What to Expect out of Hatchery Jersey Giants?

Logar

I’m really cool and not a nerd
Mar 31, 2024
15,159
58,114
956
Pennsylvania
So I know that hatcheries follow the SOP very loosely and that results in smaller animals. But I would like to know how much that tends to be for something like a JG. Both of mine are just about 7 pounds, maybe 7.5 for one of them. They are going to be 24 weeks old in 2 days. Are they going to stay around the weight they are currently or should I expect them to keep growing? I am feeling like they are both going to end up bing 9+ pounds but I don’t know if that is a realistic thing to be hoping for. Any thoughts?

Pictures for attention
IMG_3107.jpeg
IMG_3041.jpeg
IMG_3022.jpeg
 
I can't speak for those breeds but I just wanted to say that I visited a friend who has 4 year old Barred Rock and Easter Eggers that look exactly like mine... and they were almost double the size of my pullets. I'm expecting them to reach their full size and weight at about 1 year old.
 
They will continue growing.. Most standards of perfection I have read have different weights for pullets and cockerels versus hens and cocks.

It is also true in my personal experience.
Ok thanks. What I meant by just stop growing was that they would just gain another 1/2-1 rather than actually just stop completely. But this what I was assuming but I had seen some people mention that theirs just stopped putting on weight after 6 months and wasn’t sure if that is something to expect or not.
 
I had seen some people mention that theirs just stopped putting on weight after 6 months and wasn’t sure if that is something to expect or not.

Generalizing, I would expect them to grow much slower but still add a little.
Based only on other breeds I've kept including English Orpington. Although slow growing, most of it is done by 6 months. Once the hens lay their first egg their skeleton is completely grown... but the muscling can still fill out.
So I think it's reasonable to expect an additional pound, but you may not get 2lbs. On the bright side, if you weigh them each month you could do a little write-up / article for others to know what to expect.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom