April's Jersey Giants

[AprilWC]

Having Giants, infrastructure is our weak point. We are planning to expand this fall when it cools off. I'm eyeing a pre-built shed that I could turn into a coop with indoor/outdoor breeding pens, conditioning pens, and grow out space. Just have to talk DH into the expense.

 

[SourRoses]

Having Giants, infrastructure is our weak point. We are planning to expand this fall when it cools off. I'm eyeing a pre-built shed that I could turn into a coop with indoor/outdoor breeding pens, conditioning pens, and grow out space. Just have to talk DH into the expense.

I feel ya on the storage solutions for big bottoms!

 

[AprilWC]

This guy is from one of our first hatches. Put him in a cockerel pen, never liked the look of him. Eventually he got too old to butcher so I put him in our layer flock... then I go out this week and wonder who this handsome guy is?? Apparently some take 2 years to look good.

 

[Amer]

View attachment 3943387
This guy is from one of our first hatches. Put him in a cockerel pen, never liked the look of him. Eventually he got too old to butcher so I put him in our layer flock... then I go out this week and wonder who this handsome guy is?? Apparently some take 2 years to look good.

I was at a show today and I was so surprised by how few old birds there were! For my breed, d'Anvers, only my old hens look good. It takes time to achieve perfect type with thick beards and ruffles. Or with Jersey Giants, size.

 

[AprilWC]

It wasn't even his size that took so long. He was UGLY for the first 21 months of life.

 

[CombNWattles]

Hi AprilWC!

Your Giants are so beautiful!!
I love Jersey Giants, but I’ve only ever owned hatchery birds. I’m in the New England area and if there are show quality Giants here, I have yet to find them.

Do you know of any breeders that sell and ship SOP-bred JGs nationwide?

White Falcon, my white Giant from TSC:

 

[Amer]

Hi AprilWC!

Your Giants are so beautiful!!
I love Jersey Giants, but I’ve only ever owned hatchery birds. I’m in the New England area and if there are show quality Giants here, I have yet to find them.

Do you know of any breeders that sell and ship SOP-bred JGs nationwide?

White Falcon, my white Giant from TSC:
View attachment 3948668
View attachment 3948669

https://mariasjerseygiants.com/orders

 

[AprilWC]

Hi! Good Giants can be hard to find because so few maintain a website. You may have luck by checking out some shows in your area.

I know of a breeder in PA who ships eggs and juvenile pairs, but she has not been active in the club recently so I'm not sure if she is currently breeding. The black hen I posted about on page 1 is from her. Her Facebook is Rob's Triple P Poultry, but does not seem to be updated recently.

There are others, but I have no direct personal experience with their stock. If you join the National Jersey Giant Club you receive a member directory which may help. You can also join us in the Facebook group of the same name.

My ultimate goal is to get a pair from Rich Vaughn, who has bred Giants for over 40 years. Unfortunately he is in NE and does not ship.

With it being so late in the year, most breeders are finished hatching until spring. However, you may be able to locate some started birds or slightly older birds that someone is retiring as they thin out their flocks for winter.

I acquired some stock from Maria's Jersey Giants (mentioned above) a few years ago. She does not show, but I was able to grow out my chicks from her and select a nice pair to continue on with.

 

[CombNWattles]

Hi! Good Giants can be hard to find because so few maintain a website. You may have luck by checking out some shows in your area.

I know of a breeder in PA who ships eggs and juvenile pairs, but she has not been active in the club recently so I'm not sure if she is currently breeding. The black hen I posted about on page 1 is from her. Her Facebook is Rob's Triple P Poultry, but does not seem to be updated recently.

There are others, but I have no direct personal experience with their stock. If you join the National Jersey Giant Club you receive a member directory which may help. You can also join us in the Facebook group of the same name.

My ultimate goal is to get a pair from Rich Vaughn, who has bred Giants for over 40 years. Unfortunately he is in NE and does not ship.

With it being so late in the year, most breeders are finished hatching until spring. However, you may be able to locate some started birds or slightly older birds that someone is retiring as they thin out their flocks for winter.

I acquired some stock from Maria's Jersey Giants (mentioned above) a few years ago. She does not show, but I was able to grow out my chicks from her and select a nice pair to continue on with.

Thank you, AprilWC! This is super helpful! I’m currently at college in Texas, so I probably won’t be getting new birds until next spring or summer. I’m doing my research now so I’ll be all ready.

 

[AprilWC]

You're very welcome! I started researching the SOP and breeders well in advance too. Check out the club website, the Facebook group, there's also a FB group called Jersey Giants SOP with good info although no longer active, and there is an old JG thread on this forum that had some good pictures and advice. You can start to develop an eye for the desirable traits that way.