My Chicken Coop – The Jersey Giant!

In today’s article we will take a look at a breed of chicken that you also may wish to include in your chicken coup plan if you want a serious meat producer. This bird is the largest breed of chicken that originated in the United States, the “Jersey Giant.”

The Jersey Giant was developed in the 1870’s by Thomas and John Black in the great state of New Jersey. Back then there was a strong demand for heavy fowl. They wanted meat! These big buggers really fit the bill. They were cross bred from four large Asiatic breeds, Black Java’s, Black Langshan’s, Black Orpington’s, and Dark Brahmas to meet the demand for large fowls. In fact, they were bred with the intention of replacing the turkey as the primary poultry source. Now that’s a big chicken!

They are rugged birds with large strong frames. Unfortunately it takes their first six months to build this frame, before they start putting on any real meat. As today’s meat producers want birds that grow rapidly, the Jersey Giant is not used much in the chicken meat industry. However it would make an excellent meaty bird for your chicken coop plan. They are fabulous roasted!

The Jersey Giant reaches large sizes as its name states. Cocks are generally 13 pounds (yikes!), hens are even 10 pounds, cockerels are 11 pounds, and pullets are 8 pounds. They are known as the largest breed in the American Class. When plucked, their skin color is yellow.

Their eggs are brown or dark brown and quite large. They lay more eggs than most other large breeds. These domestic fowl are rugged and angular in shape with a single comb.

The Jersey Giant comes in three varieties, black, white and now their is a blue variety also being developed. The white variety was the second to come and is a sport of the black variety. The black variety has black shanks with a willow tinge and the white variety has dark willow shanks. The blue variety is considered by many to be the most beautiful.

Jersey Giants are extremely friendly, as they are good with pets, they like people, and the cocks are rarely mean.

So if your chicken coop plans include big, meaty birds, check out the Jersey Giant!

OK! It’s time for today’s Stupid Chicken Joke!

Why is it easy for chicks to talk?

Because talk is cheep!