The Jersey Giant is the biggest chicken in the world.The Jersey Giant is an American breed of domestic chicken. It was created in Burlington County, New Jersey, in the late 19th century. As the name suggests, it is a large breed, and is among the heaviest of all chicken breeds.
The bird has a moderate to a long body that is both wide and deep –
giving the impression of a square bird. The back is very broad and flat,
The feathers on all Giants are “tighter” than most other common poultry
breeds, making them easier to clean up before showing or exhibition. It
also serves them well in cold climates, and they are a good, cold-tolerant bird.
The Black Jersey Giant was admitted to the American Poultry Association
in 1922. The White followed in 1947 and the Blue in 2003.
The Jersey Giant is a big bird – males can weigh in at around 13-15 pounds, with the females weighing around 11 pounds. The black variety is usually around a pound heavier than the white. The height of the male bird is usually between 22-26 inches, with the female being 16-20 inches.
Jersey are friendly, docile birds that get along well with humans and other chickens alike. They do well both on the range and in large backyard runs. And they lay a good deal of eggs .
The egg size is huge, and because of this size, chicks may take a couple of extra days to hatch. Also worth noting is that pullets may not reach their point of lay until around 6 months old.
,Eggs light to medium brown in color.
They are robust and fairly cold hardy. The roosters are rarely aggressive. This breed also get on well with other varieties of birds and pets.
Jersey hens are fantastic layers of brown eggs, and will go broody all year. They are not much larger than other large breed hens at maturity.
The Jersey Giant is a dual-purpose fowl for meat and eggs. This fowl lays around 150 - 200 eggs per year depending on conditions such as the weather and level of comfort for the chickens.
Although they eat standard ration, they should be regularly given vitamins and minerals for bone strength and development. It is important not to skimp on the nutrition they need; it will lead to bone and muscle weakness problems. If they are allowed to free-range, they will gather many of the nutrients they require from the land.
The cost of feeding such a large bird is an important factor to consider when selecting your breed. The Jersey Giant will cost you more in feed over time since they eat more and take longer to mature.
Considering their weight, perches in the coop should be placed a bit lower to the ground than standard to avoid leg injuries, and the perches themselves should be robust.
Considering possible leg injuries, the bird does not suffer from any unusual maladies or genetic problems. In fact, it is a robust and healthy breed.
In addition to leg injuries, this large breed is prone to contracting bumblefoot due to injuries.
If there are any sharp objects, or stones, under the porch of a Jersey Giant, and she lands on it and punctures the bottom of her foot, she becomes susceptible to infection, bumblefoot, and possibly death.
There are a few extra considerations to think of when having Jersey Giants, mainly in space, feed, and height requirements, they really are an easy bird to raise.
This is a superb bird worthy of the time and effort required in raising them. If you have space and ability, give them a try – you may grow to love them!
Jersey Giant
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