Norwegian Jaerhons. My new favorite breed

[Amyable]

These are birds from Ideal. The roo is still getting his tail feathers post-molt. I've noticed these hens do not have smooth legs; I've checked for mites but have found none. On the bright side, they are at the gate of their pen waiting for me to bring feed in the morning, and have calmed a bit.

 

[Dr Bjorn Netland]

Scaly legs are hard/impossible to see with the naked eye. Anyway, rub some vaseline or oil on their shanks (including toes) every three weeks or so, and it should be no problem.

 

[wingsofglory]

I had Jaerhons in 2008-2010 before I moved. Loved them. Hens lay a large egg! for such a small bird. The roosters varied in looks - the alpha one was beautiful and a perfect gentleman with the ladies. He had flowing silvery gold hackle and saddle feathers.

They thrive on free ranging.

I also ordered mine from Ideal and made the mistake of ordering ten of them along with brahmas and Easter eggers. I would recommend when you order them to not order them with regular or larger chicks. They are very small chicks and most got trampled to death by the EE and Brahma chicks. The survivors had each backed into a corner and braced their legs and shut their eyes.

The Norwegian government spent a lot of money to breed a commercial laying hen out of ancient native hens mixed with modern breeds. They did not select for a particular color, concentrating on egg laying ability and low feed requirements and active foraging. And they excell at this. And do well in Norwegian winters.

With mine, the hens looked the same, but the roosters varied quite a bit in color and appearance.

 

[Dr Bjorn Netland]

No other breeds were involved. In fact, the breed was based on one (ONE!) hen and a rooster of the native land race that came from a closed flock with no "outside" blood (i.e., modern laying breeds). A highly controlled breeding program resulted in the modern varieties of the Jaer, the hobbyists breeding for both standard conformation (shows) and production, while the government gene bank focuses on production, vigor, etc. The large fowl varieties are thus truly a bird totally based on the original land race. The bantam variety, however, was developed using large-fowl Jaers, bantam Danish land race, and bantam OE.

 

[wingsofglory]

That is good to know about their lineage. I'm glad the genetics of the native bird was saved. They have delightful personalities - not at all like leghorns.

Those who have them in Alaska say they do well in the winter here.

 

[centrarchid]

Can a good source of the birds, as an alternative to Ideal hatchery be named?

 

[Dr Bjorn Netland]

Sandhill Preservation Center in Iowa

 

[gootziecat]

There is another thread with information on Jaerhons. I don't know if this is the proper way of posting it but the only way I know how.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=308555&p=1

Edited to add another thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=271203&p=1