Ark of Taste
Jersey Giant Chicken
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.