Since this thread gotten derailed....I have to ask, what was the purpose/reason for developing a bird with no neck feathers??!! They do look odd to me....ever wondered if they can get sunburned??
Aoxa, I cant tell too much from this picture, but compared to a lot of Rocks I see 2 things on him that impress me:
1. Wing carriage almost horizontal, seems to be an issue in this variety but his is very nice
2. From the rear anyway, he seems to have a nice wide skull. Stay focused on...
Donna,
Are your cock/erels being exposed to additional light? I've read in many places that the male needs a certain amount of light for the sperm to mature properly. I am currently using 3 males and I have yet to get an infertile egg....lights come on a 4am, off at 830am. My youngest male...
I'd breed him to the his siblings (individually) and also the the 2 unrelated girls. Toe punch each according to the pairing so you know which pair it came from. Cull ruthlessly for any defects
I am going to breed siblings this yr as it is a good way to consolidate "good traits"
If anyone is interested, I have posted eggs for sale in the BST section
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/848579/columbian-plymouth-rock-hatching-eggs-exhibition-quality
Get a few saddles for the ones that are the "favorites" of the boys. You WANT a rooster with a strong desire to breed, so just cover up the backs of the hens and all will be good.
I have one girl here (her name is Madea) and she is the "odd ball"....she is a black rock and is the only one I...
Jeff
I think the biggest problem with pullet eggs is those that are set "shortly after" a pullet first begins laying.....eggs tend to be a bit smaller and I found that those tend to have hatchability issues. After a pullet has laid for a month or so, that issue doesn't seem to be as bad IF...
...and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road...
SARAH PALIN: BECAUSE, PRAISE JESUS, I WAS GONNA SHOOT HIS SORRY LIBERAL *** OFF FOR BLOCKING MY VIEW OF RUSSIA!
HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road.
This...
I dont know about your other questions, but if you use a barred male, since they carry 2 copies of the barring gene, females will be barred in some capacity
...and Jeff, I might have misspoken way back concerning autosomnal red. I've been told the brassiness is a result of a lacking inhibitor Aph~I which is what I'm trying to bring in via an exhibition quality barred rock