productivity: Medium
Egg Size: Large
Egg Color: Light Brown

Breed Temperament:

Friendly,Easily handled,Calm,Docile

Breed Colors / Varieties:

Black, White, Blue, Splash

Breed Details:

This breed is a pleasure to have around the farm. They are gorgeous, quite large (roosters attain an average weight of 13 lbs.), the roosters have a very pretty crow, and they have very good egg production.

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