As a keeper and breeder of Bared Rocks for half a century, the issues described on this thread fail to take into account that what 99.9 percent of the people speak about are hatchery birds.
Why does that matter? First, most of the hatchery stock is impure. They are smaller, much more Leghorn looking in appearance, with much messier barring then they should be and there's a reason for that. They are production birds. Just like the production reds versus the true bred Rhode Island Red, the poor Barred Rocks from most hatcheries lay upward of 280 eggs per year. How did that huge increase in laying come about when Barred Rocks from the early 1900's only laid 160 eggs per year? Since barring is dominant, these birds appear to look like Barred Rocks, but they have had things hidden in their mix to increase their laying and to provide feather sexing. This changes the personality of the original birds.
Second, hatcheries mass breed, for it is mass production rather then selective breeding. In a pen where there are 100 roosters and 1000 hens, the right to breed and re-produce will fall to the most aggressive and ornery cockbird. Breed like this, and they do, for generation upon generation and eventually the majority of the roosters can inherit this aggressive, ornery state of mind.
I am sorry that folks form such bad opinions of a Rhode Island Red or Barred Rock, when in truth, they've never really owned a true bred, bred to standard, heritage bird of either breed.
With hatchery stock, you've got to weed through them. You've got to find that one in 10 that is still natured as the creators of these wonderful breeds intended them be. Send the rest to freezer camp.
When people read on a chart somewhere about temperament, the description of a Barred Rock being docile is untrustworthy because that description only fits the original type.
Why does that matter? First, most of the hatchery stock is impure. They are smaller, much more Leghorn looking in appearance, with much messier barring then they should be and there's a reason for that. They are production birds. Just like the production reds versus the true bred Rhode Island Red, the poor Barred Rocks from most hatcheries lay upward of 280 eggs per year. How did that huge increase in laying come about when Barred Rocks from the early 1900's only laid 160 eggs per year? Since barring is dominant, these birds appear to look like Barred Rocks, but they have had things hidden in their mix to increase their laying and to provide feather sexing. This changes the personality of the original birds.
Second, hatcheries mass breed, for it is mass production rather then selective breeding. In a pen where there are 100 roosters and 1000 hens, the right to breed and re-produce will fall to the most aggressive and ornery cockbird. Breed like this, and they do, for generation upon generation and eventually the majority of the roosters can inherit this aggressive, ornery state of mind.
I am sorry that folks form such bad opinions of a Rhode Island Red or Barred Rock, when in truth, they've never really owned a true bred, bred to standard, heritage bird of either breed.
With hatchery stock, you've got to weed through them. You've got to find that one in 10 that is still natured as the creators of these wonderful breeds intended them be. Send the rest to freezer camp.
When people read on a chart somewhere about temperament, the description of a Barred Rock being docile is untrustworthy because that description only fits the original type.
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