Recent content by racertomtom

  1. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders Thread- Part Deux

    The hen in post #2 does not have incomplete barring, she is a cockerel bred female (from a cockerel line). Along with plenty of solid black feathers in her plumage, her black bars are a little too wide. That is exactly what you want to breed to a show quality male to produce excellent color. The...
  2. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders Thread- Part Deux

    Hello, I'm looking to build up some stock to get back into Barreds. I'm intrigued with the cross you are working on and would like to buy some of your culls after you sort your flock this year, if you would be interested. I'm near Marion, IL, Not sure where North-Central IL is. Keep up the good...
  3. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    I'm embarrassed to post these pics but I might as well show everyone that experienced breeders screw up too. I chased this hen all over the farm in an attempt to get a good picture, didn't work. This girl was the dam of the heritage project, my attempt to bring Barreds to the table in a timely...
  4. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    Joe is correct, this can't "just happen". The females weren't cleaned out before collecting eggs or a male from another bread jumped the fence.
  5. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    I’ve backed up a year more than once when I saw what the cocks and hens looked like as opposed to the same batch of cockerels and pullets. That might be the best Columbian I’ve seen. I particularly like the wide and long back. That bird is what I consider moderately long. If the bird had...
  6. racertomtom

    A Heritage of Perfection: Standard-bred Large Fowl

    I very rarely but occasionally see split breasts in Barred Plymouth Rocks. Oddly enough, it seems that one side of the breast will develop and the other side doesn’t. I have no experience in breeding it as it’s obviously not desirable in Rocks. I simply cull the bird, which I would prefer to do...
  7. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    This is very steadfast advice. Being a breeder is a challenge of patients. Remember that even though an adequate table fowl at 6-7 months is important, and many cockerels may pass him by then, the goal is a nice fully grown cockerel which will take 12-13 months. I’ll take it a step farther and...
  8. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    That line amazes me. How old is that guy? It seems like I always have cockerel or pullet years, never 50/50.
  9. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    I just put my last set in the incubator tonight. I've been hatching weekly and have never hatched in June before much less July. Plenty of water, free range and shade and mine will hopefully be OK (I'm not in Tucson). I've been playing a numbers game this year to regain some selection plus some...
  10. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    I agree with the intended point of the post. 75% of a line when out crossing or 75% of a male/female when line breeding does not mean that 75% of the offspring’s genes came from that gene pool. I do think however, that more than a hundred years of selective breeding practices have proven that it...
  11. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    I am assuming the GS line was a slow maturing line even with vigor restored. I’ll be watching the GS/Stukel and GS/Duckworth birds very closely. Your progress has been very impressive, especially with the fast maturing traits that you apparently got from the Main line (looking at aoxa’s line)...
  12. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    75/25 x 75/25 = 75/25 75/25 x 25/75 = 50/50
  13. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    Outstanding! Clayton, Are you getting grey or brown chicks out of your SP pens?
  14. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    I'd like to see a picture of that female behind him. Breeding for vigor? When you read old breed books, how to raise poultry etc. it always starts with choosing birds “full of vigor” or “vigorous birds”. Why is that? Vigor - physical strength and good health. synonyms: robustness, health...
  15. racertomtom

    The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

    I might have asked XW what chick starter he uses and sorted that out before the chicks arrived. Personally, I use an animal based medicated starter that’s at least 18% protein as I’ve experienced crooked toes on cockerels using 16% soy based feed.
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