Jersey Giants thread for pictures and discussion

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Ah, no. My JG roo hurt his leg learning how to roost, so he can't mate,

My dh talks about trying that with his lf dark Cornish, though they've managed w/o his assistance thus far.

Is the need to AI giants somewhat common? Or would it be used more to prevent damaging hen feathers and still get fertile eggs?

 

[charmedbychickens]

my roosters dont have any trouble.
if I had to say it would be to protect the hens feathers. As the big roosters can do a number on the hens backs.

Yes, your roosters are doing a great job. I candled last night and have 12 viable eggs in the incubator!

 

[Soaring Chicks]

that's great! I was just told 3 have hatched from the very first ones sent out.
A blue,blk,splash and 4 th has pipped and they can't see the 5th one.
I hope you have a great hatch too!
I was glad to see so many people really like this breed. Hopefully we'll have more byc memebers on this thread here soon!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Here's the next 2 up for comparison.

#1 1 year old cockerel


#2 13 month old cockerel

 

[Happy Chooks]

And 2 hens up for comparison.

#1 11 month old pullet (hatched last April)


#2 A 13 month old hen:

 

[ChicwannaB]

I am tickled and EGGcited...7 Jersey Giant hatching arrived in the mail today . . .white ones. YES!! Hoping for a great hatch and new babies by April 4th!!!

 

[Wynette]

Alright, please bear with me, I hope I'm doing this right...........Here are the first 2 Jersey Giants up for comparison.

#1 7 1/2 month old cockerel


#2 8 month old cockerel

Hi, Giant friends! I'm so very sorry I haven't been around - just have a ton of things going on. I see the thread has been active - awesome!

Okay, I didn't see anyone else's feedback on these two males. Neither are posed in the best way to show off all their qualities, but I know it's difficult to get them to stand "just right"!

The first male, to my novice eye, appears to have a bit more going for him. Again, tough to tell, but length of back looks a bit longer than the blue. It appears, though, that his eye may be too dark, and he definitely needs to fill out more, but most definitely this is really a young one, and iI never make decisions until at LEAST one full year, if not longer.

The blue male, on the other hand, appears, at least in the pic, to have a better bottom line. It's more rounded, and full, at least from what I can see. Pic is taken from too far away to tell anything on eye color; his back appears shorter than the black male's back, but again, that's a tough call from a pic. Both are nice looking males!

 

[Wynette]

Here's the next 2 up for comparison.

#1 1 year old cockerel


#2 13 month old cockerel

OOoooh.....pretty.....

First male has a nice under line, nice & round. Tail angle is low, but that's a tough one to judge by a photo. Back could be longer, but it's not what I would say is "short" at all. He's got a somewhat funky-looking comb, but I would not make a decision on using him over combs since the penalties are so minor for flaws. This male, to my novice eye, does not look very big for his age. When I look at his shanks, at this age, I want to see them much thicker - however, again, that's a tough one to judge in a pic. His wing appears to be held a bit too low. He appears to be in very good condition, which says lots about the keeper!

Second male's underline is not quite as nice as the first male. Back appears to be nice & long. His comb is nice, too (though again, I certainly wouldn't use that as a point of decision making). It appears he may have a curled toe (outside right foot) - not sure on that, but this happens on occasion when the frames begin filling out - that heavy weight they put on puts strain on feet, and I would not use a male with a curled toe, personally. I'm unsure whether it's a fault that would result in point reduction in showing or not, though. I like the angle that #2 male holds his wing at a bit better than the first. Again, this one also appears in good condition - kudos on that!

(also, I want to reiterate that I am not an expert - these are simply my novice opinions using what I have learned thus far in breeding these gorgeous birds.)

 

[Wynette]

And 2 hens up for comparison.

#1 11 month old pullet (hatched last April)


#2 A 13 month old hen:

This one is interesting, and YEAH! FEMALES!!!

I like #1's underline a bit better - it's more rounded all the way back, from vent to bottom of neck. However, I her topline could be a bit flatter/straighter - (SORRY!) she's got a bit of a cushion. Blues are tough - her lacing could be darker, but again, that's a tough one to get bred in and IMO, shouldn't be used as a decision maker about using her. Put her with a good black male, and the blue offspring from the cross will have much better lacing. Her wing carriage is a bit high, but she could just be reacting to having her picture taken.

#2....well, her under line is not bad, but her top line is not great. I would personally not use this bird for breeding. That back should be FLAT - very flat - horizontal. She almost looks to be a bit "U" backed, but could just be the pic. I like her tail very much, and she has a lovely head. To me, her wing carriage is optimal.

 

[Wynette]

Darnit, I just typed up another post and it appears to have disappeared (grumble....)

I said to please not take my opinions as "gospel" as I am a novice at this. These exercises are for all of us to learn from, and we should discuss feedback, for sure!

ETA: My gals are FINALLY laying (well a couple of them) and I am noticing something interesting. Last fall, when got to POL, only one started to lay before the snow began to fly and the days got shorter (I do not use artificial light in my breeding pens; I personally prefer to try and work with nature rather than against her as much as possible). My really good females will be one full year old the end of this month. Their FIRST eggs are quite large - much larger than my females who began to lay at 7 or 8 months. Has anyone else noticed this? I'm wondering if, since they are almost a full year before beginning to lay, their eggs start off huge, and will get honkin' WOMBO huge later?