Jersey Giants thread for pictures and discussion

[seminolewind]

Suzette, congrats! Aren't Jerseys great?

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
It's really hard to help without a picture!

 

[hunterland]

Quote:
Congradulations, I just love babies - four legged, furry, or feathered.

 

[schellie69]

okay I measured her she is 21 inches tall and weighs 10lbs here is the only pic I have of her. this is when she was about 5/6 months old working a new one, any idea what she is mixed with I was think RIR female and white JG male

 

[suzettex5]

Quote:
YES!! They really are! My DH thinks I'm a bit crazy, but I dont mind a bit! I just yesterday picked up a darkish blue roo and a black hen from a guy who hatched them from eggs, cant remember the name of who he got them from, but I was just glad to find a few birds that werent hatchery stock, and that werent related to my flock and soon to be hatched chicks.

I had a great time explaining "chicken math" to my daughters' teacher when I came home with the box of chickens. I had successfully infected him with 'chicken fever' just a few weeks prior (having given him 2 of my young pullets to help him start growing his own flock, !) and he didnt understand why anyone with eggs due to hatch, plus a coop full of chicks, would go and get more birds!!

I explained - Eggs in the bator DONT count, chicks in the brooder dont count till they are out in the coop, chicks in the coop dont really count till they are out free ranging and at least paying egg rent, PLUS, everyone knows that if you give one or two away, you are perfectly within your rights to buy at least 3 or 4 new birds to replace the ones you gave away, or sold!

He looked at me like maybe I was crazy.......

 

[hunterland]

Quote:
YES!! They really are! My DH thinks I'm a bit crazy, but I dont mind a bit! I just yesterday picked up a darkish blue roo and a black hen from a guy who hatched them from eggs, cant remember the name of who he got them from, but I was just glad to find a few birds that werent hatchery stock, and that werent related to my flock and soon to be hatched chicks.

I had a great time explaining "chicken math" to my daughters' teacher when I came home with the box of chickens. I had successfully infected him with 'chicken fever' just a few weeks prior (having given him 2 of my young pullets to help him start growing his own flock, !) and he didnt understand why anyone with eggs due to hatch, plus a coop full of chicks, would go and get more birds!!

I explained - Eggs in the bator DONT count, chicks in the brooder dont count till they are out in the coop, chicks in the coop dont really count till they are out free ranging and at least paying egg rent, PLUS, everyone knows that if you give one or two away, you are perfectly within your rights to buy at least 3 or 4 new birds to replace the ones you gave away, or sold!

He looked at me like maybe I was crazy.......

I totally understand. My hubby doesn't understand how I can buy or hatch 200 chicks a year just to find 6-7 good keepers, and still looking for more hens to keep my boys happy and feathers on the bodies and heads of my girls. [Can you tell that my husband is a city boy and doesn't remember his genetics classes nor has he ever bred anything, but he is a great support when I lose a one.]

I have 5 adult hens, three with dark blue coloring, very solid except one female that has a darker head with slightly lighter body and 2 splash females, plus one medium blue rooster beautiful face and body.

I have 7, 8 month-olds that originally came from Maria Hall as starters: one rooster that is great blue color and very handsome, two beautiful splash hens that have lavender undertones instead of white and only a few blue spots, three blue hens that are beautiful solid deep gray blue, but I don't care for any of their combs, either not enough crowns or irregular shaped combs. My other adult rooster has 8 crowns on his comb, red and gold hackles, so he isn't a show boy, but he has a huge frame about 1"-1.5" broader wing and about a 2" broader body, yet he is the same age. These are great stock, but not perfect, though I do believe they would take place in shows.

I have ten 2 month-olds that I am keeping to grow out for possible breeding: 2 blue roosters, 2 blue hens, 3 splash hens (with lavender undertones), 1 splash rooster (with white body and distinctive uniform blue splashes) , and 2 black roosters. Five are mine and five came from Sand Hill. I have hatched probably 25 and I originally ordered 25 from Sand Hill. Twenty-two arrived, 3 died within 30 hours, which wasn't a surprise since our temps dropped back down in the 30's unexpectedly. I can tell mine from Sand Hill's, because mine have black combs until they are older, their bodies are also much wider, and their feathers are smoother. In speaking with Glenn at Sand Hill, his states that his birds have large heads and small bodies until they reach about 6 months old. Mine are just the opposite and have large bodies and tiny looking heads until they grow out to about 5.5 months old. I think for now it is worth the wait to see if I have any keepers.

I have two dozen more hatchlings 2 days old to 2 months old and still half a dozen in the incubator due to hatch within the week. I have so many roosters, so if anyone needs a rooster or two or three - let me know.

I ordered 3 dozen more eggs from Maria Hall and got 40. The eggs arrived safe on ship day 4, were 2.25-2.5 oz except for 3 that were 1.825, so I am excited to see how they hatch. Say a prayer for my new babies to be. Maybe from my flock on the ground and eggs in the incubator I will find just what I am looking for.

I am wanting to keep the blue jersey giants in the local area to a minimum, so if anyone is looking for a few extra birds that may or may not be show quality birds let me know. I hate to put all of them in the pot, so if you are willing to pay shipping and box fees, I'll be looking for new home for some of the extras in a month or two. Send me an email and I will put you on the list. Each shipment will probably still cost about $10.00-$15.00 for the box plus express, which is about $35.00-$45.00 - not cheap, but the birds would have eaten my feed for 2-4 months that saves a little money and time. Eventually I will sell, but for now I am just looking for great breeders, and I hate to kill anything that I have put effort into.

 

[cubalaya]

i wish you had posted this a month ago when i was looking for a blue rooster. i have a black roo now.

 

[hunterland]

Quote:
You may always adapt a little of my attitude and change flocks as needed or desired to get a better line. Although, I am grateful for what God sends my way, he placed me in authority over my animals, so I figure they are to be done with in kind and humane ways, even the killing when I choose not to sale.

I select the ones to go, take them individually out after I calm them and tell them how wonderful it has been to watch them grow. I say a short thank you prayer and lop their head off very quickly in one clean drop. Needless to say I have to wear old clothes as I am always a mess, but it is the best way I have found to not upset the remainders and show God am truly grateful and respect his creation.

 

[cubalaya]

Quote:
You may always adapt a little of my attitude and change flocks as needed or desired to get a better line. Although, I am grateful for what God sends my way, he placed me in authority over my animals, so I figure they are to be done with in kind and humane ways, even the killing when I choose not to sale.

I select the ones to go, take them individually out after I calm them and tell them how wonderful it has been to watch them grow. I say a short thank you prayer and lop their head off very quickly in one clean drop. Needless to say I have to wear old clothes as I am always a mess, but it is the best way I have found to not upset the remainders and show God am truly grateful and respect his creation.

good advice, God is good

 

[schellie69]

I posted a picture of my chicken in post 494 do you think she might be mixed with a JG and if so can I breed her to a JG roo. I am just thinking out loud right now but would love to start breeding JG because I think they are great chickens.