Jersey Giants
"Jack," my first Black Jersey Giant cock
Jersey Giants appear in the Standard of Perfection (USA) in two varieties: Black and White. Cocks should weigh 13 pounds and hens 10 pounds. The breed was developed in the 1880s in New Jersey. It carries Java, Brahma and Langshan blood and its skin is yellow. The breeders who created the breed were aiming at a large roasting fowl. As a meat bird in the modern world, however, it is slow-growing and therefore not commercially viable. On the other hand, few poultry sights are as impressive as a flock of Black Jersey Giants on a green lawn.
Australorps differ from Black Jersey Giants in that the legs of the Jersey Giant are black (some tending toward willow) and the underparts of the feet are yellow. In Lorps, the legs are black, shading to dark slate in adults, but the underparts of the feet are pinkish white. This works with good show stock, but hatchery stock is more variable and you can't ever be sure unless the birds grow to the size of Giants.
Breed club:
National Jersey Giant Club
Robert Vaughn
28143 CR 4
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
218-562-4067
Jersey Giant Links:
An SPPA article on the origins of the Blue Jersey Giant
You'll find Blue Jersey Giants at Indigo Egg
"Curry," a Black Jersey Giant hen
Photo courtesy of Melissa Valley
"Jeff" is my favorite Black Jersey Giant rooster
Those are Marans pullets in with him
Photo courtesy of Bill and Sue Tivol
Jersey Giant eggs
Photo courtesy of Maria Hall
A White Jersey Giant cockerel
Photo courtesy of Nick
Nick (The Chicken Mother!)
A Splash Jersey Giant cockerel
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Greer
"Louis," a Blue Jersey Giant rooster
Photo courtesy of Richie Chiger
A Black Jersey Giant hen
Photo courtesy of Rupert Stephenson
A White Jersey Giant pullet
Photo courtesy of Pam Marshall
My Blue Jersey Giant hen "Yolanda"
A White Jersey Giant rooster
Photo courtesy of Sydni Williams
Another Blue Giant hen
Photo courtesy of Maria Hall
A pair of Blue Jersey Giants
Photos courtesy of Maria
A Blue Jersey Giant cockerel
Photo courtesy of Robert Stephenson
The head of a White Jersey Giant rooster
Photo courtesy of Senia Phillips
Black and Blue Jersey Giants
Photo courtesy of Raspberry
Another Blue Jersey Giant cockerel
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Greer
And a Blue pullet
Photo courtesy of Dana Richardson
A Black Jersey Giant pullet
Photo courtesy of Brian Bettler
A lot of two-month-old Black Jersey Giant pullets
Photo courtesy of Kayla Cole
Another Black Jersey Giant hen
Photo courtesy of Angie Brainard
The head of a Black Jersey Giant pullet
Photo courtesy of m0nk3ys@hotmail.com
Nests built for Jersey Giants: 14" x 14"
Photo courtesy of Maria Hall
"Shadow," a Black Jersey Giant chick
Photo courtesy of Peggy Moore
Black Jersey Giant chicks
Photo courtesy of Gerald Severs
Chicks from a Blue Jersey Giant mating
Photo courtesy of Maria
A Splash Jersey Giant chick
Photo courtesy of Barry Newman
A couple of Blue Jersey Giant chicks
Photos courtesy of Barry Newman
A 3-day-old Black JG chick
Photo courtesy of Taryn Koerker
or
back to Poultry Page
Direct questions and comments to Barry at FeatherSite -- questions and comments
