big chickens ?

[ross]

hi i want to get huge chickens well big chickens and i was thinking does anyone no any breeds that are bigger then normal chickens.........

THANKS

 

[LynnGrigg]

Hey Ross, don't know where you live but large chickens tend to stress and die in the heat. You might want to keep that in mind. They also take more feed. (I love big chickens too!). Orpingtons and Wyandotts are nice. I have some.

Member - (speckledhen) has some gorgeous Blue Orpingtons and sells hatching eggs if you have an incubator or access to one. If you use the site search you can probably pull up some pictures of Suede(her roo) and her hens under speckledhen or suede or blue orp. -Lynn

 

[Heidi]

There are also the cochins and brahma chickens. The males are between 11 & 12 lbs and the hens around 9lbs. I posted a pic of "My White Cochins" yesterday - the thread should still be there under Me, My Chickens, and Family tab.
The cochins are only 18 weeks and still growing.

 

[LynnGrigg]

oooo Heidi, the cochins are beautiful! I do have a dark Brahma roo but he's bantam sized. I love him to death. He has the sweetest eyes and looks like he's wearing black bell bottoms.

 

[ross]

i live in wales we do get some hot weather but mostly its cloudy or raining

 

[hinkjc]

Jersey Giants and Giant Cochins are supposed to be really nice size. Good strains of Orpington get great weight as well (roosters 10 pounds & hens 8 pounds).

Jody

 

[Davaroo]

The Jersey Giants take the prize for largest breed.

Here are some factoids:

Standard Weights: Cock-13 pounds; hen-10 pounds; cockerel-11 pounds; pullet-8 pounds.

The Jersey Giant was developed in the 1870's in New Jersey to meet the demand for heavy fowl.

It was originally called the Jersey Black Giant, named after the Black brothers, who first developed it.

Giants were bred from crosses of Orpingtons, Javas, and Langshans,

Jersey Giants, come in black and a grey, referred to as white.

There have also been buff, all white and blue, but none of these have taken hold.

They are in the American Class, according to the Standard and are the largest chicken developed in America.

They are rugged, because they grow a large frame first.

Their tendency is to grow the skeletal frame first, then put on the flesh - starting at about 6 mos.

They are a poor fit for today's modern poultry-industry, since the poultry biz prizes a rapidly fleshing-out bird.

Jersey Giants have an angular shape, single comb and black (with willowish tinge) shanks in the Black variety.

The Jersey Giant hen will go broody, but is not the best choice for incubating and brooding because of her size.

They used to be more widespread, but their popularity has waned.

No fowl with black plumage or dark shanks has ever remained popular in this country for long.

Jersey Giants have been known to chase off coyotes.

They lay brown eggs.

Other large breeds to consider are the Langshan, Cochin and Brahma, all in the Asiatic class. The Brahma was the preferred market meat-bird in this country, prior to the 20th century.

I can only wonder how big Jersey Giant capon would grow. C'mon Thanksgiving. Turkeys... move over!

 

[2mnypets]

I have Lt. Brahmas, Blue, Splash, Buff and Partridge Cochins as well. From what I saw at the fair this year, those Brahmas can get pretty big. Here's a picture of my Lt. Brahma....she's 3 months old and her back is a little over half way past the middle of my shin and I'm 5'8".

 

[greyfields]

Jersey Giants would be my choice, too. I have 10 in my grower ark right now. I hope to someday let them wander around my house. It should be a site when people pull up the driveway.

 

[mdbucks]

just get an Emu and claim its a chicken