Java Chickens - The Heart of High Ground Farm

I started keeping chickens over 40 years ago, But in 1999 my focus became the Java Chicken. Fueled by a article in Mother Earth about being endangered Java, I waited over a year for the first Chicks. They were hatched as a collaboration project between Garfield farm in the Midwest and the museum of science in industry in Chicago. Somehow, through thick and thin, Ihave a managed to keep a closed flock of Black Java Chickens Since. 

Grazing on pasture, foraging for food With their vigorous scratching and pecking, they Are at home amongst the 150 year-old oaks. Java Chickens are part of Sustainability. As a steward of Java Chickens, the land, Historic architecture, wildlife, And foliage, I have delighted and keeping them at the center. 

Excellent mothers, the hens become broody many times a year. They hatch and raise their chicks,  teaching them As early as two weeks, to get on a roof pole! Grazing on Pasture,  forging for food with their vigorous scratching and pecking, vigilant roosters Stand guard as the Hens forage. The roosters are gentle giants. Standing taller than my knee they are gentle with people. (At least I have never had an aggressive rooster!) I hypothesize that aggressive roosters, never made it to breeding as They became table birds!As Homestead birds and aggressive rooster would not have been tolerated.

I have had a few birds live to be 12 years old and still lay an occasional egg. They are hardy and robust. 

After all these years, I still love to watch them. They are beautiful chickens with their black feathers, gleaming beetle, green in the sun.