Anybody try a JG cross for meat?

[tberggren]

I know the Jersey Giants grow slow but what if you crossed it with an early maturing bird, like a Buff Orp.? Any thoughts?

 

[greyfields]

I think they would grow simply too slow. Mine are approaching a year old now and still the males have a lot of growth left to them and they're pretty skinny. They put all the nutrition into skeleton rather than meat.

 

[FutureChickenMan]

I'm gonna do some crosses but with rocks and cornish. One problem with the jg is the large bone structure. Just because it's bigger doesn't mean a big meat yield. jg's I've read are good for capons but who does capons anymore?

 

[greyfields]

I ate one from a specialty store last year. There is no point in caponization now that we have better meat chickens available. I think it's unnecessary trauma on the bird which can be avoided, so I choose not to make them.

 

[MissPrissy]

JG's take a long time to grow out. They eat like horses. The hens don't lay enough eggs either to pay for what they eat.

 

[1acrefarm]

I would like to try breeding a 3/4 rock 1/4 JG with a cornish and see what comes of that.

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
I'll gamble it will be a chicken.

 

[scgamecock]

 

[willheveland]

Quote:
I'll gamble it will be a chicken.

Black or white? Will