Jersey Giants thread for pictures and discussion

[Wynette]

Cute video. Mine are very verbal! I love it!

FuzzyB - can't wait for pics!

3NH - you may be surprised...even though they're so much larger, they are typically pretty docile. They may get run around quite a bit by your Comets, but they dont' typically put up much of a fight, so all should be calm in short order.

 

[handmaidleah]

My new Jersey Giant "Goose" has a slight crossbeak (see photo) is this likely to worsen over time? You can see it in this photo. Any advice? I thought he would be fine as a second roo for my layers (Barred Rocks), I don't plan on breeding anything from him, but would love to have some Jersey Giant hens in the future...

 

[Wynette]

I can't see it that well, but it appears to not be too awfully bad. DEFINITELY DO NOT use him for breeding. If it's not too bad, you can probably just carefully file it down youself, which will help him to be able to eat more efficiently. Beaks are like dog's toenails; they have a quick in them, and if you cut into it, it will bleed. Just go SLOWLY, and maybe try a rough side of an emery board so you can do it slowly. You'll need to repeat about once a month.

ETA, I just looked at him again real quickly, and note his eye is too light, per SOP. Again, that matters not if you aren't going to breed, but it's one more reason to NOT use him for breeding.

 

[handmaidleah]

Thank you, since he is so new to my flock I need to decide if I am going to let him go... I have lots of friends with small flocks, and perhaps I should place him before I get attached...

 

[Wynette]

If you do move him along, please make sure to let the person about his beak.

 

[handmaidleah]

that goes without saying... It was not disclosed to me, though he was a freebie, I almost took a different Roo, but live and learn!

 

[Tsumo]

Is it normal for jg to be extremely slow at getting their feathers in? I have 3 black ones and 2 are almost fully feathered just need those tail feathers lol. But one is SLOW on getting its feathers! Its still has its baby fluff but has a lot of blad spots and just recently got its wings and stuff in. No tail feathers or nech feathers she looks like a naked dodo bird! They are super sweet birds but i want to get them out of my house together as a group but cant put this one out bc she will get sunburn! The others dont pick at her and she seems fine and is growing fine its just she hasnt feathered out like the rest. Ive never had a chicken have such slow feathering! I think they are about 2-3 months now. They are the ones in the pictures but those are when i first got them will try to put more on my profile as soon as i can.

 

[wlhtx]

I don't know where you are or how old the chicks are, but if you live where it's super hot right now then that probably has a lot to do with it. I have some marans that are 8 weeks old right now that have taken FOREVER to feather in. I thought there was something wrong at first until another experienced chicken keeper pointed out the heat factor.

 

[Wynette]

I've never heard of heat being a factor in feathering...I've raised thousands of chicks, all year long every year, and have never corrolated high heat to slow feathering, but it could be that I've not not put that together in my head.

There are slow feathering genetics...I suspect that could be the issue with your bird, Tsumo, since you do not mention that the slower feathering one is much smaller, also. There is also "dwarfism" in chickens, and those will feather in extremely slowly, and be much, much smaller than their hatch mates.

Oddly, slow feathering is actually something that many breeders of heritage-type breeds prefer, as typically the slow-feathering birds have excellent feather QUALITY.

 

[wlhtx]

Oddly, slow feathering is actually something that many breeders of heritage-type breeds prefer, as typically the slow-feathering birds have excellent feather QUALITY.

This is super interesting to me. I am not a breeder. Have only had chickens for 2 yrs, and the first yr my experience was only with an older mature flock that was given to me. My first experience with chicks came this past February and the months since then. BUT, after much more research on my part, I think I might like to dabble in breeding somewhat in the future... The little marans rooster that has been my slowest feathering chick ever has been the one that I assumed would be the first to go once he gets big enough for us to butcher. I just automatically assumed that such slow feathering would be a bad thing... Again, I have lots of research to do.