Chicken Breed Focus - Jersey Giant

[GitaBooks]

Mine are 17 weeks and look similar to charley's. Good to know that they would have been obviously boys a while back. Since I've read they are slower maturing, I didn't know just HOW much slower and how that would affect when one knows their bird is NOT a boy.

I think it is different between hatchery quality and show quality birds. My pullets are hatchery quality and they tend to be smaller as adulthood then show quality birds. This probably makes a difference in how early you can tell if they are roosters or hens.

 

[maruadventurer]

Here's part of the flock at 6 months age --

The roo in the center is 'Brutus', comes up to my lower thigh and I am 6'1". The roo to his left is 'Big Duke' not quite as tall as 'Brutus' but he is a much thicker frame.




Brutus might be headed for freezer camp. A little too aggressive for my tastes. Him and about 4 other roos will share the same fate. Taking them down to two roos before winter sets in.

 

[GitaBooks]

Lovely roosters. Getting rid of some before winter is smart, however, since it prevent stress during time when disease is more likely to get a foot-hold. I'm getting rid of a lot of roosters right now also.

 

[bettymae83]

Love this breed!! I can't wait to get some! My question is when I am making their lay box, how big should I make it? I was told 14"X14" but with Giants that sounds a little small. Can any one assist me?

 

[bruceha2000]

I don't know about JGs specifically since they apparently range is size from "a bit larger than a standard LF" to "No, it isn't a turkey"

But 14x14 is plenty big for any LF, in fact I think 12x12 is pretty common. My bigger Black Australorp is probably as big as a smaller BJG (clearly larger than my other hens) and she fits in a 12x12. In fact she and 7 chicks fit in there from 2 weeks to almost 4 weeks of age.

What if you make a box 14 inches deep and "x" inches long with movable dividers so if that 14x14 seems a bit of a squeeze for yours, you can reconfigure it? And do you have or plan to have other breeds? If so and you have to move a divider, they will be fine with a smaller box. Heck, since they sometimes have favorites and are stubborn about it, you might have 2 in the same box anyway.

 

[bettymae83]

I don't know about JGs specifically since they apparently range is size from "a bit larger than a standard LF" to "No, it isn't a turkey"

But 14x14 is plenty big for any LF, in fact I think 12x12 is pretty common. My bigger Black Australorp is probably as big as a smaller BJG (clearly larger than my other hens) and she fits in a 12x12. In fact she and 7 chicks fit in there from 2 weeks to almost 4 weeks of age.

What if you make a box 14 inches deep and "x" inches long with movable dividers so if that 14x14 seems a bit of a squeeze for yours, you can reconfigure it? And do you have or plan to have other breeds? If so and you have to move a divider, they will be fine with a smaller box. Heck, since they sometimes have favorites and are stubborn about it, you might have 2 in the same box anyway.

I read somewhere that hens sometimes share lay boxes. That would be pretty warm LOL I was looking at another good egg laying breed, maybe leghorns, I think they are called. But I want the BJG to be the main part of my flock.

 

[maruadventurer]

14x14 should be enough for a space for a JG's. The piece to remember is height. A JG has some fair height and its helpful if the hen can walk upright into the box. Least it is for mine.

 

[dynomy]

Some of my hens do share boxes at night. It is kind of funny when I check them after dark and see a JG and both polish crunched into the same box, with my smallest bantam all by herself in one. The rest are scattered either on tom of the boxes or on the board walk in front of the top row. We have 4 12 x 12 in 2 rows and a mobile one with 3 and two bars for roost next to this.

 

[bettymae83]

I hope its okay to post this link.

How accurate is this page? It recommends 18X18 lay box and says to pull feathers from around the vent when breeding. Sounds painful. http://nationaljerseygiantclub.com/index.cfm/pageid/22

 

[bruceha2000]

I guess they should know their breed but I wouldn't get too excited about their "requirements". Zorra, my big BA is about knee height, therefore 18" and mid range for a "standard" BJG hen per their description. She can reach into a 10 gallon can of scratch without stretching (don't turn your back if the can is full). My open nest boxes are 12 x 14 1/4 (I went out to measure) and like I said, not only can she happily lay in them, she had 7 chicks in with her at night for almost 2 weeks. The access perch is 18" off the floor and it is another 9" to the lip of the nest boxes so this business of they shouldn't be higher than a foot also seems unnecessary. If one it going to follow that, you might as well put them on the floor, there would be no chicken usable space under them anyway. I also have a 12" x 48" closed community box that is attached to the outside of the coop. Again with an 18" high access perch. She lays in there sometimes but mostly only the Anconas use it.