In the late 1800s, New Jersey breeders created a chicken designed to rival the turkey’s meatiness. The massive Black Jersey Giant was the result of merging the genetics of several large breeds. Later, the White Jersey Giant was created. They grow slowly but eventually are a third larger than most other heavy breeds. These birds are ideal for anyone wanting an impressive hen that lays about 240 extra-large brown eggs annually. Adults weigh 9 to 11 pounds. It can take up to nine months for this bird to fill out its meaty proportions.
| Temperament | Weight | Eggs per Year | Egg Size | Egg Color | Cold Hardy | Heat Hardy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Docile, Easy going | 8-9 lbs | 240 | Extra Large | Brown | Yes | Yes |
| Temperament | Docile, Easy going |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8-9 lbs |
| Eggs per Year | 240 |
| Egg Size | Extra Large |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Cold Hardy | Yes |
| Heat Hardy | Yes |
Black Jersey Giant
Black Jersey Giants have black plumage that has a beetle green sheen in the sunlight. Their featherless legs are black, but the bottoms of their feet are yellow. A unique characteristic of the Jersey Giant is that each foot has four toes. Baby chicks have black down feathers with grey to yellow on their underbellies and wings. They have dark-colored legs and beaks.
White Jersey Giant
Adult White Jersey Giants have beautiful solid white feathers with a bright red waddle and comb. This large bird will stand out in any flock. Chicks have different hues of smoky grey in their downy yellow feathers.
Blue Jersey Giant
Blue Jersey Giants, like their Black counterparts, are one of the largest and most impressive breeds of chicken. Their large, imposing size combined with their beautiful blue feathers makes the Blue Jersey Giant truly a one-of-a-kind bird. They are slow maturing, taking about 6 months to reach their full size and are moderate layers of brown eggs.