Black Jersey Giant

[rebeccaH86]

I'm completely new to this breed and chicken math caught me so I brought home a bjg chick two days ago .. how big do they get if any one could post a pic it would be appreciated, from everything I've read she will be double the size of my black australorp?

 

[Buckeye Amy]

If you're on Tumblr, search for "Chicken Hugs" with Mapril the BJG rooster!

They do get big, but not twice the size of an Australorp. They are very TALL. I've got 2 young (6 weeks) cockerels that are easily an inch taller than their flock mates.

 

[poultryprofessor]

It depends on the specific lines.

This is "Jersey" - he is a Black Jersey Giant cockerel from exhibition lines. He is a big boy - very tall, large-framed, sturdy bird. This image was him at about 9 months of age. I'd say he was the biggest chicken at this show. He drew heads from across the room because he is just so TALL. He is definitely the biggest chicken on our farm.



I don't have exhibition-stock Black Jersey Giant females right now, but here he is with some hatchery-stock Black Jersey Giant hens:

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And here he is with some 7-month-old hatchery-stock Delaware pullets:

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I specify hatchery-stock on both sets of females because they tend to be smaller than exhibition stock of the same varieties. I'd say our Jersey Giant females are a little bigger than our Delaware females, but both varieties are probably smaller than the standard would call for.

Long story short... Jersey Giants should be bigger than other large fowl, but definitely not double the size.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

@poultryprofessor You have a beautiful boy there! How much do you think he weighs now?

 

[poultryprofessor]

@poultryprofessor You have a beautiful boy there! How much do you think he weighs now?

Thanks! He weighs about 10 lbs, but he is not done growing. It's a good thing he is okay with people and super gentle with the hens.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Thanks! He weighs about 10 lbs, but he is not done growing. It's a good thing he is okay with people and super gentle with the hens.

I hear that! My little guys are gentle and bold. I really like them but I most likely won’t keep them since they don’t fit into my program. They were part of the fry pan bargain from Meyer and I can’t say no to $1 meat birds! But if one of them is particularly nice and gets along well with the other I might consider it. Oh and I am following your IG account; if you see “wppoultry” that’s me (Whispering Pines Poultry).