Javas are valued for their dual-purpose characteristics. Though they are slow-growing compared to the [[broiler]]s used by the commercial chicken industry today, they produce a good carcass. Hens lay a respectable amountnumber of large, brown eggs and will go broody. Javas are particularly known as good foragers, needing less supplementary feed than many breeds when allowed to [[free range]].<ref name="Dougherty 2007">{{harvnb|Dougherty|2007}}</ref> Like many large breeds, they are known to be docile in temperament, and hardy in inclement weather. In general, Javas are particularly suitable for keepers of smaller flocks who require a good dual-purpose chicken.<ref name="Dougherty 2007"/><ref name="Ekarius 2007 92">{{harvnb|Ekarius|2007|p=92}}</ref>
