Chicken Breed Focus - Java

The Java breed, which shares a name with the island of Java, was developed in the U.S. from chickens of unknown Asian extraction. It is one of the oldest American chickens, forming the basis for many other breeds, but is critically endangered today. The Java breed is the second oldest American breed, after the Dominique. The breed was first mentioned in print in 1835, but it is thought to have been present well before this time.

The Java breed was first recognized officially by acceptance into the APA's Standard of Perfection in 1883. The white, black, and mottled varieties were all originally described in the Standard, but the white was removed in 1910, because it was thought to be too similar to the White Plymouth Rock. The white variety eventually disappeared in the 1950s. There was also an Auburn variety, which was the basis for the Rhode Island Red, but it disappeared by1870.

With its dual purpose, great foraging, great laying, friendly and docile temperament, the Java is perfect for the small backyard flock.

Details:
Breed Purpose Dual Purpose
Comb Single
Broodiness Frequent
Climate Tolerance All Climates
Egg Productivity Medium
Egg Size Large
Egg Color Brown
Breed Temperament Friendly, Calm, Quiet, Docile
Breed Colors/Varieties The Java can be found in black, white and mottled
Breed Size Large Fowl


Pic by @zephyrcreek


Pic by @TurkeyMountainChickens


Pic by @bigzio


Pic by @Engteacher


Pic by @Engteacher
BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/java

BYC Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/292829/java-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/54667/mottled-java/0_30


Do you own Javas? Are you a Java 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/

Cool breed!

Thanks for this, sumi. I don't have any yet, but am expecting 10 mottled javas from Sandhill in May. They caught my attention for all of the things you have listed above, especially great foraging, American heritage, and the opportunity to help keep a breed going.

Hopefully they do well, and in the coming years I will be able to add more to the flock. Looking forward to hearing from others about them, it seems there are so few.

MistyMountain said:

Thanks for this, sumi. I don't have any yet, but am expecting 10 mottled javas from Sandhill in May. They caught my attention for all of the things you have listed above, especially great foraging, American heritage, and the opportunity to help keep a breed going.

Hopefully they do well, and in the coming years I will be able to add more to the flock. Looking forward to hearing from others about them, it seems there are so few.

Click to expand...

They are a lovely breed, aren't they? I never heard of them before I bought some chickens at a farmer's market here in Ireland about 3 years ago and the vendor told me they were "Java bantams" It turned out they were the result of Java LF x unknown breed bantams. Really, really nice little birds, but too much of a project for me to take on at the time.

sumi said:

The Java breed, which shares a name with the island of Java, was developed in the U.S. from chickens of unknown Asian extraction. It is one of the oldest American chickens, forming the basis for many other breeds, but is critically endangered today. The Java breed is the second oldest American breed, after the Dominique. The breed was first mentioned in print in 1835, but it is thought to have been present well before this time.

The Java breed was first recognized officially by acceptance into the APA's Standard of Perfection in 1883. The white, black, and mottled varieties were all originally described in the Standard, but the white was removed in 1910, because it was thought to be too similar to the White Plymouth Rock. The white variety eventually disappeared in the 1950s. There was also an Auburn variety, which was the basis for the Rhode Island Red, but it disappeared by1870.

With its dual purpose, great foraging, great laying, friendly and docile temperament, the Java is perfect for the small backyard flock.

Details:
Breed Purpose Dual Purpose
Comb Single
Broodiness Frequent
Climate Tolerance All Climates
Egg Productivity Medium
Egg Size Large
Egg Color Brown
Breed Temperament Friendly, Calm, Quiet, Docile
Breed Colors/Varieties The Java can be found in black, white and mottled
Breed Size Large Fowl

Click to expand...

BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/java

BYC Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/292829/java-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/54667/mottled-java/0_30


Do you own Javas? Are you a Java 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!

Thanks for putting Javas in the spotlight! Our Java breeding continues here. We've made improvements on the bloodline we've had the longest and our newer, more rare bloodline is the focus of attention this year, along with some special projects to improve coloring in the Mottleds as well as to get some non-standard colored Javas. Javas are great for both egg and meat production and we've never been sorry that they were the breed we chose to keep.

I just got my first bunch of Mottled Javas this spring! They are pullets from TSC, but I am happy to have them.

Got one this week! Thanks to those who told me what I adopted.

Love my flock of Mottled Javas! Just wish more people were interested in them

I have been told that our "Big Bird" is a Mottled Java. Everyone who comes to our hosue says WOW who is that fella? He is mighty impressive, pictures do not do him justice, he is a HUGE bird!



He is the goofiest chicken I have ever had!!!

MESOFRUFFEH said:

I have been told that our "Big Bird" is a Mottled Java. Everyone who comes to our hosue says WOW who is that fella? He is mighty impressive, pictures do not do him justice, he is a HUGE bird!



He is the goofiest chicken I have ever had!!!

Click to expand...

Beautiful! He IS huge!