jersey giants

[cppeace]

I'll be starting a flock of my own in a month or so and have decided on this chicken because it lays large eggs is a big chicken so most things won't bother them much and will provide plenty of meat when we decide to butcher the extra roosters. I've also heard they are very docile and tame easy, but have heard these chickens rarely brood. I will incubate as needed but was wanting to let them hatch their own some too. Can anyone tell me if their jersey giants ever went broody and hatched some?
I really only want one breed currently so mixing to have a broody hen wouldn't be ideal for me, but another breed perhaps could be substituted if anyone can suggest one that fits my needs.
Large eggs at least 3x a week on avg,
Large chicken for meat,
Very docile roosters,
Good for medium fenced area,
Likely to brood occassionally

Thanks,
Kim

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC! Jersey Giants are indeed big chickens, but their size will not protect them from chicken killing predators. The best way to do that is to predator proof their coop and run. If you free range them, lock them up in the coop in the evening for their own protection. Jersey Giant roosters will eventually provide plenty of meat, but you'll have to wait a while as they mature slowly. Meat birds like Cornish X Rocks far outstrip them in early growth. You heard correctly about JGs being docile and taming easily. I had Black Jersey Giants some years ago and they were like pets--easy to pick up without making any real fuss. I don't remember my Black Jersey Giants ever going broody. I know that they never hatched any eggs for me. If you decide to get another breed instead, I would recommend Brahmas based on your criteria. I have had them as well and their lay rate is approximately the same as Jersey Giants (about 3 eggs per hen per week). They are the second largest standard breed to Jersey Giants, very close with the JGs in size, and like JGs, they are very docile and calm birds that stand confinement well. Unlike Jersey Giants, the Brahmas do go broody fairly frequently and we had them hatch and raise broods on quite a few occasions. Another chicken you might want to consider are Buff Orpingtons. They are not quite as big as the JGs and Brahmas, but they are still large birds with all of the characteristics you are looking for and will likely outlay either the JGs or the Brahmas. I have had them for years (and still have them), and they are very friendly, gentle, and calm birds (my children, and now my granddaughter, made pets out of them. And Buff Orpingtons are great brooders and mothers. Whatever breed you decide to go with, good luck with your flock.

 

[cppeace]

Hmm the brahmas I looked up look alot like a breed my dad had years ago, feathered feet and all but they had small eggs for their size.
I've had experience with several different breeds from when my dad bred them. We had barred rocks,buffs, black austrolorps, leghorns, and dad said the white ones with fluffy feet were wynadots (I apologize for bad spelling on any of the breed names)
The only ones I recall being aggressive were the black aus. The roosters were very aggressive.
I don't mind a slower growth but do want the larger eggs and occassional brooding. Would the brahmas fit the bill you think?

 

[Michael OShay]

The eggs from the Brahmas do tend to be somewhat smaller than the JG or Buff Orpington eggs which are quite large, so I suppose it depends on how big your eggs have to be. I'm surprised that you had some aggressive Black Australorps. They do not have a reputation for being aggressive (of course, there can always be exceptions in any breed), and I have had them for years and never had an aggressive one. Whatever breed you decide to go with, good luck with your flock.

 

[cppeace]

Yeah, my dad even killed the original mean rooster and got another, it too got aggressive none of the others were. I've decided to increase the coop size to seperate and get two breeds after all. Just love how the light brahmas look and remember our brown leghorns laying big white eggs so those two will balance eachother, one for good meat and the other for big eggs. Will only be 10-12 chickens in total so not too too many.
Thanks for the well wishes and advice.
Kim

 

[dekel18042]

Love my JG's. Easy to tame and friendly and their eggs are ex-large/jumbo, usually five a week. Some of the eggs are a beautiful rosy brown. I have some of their daughters, JG crosses, don't have a JG rooster, that started laying as early as 4 months 5 days to four and a half months and their eggs have a nice pinkish tint, more so then their mothers'.
JG's eggs are definitely larger than the brahmas'. I know at least two people who are unhappy with the size of their brahma eggs (Kept me from getting that breed.)
The only, very minor, negative comment I can make is if you are purchasing 100% of their food, no free range or lawn to graze on or table scraps or leftovers, they probably don't have the best food to egg ratio as some of the other breeds.

 

[Michael OShay]

Yeah, my dad even killed the original mean rooster and got another, it too got aggressive none of the others were. I've decided to increase the coop size to seperate and get two breeds after all. Just love how the light brahmas look and remember our brown leghorns laying big white eggs so those two will balance eachother, one for good meat and the other for big eggs. Will only be 10-12 chickens in total so not too too many.
Thanks for the well wishes and advice.
Kim

You're welcome. Your dad's experience just goes to prove that old axiom, "Where chickens are concerned, there are always exceptions." My Brahmas were Light Brahmas. They were nice, large, gentle, friendly birds and I think you would enjoy them. Good luck.