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60df52ea_jersey_giant-4158-106673.jpeg

Jersey Giant

The Jersey Giant is the largest chicken variety (roosters average 13 lbs., hens average 11 lbs.)....
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General Information

Breed Purpose
Dual Purpose
Comb
Single
Broodiness
Seldom
Climate Tolerance
Cold
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 Size
Large Fowl
APA/ABA Class
American
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The well named Jersey Giant chicken is the largest purebred breed of chicken. It was the result of a breeding program started around 1870 by John and Thomas Black in New Jersey, with the original objective of the breed being a replacement for the turkey. The resulting adult birds are massive in size with mature roosters weighing in at 13 lbs, hens 10 lbs, and capons capable of reaching 20 lbs.

The Jersey Giant is known as a calm and docile breed with an even temperament. Adults are very poor flyers so are relatively easy to keep confined, they are fine foragers and are sometimes used as a slow growing meat bird on pasture. The hens are fair to good layers of large brown eggs and are known as very good winter layers. They will occasionally go broody. The roosters are said to have exceptionally good temperaments. They are single combed, clean legged, and recognized in three colors, black, white, and blue. The breeds used in the development of the Jersey Giant included Javas, Orpingtons, Langshans, and Brahmas.

The breed was recognized by the APA in 1922 and is on The Livestock Conservancy's Watch list.

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Jersey Giant chicks

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Jersey Giant juvenile

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Jersey Giant hen

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Jersey Giant rooster

For information about this breed and their owners' and breeders' experiences with them, see our breed discussion here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-jersey-giant.1007948/
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Latest reviews

JewelsJj
Beauties
Pros: Very calm, quiet and sweet
Cons: Very shy
I have recently purchased 3 Black Jersey Giants. I have with them 3 Barred Rocks and 6 Gold Lace Wyandottes. These girls are sweet and laid back. One of them, Annie loves to be on my lap or arm for pets and snuggles, and she doesn’t appreciate when I pay attention to others. My other 2 girls Betty & Pearl are shy. They don’t want pets or to be picked up but they come for treats and eat out of your hand and they come close to just “hang out” by you. I don’t mind if they take a bit longer to mature. I love them
B
Egg size
Pros: medium to large 8 months old
Cons: small eggs, smaller than red chickens
I felt and was told these Jersey Giants from McMurray Hatchery would lay larger brown eggs than any other breed. Now, after 8 months the eggs are small eggs like bantie eggs. Some are not dark brown at all. I am at a loss on this even with the best feeds and care. I have over 275 dollars in these 15 giants 13 hens, 2 roosters.
Purchase Price
90 dollars, 15 birds
Purchase Date
8 months ago
3m1javt
Impressed with out Black Jersey Giants
Pros: Hardy, Large, Docile, Nice Roosters
Cons: None!
We are 1 year into owning a flock of 30 JGs. We raised a straight run and butchered our excess roosters for meat. We have a large family (7) and one of these birds is plenty for us. We experimented with processing ages and found the roos had filled out adequately around 7-8 months (5 lb skinned carcass) Meat was fantastic! We had a bachelor pasture of electric poultry fence to keep out predators and they didn't eat much, we fed them high protein feed along with all our table scraps and garden excess.
Now for eggs, we have been very pleased. We must have got a good strain because we've gotten more eggs than I expected and sooner... all the hens were laying between 6-7 months, very regularly. And thru the winter they have been fantastic. Remember they must have access to water 24/7 to keep laying, so if their water is freezing that's going to be a factor. We have 28 laying hens and have gotten 33 eggs in the last two days! I am thrilled as it's only February. We think we found our favorite dual purpose breed! PS. Nice roosters are so appreciated when you want to keep a breeding flock!

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B
Big Egg 1090
May i ask the weight and size of your giant eggs? Mine are very small after 8 months and good care.
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Comments

IowaHeritage
I consider my Giants to have a Great rate of lay. But then I have focused and maintained the original line of Golda Miller and I bet if they didnt lay well; they got the AXE !
 
crankster76
I'm concidering the same[ordering from Maria], but i was wondering about the colors. if ya got a blue roo and bread to black hens,is there a chance to get more blues?
 
