The Jersey giant breed undoubtedly stands out among its relatives, being the most massive meat breed in the world. It appeared almost 100 years ago, but in our area has not yet received its proper distribution. Let's get acquainted with this not very ordinary and extremely successful variety of chickens and the rules of its maintenance.

The history of the breed

The history of the Jersey giant began in 1915 in the state of New Jersey (USA), where it was obtained by breeder Uham Dexter. The breed was formed by crossing chickens of Brama, Black Java, Black Langshan and Orpington. According to some assumptions, breeders Thomas and John Black worked on it a little earlier, crossing massive hens of dark colors.The result of all the work was the largest meat breed of chickens today. The first representatives of the Jersey giant were black, but from the moment they got to England in 1921, European experts began to work on a variety of colors. The result of which was the appearance in Britain of white individuals, and in Germany - blue framed.

General characteristics

The Jersey giant does not stand out with its striking exterior, but it is often in the spotlight due to its noticeable massive addition.

Appearance

Did you know? Chickens are the most common birds on Earth. Their images are found on coins of 16 countries, and the rooster is unofficially considered the national bird of two countries - France and Kenya.

Productive qualities

Representatives of the breed grow quite quickly, their most active development occurs in the first 5-6 months of life. If the chickens are bred for meat, then they are usually slaughtered in the sixth month, otherwise the content of birds becomes disadvantageous.

Photo gallery

Temperament

Despite the presence of fighting roosters among the ancestors, the Jersey chickens are quite balanced and flexible. Unlike most other breeds, they are not shy, calmly tolerate stress, and do not lose egg production.

Giants are quite active, mobile and like to walk in the open air, despite their impressive weight. At the same time, large dimensions and some slowness do not allow them to fly beyond the boundaries of the aviary.

Advantages and disadvantages

• The Jersey giant has many undoubted advantages:
• • accelerated weight gain;
  • a large yield of meat;
  • good offspring survival;
  • unpretentiousness to external conditions;
  • good resistance to ailments;
  • good egg production;
  • good instinct of incubation;
  • peaceful disposition.

• The main disadvantages of the breed are associated with the impressive weight of the birds:
• • increased feed consumption;
  • the need for a vast living space;
  • damage to eggs under the weight of laying hens;
  • tendency to excess fat;
  • deterioration in the taste of meat in individuals older than a year.

Did you know? The longest documented chicken flight was as long as 13 seconds. And the chicken champion among the centenarians can boast of its record 14 years of life!

Features of keeping at home

Jersey giants are quite unpretentious and care for them is available even to beginners in poultry farming.

Chicken coop

For representatives of this breed, it is necessary to arrange a clean, bright and very spacious chicken coop. Its size is taken depending on the number of chickens in the herd, with 1 square. a meter of area can be no more than two birds. The most comfortable temperature in the room for birds is + 10 ... + 12 ° C, its drop to +5 ° C is permissible, but not for long.

In the chicken coop organized natural and artificial lighting at the rate of 10 square meters. meters of area should be served by at least 1 medium-power bulb. Windows, in addition to glass, are equipped with a lattice with medium-sized cells.The room provides good exhaust ventilation for the removal of ammonia released by droppings. A soft litter of straw, hay and sawdust with a height of 15–20 cm is laid on the floor. To maintain this level, it is necessary to periodically add material to the litter. And regularly clean to maintain cleanliness and comfort.

Perches and nests are located low above the floor (about 40-50 cm), so that accidentally falling, this fairly massive bird does not get injured. In the nests, slopes for eggs are arranged so that heavy hens do not crush them with their bodies.

Walking patio

Organization of walking is needed to maintain motor activity and healthy development of birds. The Jersey giant tolerates our winters well, so chickens can walk even in frosty weather. However, in the coldest weather, it is better to lubricate their paws and scallops with goose fat or petroleum jelly to prevent frostbite.

The area of ​​the enclosure is taken at the rate of 0.5–1 sq. meters per individual. Since the representatives of this breed are quite massive and can not take off very much, a low fence can be made in the aviary. If the farm also has smaller breeds of chickens, it is better to arrange a fence higher.In the warm season, birds enjoy eating everything that they find in the aviary - grass, insects, worms and larvae. Thus, walking significantly reduces the cost of feed and vitamin supplements.

