Sizing for Black Giants

[booklover]

Hi! I have been a chicken ma for over a year and have a diverse flock: Red Stars, Black stars, welsummers, wyandotte, easter Eggers, Ameracaunas, and barred rocks.
I am going to expand my flock soon and add some other breeds..
One such breed I want to get is the Black Giants, mostly because I heard they can help with more agressive birds because they can't be pushed around as easily.
I read that they are so big that they need shorter, closer roost bars to keep them from injuring themselves when they jump down. Is this true? Are they really that big?
Whether they are or not isn't the question though. What i want to know is: my roost bars are made 18" apart and equally high from the ground. Do I need to make them shorter/closer, or are the Giants able to take such jumps without injury?

 

[AgnesGray]

Hi! I have been a chicken ma for over a year and have a diverse flock: Red Stars, Black stars, welsummers, wyandotte, easter Eggers, Ameracaunas, and barred rocks.
I am going to expand my flock soon and add some other breeds..
One such breed I want to get is the Black Giants, mostly because I heard they can help with more agressive birds because they can't be pushed around as easily.
I read that they are so big that they need shorter, closer roost bars to keep them from injuring themselves when they jump down. Is this true? Are they really that big?
Whether they are or not isn't the question though. What i want to know is: my roost bars are made 18" apart and equally high from the ground. Do I need to make them shorter/closer, or are the Giants able to take such jumps without injury?

Mine are 24" off the ground and my 3.5 month olds are OK with them so far. Their heads nearly reach the roost bars so if I lowered it very much and if they keep growing they'll just step up on them. They're big!!

 

[booklover]

Mine are 24" off the ground and my 3.5 month olds are OK with them so far. Their heads nearly reach the roost bars so if I lowered it very much and if they keep growing they'll just step up on them. They're big!!

Thanks. Are they really over 2ft tall?? I thought everything I heard was exaggerated!!

 

[AgnesGray]

Thanks. Are they really over 2ft tall?? I thought everything I heard was exaggerated!!

Yup! Just their legs are almost as long as my silkies are tall. Lol Good thing they're so laid back!

 

[booklover]

Yup! Just their legs are almost as long as my silkies are tall. Lol Good thing they're so laid back!

Wow that's crazy. Where did you get yours? I know I'm probably nowhere near you but I'm just curious

 

[AgnesGray]

Mine came from Ideal Poultry. The sizes aren't uniform and most of them aren't quite that big. I will get some from another source next time. They are very cool chickens though! Where did you get yours?

 

[AppleMomma65]

Assuming you are asking about BJG? If so, whoa - didn't know mine could have legs that long! My roost jump bars are 2' off the ground and mine has no problem getting up. With that said, he's only 12 weeks old and has a young body. If I'm able to keep him (getting rooster collar next week as not supposed to have roosters) will be curious to see if he can jump up!

 

[AgnesGray]

Assuming you are asking about BJG? If so, whoa - didn't know mine could have legs that long! My roost jump bars are 2' off the ground and mine has no problem getting up. With that said, he's only 12 weeks old and has a young body. If I'm able to keep him (getting rooster collar next week as not supposed to have roosters) will be curious to see if he can jump up!

Crazy thing was, we knew we wanted BJGs when we put the coop door in and made it extra tall. My biggest cockerel has to kind of fold himself up to get through the pop door. I am wondering what he'll look like when he's full grown. Hopefully not much taller than he is now.

 

[booklover]

Mine came from Ideal Poultry. The sizes aren't uniform and most of them aren't quite that big. I will get some from another source next time. They are very cool chickens though! Where did you get yours?

I haven't gotten them yet. I was gonna get them from Ideal Poultry but I want some that are more true to the breed.

 

[AgnesGray]

I haven't gotten them yet. I was gonna get them from Ideal Poultry but I want some that are more true to the breed.

I can see that. Mine are definitely hatchery quality, but have great temperaments. If I can find a breeder that has them or WJGs I will likely add more of them.