WINSTON WEEKLY

August 30, 2026

Vol. 4, No. 35

CHUNKY CHICKENS[1]

Though I hesitated to use the word “chunky” to describe the Jersey Giant chicken, the chickens are two to three times the average size of the “backyard chicken.” Developed by John and Thomas Black of Burlington County, New Jersey in the late 1890s as an alternative to the traditional turkey table bird, the Jersey Giant was recognized by the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection in 1922. A variety of Black Javas, Black Langshans, and Dark Brahmas were used in developing the Jersey Giant. With a signature flat back and a short tail, their feathers are a beautiful black-green sheen.

Following the debut of the black Jersey Giant, white giants were recognized in 1947, followed by blue giants in 2003. Before one envisions a Smurf-like bird, the blue is more gray than blue. Although there is a bantam form of the breed, males reach an average of 13-15 pounds, and females often weigh in at 10 pounds. Hens lay between 150 to 200 large brown eggs annually. Preferring cooler climates, the friendly chunks are known for cuddling with their caretakers and rarely take flight due to their size. Their chatter is high-pitched, sounding more like a dove than a chicken.

Given their size, they require large nests and coops with shorter perches to avoid joint damage. They also need plenty of food during their life span of five to eight years. Unlike some chickens, they are good companions to their own flock and even welcome other breeds.

WEEKLY ACTIVITY

Take the “chunky chicken challenge” and see how many words you can create out of the letters in “chunky chicken” or create a maximum number of rhyming words from each word such as “hunky” and “thicken.”

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[1]Winston Weekly is a weekly blog and newsletter by Alysen Bayles of Bayles Connect: “Learn, live, love, read.” Resources: Gail Damerow, Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, Storey Publishing, 2017. Jersey Giant Chicken, The Livestock Conservancy, www.livestockconservancy.org; www.backyardchickens.com;