JerseyGiantfolk
I see what you mean about the leg limp. Mine caught Merek's early on. The only one to survive stayed 6 months in my room, and the only immune one was a hen. But I've never dealt with a mean Jersey.
 
seminolewind
Mine are very attached to me, the roo flies up onto hubby's arm. I find mine personable and friendly and always coming over to see what I'm doing. Mine will let me pick them up and snuggle them, and don't mind.
You need low roosts for them.
 
Chickadee55
I have always wanted some JG's but my friend has a rooster that is so very mean. She has to take a broom with her when she goes inside the coop. She raised him by hand and even kept him inside the house after a predator attacked him. She has pampered and babied him but he has turned very mean.
 
leochickenmama
Our roo used to be nasty - he nipped at everyone but me. In his defense, he's young and needed to be taught who was HIS boss. He'll be a year old in March. He hasn't bothered anyone in months.
He beat up the Cooper's hawk that got into the pen earlier in the week, allowing me enough time to rescue my Leghorn hen. That's why I love him.
 
cutechick2010
How fast did they achieve their size? Are they a lot slower than the "standard" sized breeds? I have two cockerels and two pullets in the brooder right now, I am very interested to see how they turn out.
 
bauers chicks
Interesting, thanks for the additional detail. What crossed with the Jersey Giant? I was considering getting a few since I think the bigger birds fare better with hawk attacks, but got concerned over the size of the roosters over smaller hens.
 
guineatech
Since the Jersey Giant was the lead rooster in the flock for 2 years, he was breeding the whole flock. Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rock, Australorp (cross was a great layer!), ameraucanas, turkens,Buff Orpingtons, Light Brahmas, California Whites, and Brown Leghorns. The cross with the Rocks, Brahmas, BO's, and RIR's were the best meat birds. Frankly, the best producing meat birds I have had, other than the commercial Cornish Rock, were run of the mill crossbreds from the whole flock, mixing 10 different purebreds and some crossbreds. The young cockerels would have a visible comb very early, and be inches taller than the purebreds. I am a big fan of crossbreeding for production. The animals are healthier, more vigorous, and more productive on the average. I did worry about the Jersey Giant breeding some of our pullets, but he was a a gentle breeder, and even the smallest hens seemed unharmed. But we do not run anything except standard sized fowl. No bantam stock. I think Harvey would have squished a bantam hen.
 
bauers chicks
Thanks this is good to know. Crossing BO & JG sounds like it could have impressive size results! I'll also end up remembering your visual the next time I see a banty Since I recently retired and relocating to a ranch, I'll have some time to try different breeds and methods I've learned about from BYC. Now I'm wondering how detailed or if there will be notes...........................
 
Hezz
Black Jersey Giants and Australorps look VERY similar. The one way you can tell them apart is to check the bottoms of their feet. If they're yellow, it's a Giant, if they're pinkish in color, it's an Australorp.
Hope this helps you out some.
 
mikeyb
That's my choice for adding to my flock. About 4 Jersey Giants. If the cost is not too much I may add more for the freezer.
 
MA Mama
Hens are the most friendly, I don't have a rooster so I can't say about them.
 
Chickielady
I absolutely love mine.
I have 2 lines, from SoaringHawks Farm and Maria Hall...all are BBS.
So far, pullets are at 5 1/2 months, and laying beginning fart eggs are JUMBO...barely snuggly fit into a Jumbo egg carton.
They are docile, sweet birds, and I have heard no bickering or fighting.
They have accepted new birds into their flock with no issues at all.
They eat very little for their size, and are very people friendly.
 
Dawna
I have been thinking about adding some Jersey Giants to my flock. If I get any I'll order 5 hens. It's good to hear they eat about the same as regular size hens. And also about their personalities. I have grandchildren that like to come over and I don't want anything that will scare them.
 
mo puff
I thought you meant the EGGS were blue/black... i was so excited.. LOL, you meant the chicken!
 

Item information

Category
Chicken Breeds
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Views
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Watchers
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Reviews
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Last update
Rating
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