jersey giants

[djmooney]

are jersey giants nice

 

[vortec]

Yup, mine have a really good temperment. They are all a slight bit on the flighty side, but I have only roos so the hens may be a different story.

vortec

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Yep.

 

[FrizzleFreak]

They are big and beautiful! And fairly nice if you work with them. I still have a scar from one, but she was new...

 

[old mill poultry]

I love them. I have about 30 in my flock and will have to say they are great big birds. Yes you do have to work with them, just like any other bird.

 

[vortec]

To what extent do you all work with your birds? I worked with mine a little but they are still flighty. Was anybody able to work past this with their roos, or is it to be expected with the breed?

vortec

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

My roosters were the sweeter of the 7. The hens wouldn't come near me EVER. Even with food.

 

[TammyTX]

When my Jersey girls were younger they ran from me. After we got them out in the coop and started giving them treats, well, they come running and are now the most tame we have; they'll even jump on my HEAD if I'm sitting down. But the roo (that was "accidently" mixed in my pullet run from McMurray) is stand-off'ish like most roo's. I prefer that because I have the feeling it might make them better protectors??...I don't know, just a feeling.

A couple of days ago my husband chased him down and caught him at 13 weeks he already weighs about 5 pounds and his feathers are sooooo soft. My Welsummers and Marans have "harder" feathering. I love that JG roo's beetle green feathers so much that I decided to keep him instead of a second cuckoo Marans.

Here is Pat at about 11 week: (ETA: I just looked at this photo and there is a BIG difference in his comb and wattles after just two weeks....I need new photos!)


I posted a thread to see other JG roo's but the thread died...like most I touch do! Hope not this one!!

 

[vortec]

Quote:
I too agree that the stand offish ones make the best flock protectors. One of my brahmas is very stand offish to the point we had to chase him for a good 20 minutes. He however is a great flock protector, I was not an eye witness but did hear of him jumping into a hawk who was trying to scoop up a helpless leghorn hen. My giants are the same way. Whenever there is a threat, their eyes are to the sky. The dominent roo of the flock that leads the flock out and is last to go in is a Giant, and they are also the furtherest along at crowing. All of the above birds are scittish.

My buff orpingtons and rhode island reds are loving birds, but they often opt to retreat instead of stand up in the face of danger: Not exactly flock protector material. So from experience, I can definitely agree with your theory.

vortec

 

[TammyTX]

I saw Patrick laying across the open chicken door one evening when I went to shut them up for the night. All birds were in the coop and I thought he looked so protective.