Chicken Breed Focus - Java

[sumi]

The Java breed, which shares a name with the island of Java, was developed in the U.S. from chickens of unknown Asian extraction. It is one of the oldest American chickens, forming the basis for many other breeds, but is critically endangered today. The Java breed is the second oldest American breed, after the Dominique. The breed was first mentioned in print in 1835, but it is thought to have been present well before this time.

The Java breed was first recognized officially by acceptance into the APA's Standard of Perfection in 1883. The white, black, and mottled varieties were all originally described in the Standard, but the white was removed in 1910, because it was thought to be too similar to the White Plymouth Rock. The white variety eventually disappeared in the 1950s. There was also an Auburn variety, which was the basis for the Rhode Island Red, but it disappeared by1870.

With its dual purpose, great foraging, great laying, friendly and docile temperament, the Java is perfect for the small backyard flock.

Details:
Breed Purpose Dual Purpose
Comb Single
Broodiness Frequent
Climate Tolerance All Climates
Egg Productivity Medium
Egg Size Large
Egg Color Brown
Breed Temperament Friendly, Calm, Quiet, Docile
Breed Colors/Varieties The Java can be found in black, white and mottled
Breed Size Large Fowl


Pic by @zephyrcreek


Pic by @TurkeyMountainChickens


Pic by @bigzio


Pic by @Engteacher


Pic by @Engteacher
BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/java

BYC Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/292829/java-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/54667/mottled-java/0_30


Do you own Javas? Are you a Java breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

 

[MESOFRUFFEH]

I have been told that our "Big Bird" is a Mottled Java. Everyone who comes to our hosue says WOW who is that fella? He is mighty impressive, pictures do not do him justice, he is a HUGE bird!



He is the goofiest chicken I have ever had!!!

 

[wornoutmomto3]

I just got my first bunch of Mottled Javas this spring! They are pullets from TSC, but I am happy to have them.

 

[bnjrob]

The Java breed, which shares a name with the island of Java, was developed in the U.S. from chickens of unknown Asian extraction. It is one of the oldest American chickens, forming the basis for many other breeds, but is critically endangered today. The Java breed is the second oldest American breed, after the Dominique. The breed was first mentioned in print in 1835, but it is thought to have been present well before this time.

The Java breed was first recognized officially by acceptance into the APA's Standard of Perfection in 1883. The white, black, and mottled varieties were all originally described in the Standard, but the white was removed in 1910, because it was thought to be too similar to the White Plymouth Rock. The white variety eventually disappeared in the 1950s. There was also an Auburn variety, which was the basis for the Rhode Island Red, but it disappeared by1870.

With its dual purpose, great foraging, great laying, friendly and docile temperament, the Java is perfect for the small backyard flock.

Details:
Breed Purpose Dual Purpose
Comb Single
Broodiness Frequent
Climate Tolerance All Climates
Egg Productivity Medium
Egg Size Large
Egg Color Brown
Breed Temperament Friendly, Calm, Quiet, Docile
Breed Colors/Varieties The Java can be found in black, white and mottled
Breed Size Large Fowl

BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/java

BYC Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/292829/java-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/54667/mottled-java/0_30


Do you own Javas? Are you a Java breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

Thanks for putting Javas in the spotlight! Our Java breeding continues here. We've made improvements on the bloodline we've had the longest and our newer, more rare bloodline is the focus of attention this year, along with some special projects to improve coloring in the Mottleds as well as to get some non-standard colored Javas. Javas are great for both egg and meat production and we've never been sorry that they were the breed we chose to keep.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Inbreeding does seem to be a problem with Javas based on the rarity of the breed. I know I've mentioned before the issued I had with my White Javas. I should have bred them back to unrelated Black stock to get the health issues corrected.

 

[Saablo]

I have 2 mottled javas in my flock of 30 birds. They are my favorites of all the chickens I've have/had. They are the friendliest around my young children and jump up to get treats by hand when I first open up my coop each morning. They both go broody each spring and have been great mamas the last 2 seasons.

 

[bnjrob]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elemes

Hello,
I have 3 pullets and 6 chicks at the moment. I was wondering if anyone is the particular go-to on the forums for SOP? Or what traits do you think really define a good mottled variety?

Do you have a copy of the SOP? That's the first thing to have since it is the *Poultry Bible* so to speak. There are very few folks that raise Javas and breed them to the SOP and even fewer are here on BYC. To me, a well bred Java is bred to the SOP for appearance characteristics, as well as bred for meat and egg utility purposes. The APA discovered recently that they didn't emphasize utility enough and too many folks were focusing only on appearance traits, so they are now trying to get back to the basics and want folks to understand that birds need to be bred for their function as well as their form. I have some information on my website to help with SOP stuff if you want to take a look. It hasn't been updated in a while and works best on a real computer, not a phone, but there are some photos and stuff to use as an aid when you're reading the SOP. http://www.polarisstarfarm.com/JavaSOPBreeding.html The Java club is defunct but there is still some info on the website as well. http://www.javabreedersofamerica.com/

 

[Rainbow Roost]

We acquired some Black Javas this year and because they are such a rare breed, I’m considering breeding them. I have 4 hens and one rooster. I have some friends who would be interested in some chicks and I’m sure I could find some other local interest in this breed if we hatched some. What is the value of having small scale backyard breeders? Is it helpful or harmful to maintaining breed standards? What recommendations do you have for someone such as myself wanting to breed them at a very small scale?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

@Jenjens
Java have yellow skin. Australs have white skin. Java are so rare a person wouldn't mistakenly get them. A great foundation breed in need of stewards.

Used to create Jersey Giants, Barred Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Reds to name a few. Extremely important bird.

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

I raised Javas and their personalities were just lovely! They were however not very hardy. I had a coccidiosis break out in the chicks for the first time, then after recovered, I suddenly lost another few, despite them gaining weight and overcoming the coccidiosis months before and were evening laying! They were taken to the vet before too! Just very unfortunate. I think the breeder I bought from may have inbred them too much, making their immune systems finicky They definitely need some more love and care to preserve the breed because they really were lovely birds!!