The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[LindaB220]

That's what I've heard! If that's a good thing, this year's hatch has it in spades! Way more than those in the fall hatch, that's for sure. Guess breeding the big boy over his daughters must intensify that effect.

Bee,I love those pictures. Very healthy babies. All that roaming that the mothers did

 

[uphilljill]

The 5 week olds are feathering in nicely and settling in to their grow out pen.

 

[uphilljill]

And 31 two week olds moved from the basement to a bigger brooder stall in the barn. The seem to enjoy the extra space to stretch their wings.

 

[Beekissed]

Jill, those are some really good looking youngsters! Very bright and vigorous acting. I like their height and length of their bodies. Can't wait to see them all grown up!

 

[uphilljill]

The Broodies also had their chicks out today:

 

[uphilljill]

Thanks! I can't wait either I think I'm done hatching for the year, so now I just watch em grow.

 

[Beekissed]

That's where I am too....just watching them grow and trying to pick out the ones that are more exceptional than the others as they walk by. Right now they are too little for any big differences to start showing but there are a few that are larger, have a slightly deeper chest and wider stance already that I like the looks of.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Questions for the Silver Penciled breeders:

The chicks hatched with distinct difference of relatively half being considerably more silver. Especially noticeable as they are growing out resulting in brown heads vs. silver heads, silver birds having lighter body color (overall wider silver markings and dark areas being black/charcoal) but still some brownish hue in sections. Brown heads having wide brown and thinner silver with gold hue pattern. I know the difference of patterns for sexes at a months growth, not confusing that.

Originally assumed it was likely a sex linked trait but this is not the case so have been searching the net for information only to find a few others noting the difference in chick coloring and little else. For those of you breeding silver to silver are you getting a difference in chick coloring? If you are how do the different original chick colors end result in the different cocks an hens? Browns and gold being a cull for adult plumage is this something you can predict direct from hatch?

If this is not a typical result from silver to silver matings it very well could be half the eggs were a silver cock to partridge female for type improvement or added vigor. In the net search I've been doing I found a breeder who does partridge and silver crossing and keeps both varieties. His F1 birds will brown and gold hue (not full gold as resulting males of partridge cock over silver hen would be) and need to go under a full silver cock for full silver F2 chicks.

Spit-balling here and looking for any insight.

 

[uphilljill]

Let the 6 weeks old outside for the first time today:

 

[Beekissed]

Jill, they look great! Nice, big birds, meaty looking already!

I just let my last set of chicks out of the broody pen, they are about a week old. They look like kids out of school! Their mama had to fight with the other broody mamas but they settled it and everyone is out ranging peacefully now.