We carry both Black Jersey Giant Chickens and White Jersey Giant Chickens. Black Jersey Giants and White Jersey Giants will go broody. Good Jersey Giant Chickens do have an appeal because of their enormous size. Jersey Black Giants, which are very attractive, are the largest of the dual-purpose breeds.
APA Class: Jersey Giants are American Class Chickens
ALBC Conservation Status: Jersey Giant Chickens are listed as Watch.
Production: Jersey Giant eggs are brown. Jersey Giant skin color is yellow. Jersey Giant Chickens are rugged birds but because they grow a large frame first and have little meat until about 6 months, they have not been used in industry, which prizes a rapidly growing bird. Jersey Giants grow a big frame first and cover it with meat later. The meat yield on a Jersey Giant Chicken is disappointing until they are 6 months or older. Being a super heavy market fowl, due attention should be paid to the Standard Weights, in order to maintain the characteristically heavy meat producing quality.
Standard Weights Old Male 13 lbs. Old Female 10 lbs. Young Male 11 lbs. Young Female 8 lbs.
They should be rugged, with an angular shape, single comb and black (with willowish tinge) shanks in the Black variety and dark willow shanks in the White variety.
Not surprisingly, the Jersey Giant is a large bird that was developed in the 1870's in New Jersey to meet the demand for heavy fowl. Developed by the Black brothers, it was originally called the Jersey Black Giant. Giants were bred from crosses of Orpingtons, Javas, and Langshans, becoming and remaining the largest chickens developed in America. In 1921, the American Association of Jersey Black Giant Breeders Clubs was created and the name ?Jersey Giant÷ was officially adopted for the breed by the group. The Jersey Giant was recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) in 1922. The White Jersey Giants were sports of the Black variety. White Jersey Giants were admitted to the standard in 1947.
