Jersey Giants were intended to be MEAT birds, the good news is they lay a Huge brown egg and lay it often and are cold tolerant.
The sole reason for their existance was to be the " poor mans turkey ", and the original SLOW- FOOD.
Nature, never ever intended a chick to be on someones plate @ 5 -6 weeks of age, cant reproduce, dies of a heart attack or other physical ailments if not butchered in time, and pretty much a genetic mess; thus the new awakening.
True, they take long-er to mature, but for meat birds they are harvested @ 6-9 mos and 8-10 lbs, trust me, there is plenty of meat there.
Also, the commercial hatcheries have gone for numbers and are not representative of the breed, as in most breeds, so search for an independent breeder.
They are best roasted.
Good Luck !
The sole reason for their existance was to be the " poor mans turkey ", and the original SLOW- FOOD.
Nature, never ever intended a chick to be on someones plate @ 5 -6 weeks of age, cant reproduce, dies of a heart attack or other physical ailments if not butchered in time, and pretty much a genetic mess; thus the new awakening.
True, they take long-er to mature, but for meat birds they are harvested @ 6-9 mos and 8-10 lbs, trust me, there is plenty of meat there.
Also, the commercial hatcheries have gone for numbers and are not representative of the breed, as in most breeds, so search for an independent breeder.
They are best roasted.
Good Luck !