According to APA (American Poultry Association) book of Standards:
Black Jersey Giants originated by crossing Black Javas, Dark Brahmas, and Black Langshans.
An Adult male standard weight is 13 lbs or greater (close to 6000 grams). A full grown hen standard weight is 10 lbs or greater.
Comb: Single, straight/upright with 6 well-defined points
Comb, Face, Wattles, Earlobes: Bright Red
Beak: Black, shading to yellow towards the tip. Moderately short, stout, well-curved.
Eyes: Dark Brown
Shanks and toes: Nearly black with a tendency towards willow, but black preferred. Underpart of feet are yellow.
Shape (Male):
Back: Rather long, broad, nearly horizontal, with a short sweep to tail.
Tail: Rather large, full, well spread, carried at an angle of 45degrees above horizontal.
Breast: Broad, deep, Full, carried well forward.
Legs and toes: legs set well apart, straight when viewed from front. Four toes.
There is more detailed info in the APA book - a lot to type out. However, I noted the key things that Ive seen in my limited experience with BJG, and seeing several from many sources at shows. I've seen earlobes streaked with white, sweeping/curved backs, and long tails carried at 90 degrees - all distinct issues that veer from the breed or indicate some crossbreeding or something like that.
We have BJG, from one source. They conform pretty nicely to standard, and although they are not competing in any big shows, we have them in our flock and the BJG is head flock rooster at nearly 2 years old. We butchered a younger one at Christmas (age 22 weeks) and he was around 9.5lbs and not even 6 months old. They are slow to mature.
Here are the male and female BJG at 4 months: Look at his massive legs (and compared to the more thin female BJG legs).
Here the same one is at approx 14 month old. There is a SLW standing behind him for size comparison. Notice his long and flat back, and the wide spreading tail. He is now nearly 2 years old.
Good Luck with your project!! Hope this information helped!
Black Jersey Giants originated by crossing Black Javas, Dark Brahmas, and Black Langshans.
An Adult male standard weight is 13 lbs or greater (close to 6000 grams). A full grown hen standard weight is 10 lbs or greater.
Comb: Single, straight/upright with 6 well-defined points
Comb, Face, Wattles, Earlobes: Bright Red
Beak: Black, shading to yellow towards the tip. Moderately short, stout, well-curved.
Eyes: Dark Brown
Shanks and toes: Nearly black with a tendency towards willow, but black preferred. Underpart of feet are yellow.
Shape (Male):
Back: Rather long, broad, nearly horizontal, with a short sweep to tail.
Tail: Rather large, full, well spread, carried at an angle of 45degrees above horizontal.
Breast: Broad, deep, Full, carried well forward.
Legs and toes: legs set well apart, straight when viewed from front. Four toes.
There is more detailed info in the APA book - a lot to type out. However, I noted the key things that Ive seen in my limited experience with BJG, and seeing several from many sources at shows. I've seen earlobes streaked with white, sweeping/curved backs, and long tails carried at 90 degrees - all distinct issues that veer from the breed or indicate some crossbreeding or something like that.
We have BJG, from one source. They conform pretty nicely to standard, and although they are not competing in any big shows, we have them in our flock and the BJG is head flock rooster at nearly 2 years old. We butchered a younger one at Christmas (age 22 weeks) and he was around 9.5lbs and not even 6 months old. They are slow to mature.
Here are the male and female BJG at 4 months: Look at his massive legs (and compared to the more thin female BJG legs).
Here the same one is at approx 14 month old. There is a SLW standing behind him for size comparison. Notice his long and flat back, and the wide spreading tail. He is now nearly 2 years old.
Good Luck with your project!! Hope this information helped!
