Jersey Giant
Encyclopedia
The Jersey Giant is a breed of chicken
originating in the United States
in the late 19th century by John and Thomas Black. The intent of the breed was the replace the turkey as the primary meat poultry breed. Named for their state of origin (New Jersey
) and their large size. Jersey Giants are largest purebred chicken breed. Cock
s average 13 lbs. and hens 11 lbs.
The Black Jersey Giants were pronounced a breed in 1922 by the American Standard of Perfection
. Their lineage includes were produced by crossing Black Javas
, Black Langshans
, and Dark Brahmas
. White Jersey Giants arrived many years later during the year 1947. The Black Jersey Giants are averaging a pound heavier than the White Jersey Giants. For a time, they raised as capon
s and as broilers by the meat industry, they grow much slower than today's more common meat birds, and are thus not widely used in the industry any longer.
In Europe the breed fell out of favour to such an extent that they nearly became extinct, however in the mid 80's a breeder in the UK: Sam Hay in Shropshire located the last surviving trio and decided to save them. He built up some stock but was they were suffering the ill effects of inbreeding and so he was very fortunate to find out that Dutch Chicken breeder Jaap Beekman had the last few Jersey Giants in The Netherlands. The two were able to share stock and reintroduce the breed to both countries. Within a few years Jersey Giants were regular winners at rare breed poultry shows. http://www.nederlandsepluimveesoc.com/Jersey%20Giant.html
Jersey Giants went extinct in Australia
in the 1950s, only a few decades after they were introduced to Australia.
They lay extra-large brown to dark brown eggs, and lay fairly well for being a large breed. There is also a newer color variation known as the Blue Jersey Giants. Jersey Giants are extremely friendly, as they are good with pets, they like people, and the cocks are rarely aggressive.
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
originating in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the late 19th century by John and Thomas Black. The intent of the breed was the replace the turkey as the primary meat poultry breed. Named for their state of origin (New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
) and their large size. Jersey Giants are largest purebred chicken breed. Cock
Cock
-Ornithology:* the male of most species of bird, but especially** A Rooster or cockerel, the male of the domestic fowl or chicken, Gallus domesticus*The English name of several species of bird incorporates the word cock, such as...
s average 13 lbs. and hens 11 lbs.
The Black Jersey Giants were pronounced a breed in 1922 by the American Standard of Perfection
American Standard of Perfection
The American Standard of Perfection is the official breed standard for the poultry fancy in North America. First published in 1874 by the American Poultry Association, the Standard of Perfection classifies and describes the standard physical appearance, coloring and temperament for all recognized...
. Their lineage includes were produced by crossing Black Javas
Java (chicken)
The Java is a breed of chicken originating in the United States. Despite the breed's name, which comes from the island of Java in Indonesia, it was developed in the U.S. from chickens of unknown Asian extraction. It is one of the oldest American chickens, forming the basis for many other breeds,...
, Black Langshans
Croad Langshan
The Croad Langshan is an old, heavy, soft-feathered chicken breed which probably originated in China.-Origin:The first recorded imports came from the Langshan District in 1872 and were undertaken by Major F.T...
, and Dark Brahmas
Brahma (chicken)
Brahmas are an Asiatic breed of chicken, originating in the Brahmaputra region in India where they were known as "Gray Chittagongs." Their heritage is unclear, but they are believed to be closely related to the Jungle Fowl and the Cochin....
. White Jersey Giants arrived many years later during the year 1947. The Black Jersey Giants are averaging a pound heavier than the White Jersey Giants. For a time, they raised as capon
Capon
A capon is a rooster that has been castrated to improve the quality of its flesh for food.-History:The Romans are credited with inventing the capon. The Lex Faunia of 162 BC forbade fattening hens in order to conserve grain rations. In order to get around this the Romans castrated roosters, which...
s and as broilers by the meat industry, they grow much slower than today's more common meat birds, and are thus not widely used in the industry any longer.
In Europe the breed fell out of favour to such an extent that they nearly became extinct, however in the mid 80's a breeder in the UK: Sam Hay in Shropshire located the last surviving trio and decided to save them. He built up some stock but was they were suffering the ill effects of inbreeding and so he was very fortunate to find out that Dutch Chicken breeder Jaap Beekman had the last few Jersey Giants in The Netherlands. The two were able to share stock and reintroduce the breed to both countries. Within a few years Jersey Giants were regular winners at rare breed poultry shows. http://www.nederlandsepluimveesoc.com/Jersey%20Giant.html
Jersey Giants went extinct in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the 1950s, only a few decades after they were introduced to Australia.
They lay extra-large brown to dark brown eggs, and lay fairly well for being a large breed. There is also a newer color variation known as the Blue Jersey Giants. Jersey Giants are extremely friendly, as they are good with pets, they like people, and the cocks are rarely aggressive.