Jersey Giant Chicken

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The Black and White Jersey Giant Chickens are true to their name, as they are the largest capon table birds produced in the US.  The Jersey Giant was developed in New Jersey in the 1870s by crossing several large, Asiatic breeds, to meet the demand for caponized heavy fowl.  The Black Jersey Giant has yellow skin, black plumage that has a green sheen and dark brown eyes.  The White Giant Jersey variety was developed from the Black Giants and is a large bird with white plumage, dark brown eyes and yellow skin.

Both the White and Black Jersey Giants produce brown to dark brown eggs even through the cold winter.  Because it takes time to grow their large frame, they have little meat until about six months.  With such a long growth period, these chickens often lose out in the industry to more rapidly growing birds. Currently, there are fewer than 5000 breeding birds for both the Black and White Jersey Giants in the US.

Sources

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
P.O. Box 477
Pittsboro, NC 27312
919-542-5704
http://www.albc-usa.org

Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities
Dr. Charles R.H. Everett, Secretary-Treasurer
1057 Nick Watts Road
Lugoff, SC 29078
803-960-2114
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/SPPA/SPPA.html

Sand Hill Preservation Center
Glenn Drowns
1878 230th Street
Calamas, IA
563-246-2299
http://www.sandhillpreservation.com

Find Producers on LocalHarvest

http://www.localharvest.org/ark-product.jsp?id=166