Violet was a surprise! We had originally ordered a Cochin through Wagon Train Feed & Tack in Orange, CA, but they could not fill the order that week. We were offered several choices, as a replacement, and decided on a Black Jersey Giant.
We were not familiar with this breed, and our research revealed them to be large, docile birds, a bit slow to reach maturity and brown egg layers. They generally are friendly, and get along well with everyone, including pets and other hens. Some owners report their egg production to be a bit lower than other breeds, but agree they make wonderful additions to any flock.
Violet was the tiniest of our first three chicks, but was the friendliest of the three, almost from the very beginning. She seemed to recognize my voice, and always ran up to me, looking up at me with great curiosity.
Her dark, little face made photographing her quite the challenge! But, here she is at 3 days old (4/18/2015).
It didn’t take long for our little “giant” to grow! She developed long legs very quickly, and was the first of the chicks to jump up onto the water and food dispensers. The above photo was taken at 3 weeks (5/7/2015). The photo, below, taken at 4-1/2 weeks (5/16/20), shows almost an entirely differently “look” for this chick. As her feathers started coming in, she developed what I describe as an almost “crow-like” appearance. Notice her tail feathers! I’ve done some research on this tail, and it is rather common on hatchery Giants. I can’t wait to see her as a mature hen (but, I understand Giants grow their frame the first year, and do not actually fill out until the second — sometimes third– year)!
Notice how tall Violet is at 5 weeks (5/20/2015)! She is a lot thinner than her two clutch sisters, but certainly just as tall. She has remained the friendliest of all the chicks, always jumping up on the water dispenser to greet us. She responds to our now-familiar voices and runs toward us for pets.
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| Picture Day: 5/27/2015 Violet @ 6 weeks |
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| Violet has more feathers this week, but remains thin in proportion to her height. |