Feeding troughs, drinking bowls, zone baths

Drinking bowls and feeders in the chicken coop are mounted just above the floor so that they are convenient to use, but the birds did not climb into the tank. It is convenient to place them between perches and nests a little closer to the wall in order to have convenient access to food and water from anywhere in the chicken coop.

Important! Despite the type of drinking bowl installed, it should be kept clean - periodically wash, disinfect and change water. This will avoid the possible spread of infections.

It is important that all birds can access the feed at the same time. Typically, for 20 individuals, a feeder is installed with dimensions: length - 110 cm, width - 24 cm, height - about 13 cm. The young feeder should have lower lateral edges. Since birds love to scatter grain, the feeder should not be filled more than a third.

In addition, a separate tank is provided with mineral additives - sand, chalk, shell rock. And green food can be given in a suspended mesh bucket or a separate feeder with a wall sloping down.

Any convenient containers are used as drinking bowls, the main thing is that chickens clog them to a minimum. For chickens, it is good to install ordinary vacuum drinkers.Also in the chicken coop you need to provide ash baths for bathing birds and treating them from pests. It can be any wide and low capacities, possibly a wooden box. As a filler, sand and wood ash are used, previously aged in a dry place for at least three months.

Season molt and egg laying break

Shedding chickens is a common and regular phenomenon that begins during a decrease in daylight hours and lasts no more than two months. During this period, egg laying is significantly reduced or even completely stopped. Since this is a completely natural process, you should not worry. At the end of the molt, the level of egg production is fully restored, and the hens continue to lay eggs even in winter.

Age problems and herd replacement

Since the breed is usually used as a source of meat and its content over 12-18 months is unprofitable, most breeders try to breed their offspring every year. Moreover, the meat of the Jersey giant from the second year of life worsens its taste and becomes tough.As for egg production, healthy laying hens have been actively laying eggs for about three years, but productivity can be expected to decrease from fatty individuals in a year.

What to feed

Nutrition of individuals of different ages has its own characteristics.

Adult chickens

Chickens are fed 2-3 times a day with high-quality compound feed with the addition of shell rock, limestone and chalk. The standard diet has the following ratio:

• corn - 40%;
• wheat - 40%;
• meal, cake, shell rock, chalk, vitamin supplements - 20%.

In the summer, when walking, the hens themselves will provide themselves with the necessary vitamins and minerals, and diversify their diet.Another food option is ready-made feed. However, most of them are designed for egg-laying chickens and help to stimulate egg production. Therefore, you can give feed made for young animals. They are well saturated with proteins and calcium and will help chickens gain weight quickly. In parallel with compound feeds, in winter you need to add greens and chopped vegetables.

It is also necessary to equip separate feeders, where sand or crushed limestone is filled. They are an excellent source of calcium and have a good effect on the functioning of the digestive tract. This is especially important if the birds consume whole non-steamed grains.

Important! A large amount of chalk can lead to clogging of the gastrointestinal tract, therefore it should be given with caution and not replaced with shell rock.

Chickens

In the first three days of life, babies are necessarily given a crushed steep egg yolk. At first, many birds have no appetite, because some goat food from the original egg still remains in the goiter. But despite the lack of appetite, they constantly need clean and warm water (about 45-50 ° C).

From the second day the diet is gradually expanding. Chicks are offered a mixture of finely ground wheat or corn grits along with chopped boiled vegetables. Wet agitators are also provided, consisting of green feed, vegetables and milk waste.The diet of the chicks should contain proteins (from the 4th day of life - meat or fish meal), root crops, roughage (meal and cake), calcium supplements (chalk or grated egg shells). On the first day, the feed volume is about 20 g, but gradually by the age of two months the feathered reaches a full amount - 180-200 g per day.

The Jersey giant has excellent productive characteristics, excellent stamina and a calm temperament. Today it is one of the most promising breeds for our territory, and from its representatives one can expect both a large amount of tasty meat and very good egg production.