(Help) Next spring I am getting Black Jersey Giants (10-11)

[bobabird]

I am looking for extra info and tips for a first timer for BJG's. I have had normal chickens and know how to take care of them well, but i'm not sure 2 feet tall 15 pound chickens are the same... lol..

 

[FuzzyOwlFeet]

Definitely wouldn't call myself a pro at them, but the roosters were the meanest creatures I'd ever met. When two fourteen-pound dinosaurs are chasing you across your own property, you're not going to have a good time. They are not as nice as the internet likes to make them out to be.

All I did was let them free range and had them on Flock-Raiser their whole lives. Still got huge, when I finally euthanized them I weighed and they were both fourteen pounds.
They do not do well in the summer, I lost all my hens during a heat wave, yet my cochins (which do not thrive in heat)all survived it.

To summarize, I didn't treat them any different than my other chickens, but I only had them a year.

 

[Beer can]

I am looking for extra info and tips for a first timer for BJG's. I have had normal chickens and know how to take care of them well, but i'm not sure 2 feet tall 15 pound chickens are the same... lol..

Jersey Giants are one of the best chicken breeds IMHO. Great layers and great meat birds, one of the better dual purpose breeds.
I had white Jersey Giants from Sandhill Preservation Center. Yup, they were big. And the calmest birds I've ever had. The roosters were big babies, I don't make friends with my birds or take any means to make them friendlier/easier to handle. Didn't have to the breed is just calm. Had two roosters with a large flock that also had three red Sussex roosters, no fighting and no overbreeding, no missing feathers for any of them.
One thing I always hear on Giants is they eat like hogs, didn't find that to be the case I actually think they eat less and I think it's because they are so calm. Don't eat as much because they don't expend as much energy. They do range great, farthest ranging birds I've ever had free ranging.
The one big rooster I had, nicest rooster I've ever had actually fought off a red fox once killed one of my/his giant hens, doesn't take a man killer rooster to protect a flock. Red fox lived but it didn't get to eat that giant hen, rooster flogged the crap out of him till he left.
I loved the breed so much I crossed them with my white naked necks. The naked neck in my avatar was one of the worst roosters I've ever had. Naked neck hens crossed with Jersey giant, rooster I have now Nn/JG calm and good.
I actually crossed my original JG rooster with Silkie hens he was good with them also Lol.
You should check out the national Jersey Giants club;
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIBBAC&usg=AOvVaw10Ix6teIWZvXbd4kYDSrpJ
Also, if you can afford it, buy your birds from a breeder. Can find them on that site.

 

[Beer can]

Just to add, Jersey Giants are awesome. I still have one hen from that batch. I pictured myself as a Jersey giant breeder until I discovered naked necks, love them more. Just to say how much I respected the Jersey Giants, my Naked necks will always have JG genetics in them, IMHO Naked Necks are the best dual purpose breed there is but mine will always be JG/NN's.