Are my Australorps actually Jersey Giants??? :(

[Reurra]

Yep, my girls look just like that, thought the yellow is confined to the base and between the toes. Yours seem to have lots more. The breeder is a local guy who has a large farm and is advertising heritage birds. I have seen his JGs outside, but i dont know if his Lorps go out with them. I do know though that he has both breeds on the property and he keeps all the chicks in a big brooder, separated by age.

I also know he got his birds from McMurry (?) He pitches in with several other people and they get them as a group since its hard to get chicks here in Nova Scotia that are of a different gene pool.

It is a huge comfort though to know that they do lay well. I dont want machines, but I also dont want 3 eggs a week lol.

 

[theoldchick]

True heritage birds may not lay as much as hatchery birds. My JGs came from a hatchery. While they are no where near Standard of Perfection, they came from stock with good laying qualities. Most importantly (to me) they have no health issues.

If I remember correctly, BAs were used to develop the original line of JGs, so they look similar.

Good luck with your birds. I don't think they'll disappoint you.

 

[Pele]

Those are Jersey Giants. Australorps were developed out of Orpingtons (hence the orp at the end of the name), and they retained the white flesh on the bottom of their feet.

Jersey Giants have yellow flesh on the bottom of thier feet (which shows between the toes when viewed from above).

Both breeds are supposed to be dual-purpose, but hatcheries put emphasis on laying rather than meat-quality. If the 'breeder' that gave them to you couldn't tell the difference between the two breeds, then I suspect he was breeding hatchery stock. That's good news for you, because you get a laying bird either way.\

Sorry things havn't worked out exactly as you wanted. They'll be beautiful birds though.

 

[NovaAman]

Neighbor has JGs, and they lay real well. I had a BA, and she was also a very good layer... SO, All in all, I think you'll be happy. I actually had a BA that turned out a blue green egg everyday. LOL, was funny, cuz she was the only one that did it. None of her sisters did. Guessing an EE hopped the fence once. You'd never tell she wasn't a pure BA at all.

 

[Reurra]

Well come fall, when they hit the 20 week period, I will see what we get. I was so proud to have BAs. Oh well, Ill ahve to be more careful. its so hard to get good chickens in this area, I would have to go to Ontario to get better stock I think.

Next spring, Im going to get a few black laying hens if I can find some. If not, Ill get some reds. Until then, I'll still spoil these birds. They cant help being pretty!