Are heritage Barred Rocks worth waiting/paying extra for?

[MysteryChicken]

Pictures! love pictures!
Mary

Okay, here you go.

 

[DouglasB]

Hey all. We are getting ready to start our 2nd year of backyard chicken farming and I have a question about heritage barred rocks. To make a long story short, we purchased 6 chickens last year that were supposed to be all barred rocks. There was a mixup at the hatchery and we got 2 BR and 4 black sex links. Of the barred rock, one is female and one is male. The female is a little runt of a thing, or so I assume, since I have nothing else to compare it to. It isn't the big dual purpose bird that I was expecting. Is this due to it being a "production" bird and not a heritage? We would like to start raising chicks for dual production, but I'm not sure it will be worthwhile if this is the size of a normal BR.

Is there an actual difference between the heritage BR and what I would get at a hatchery? If so, are there any suggestions on where I could get some heritage BR online?

Barred rock

 

[Folly's place]

Very nice! Love the tight barring, handsome birds.
Mary

 

[MysteryChicken]

Very nice! Love the tight barring, handsome birds.
Mary

Thanks. I love them very much.

 

[whitenack]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a pest on terminology.

You weren't being a pest! I appreciate the correction. The devil is in the details.

Have you considered any other breeds for dual purpose? My hatchery Sussex are heftier than my hatchery Rocks and I'm sure there are other breeds that be suitable.

I love Plymouth Rocks, but there are larger birds out there. Is there a reason you want to stick with Rocks?

As a newer chicken owner, try some other breeds that look interesting too. Henderson's Breed Chart and feathersite are good places to scan, and the Livestock breed Conservancy. There are so many choices!!!
Hatchery stock will vary, often tending towards smaller birds, because egg production is most important when the business is selling chicks. Show breeders may focus on looks, and ignore egg production qualities. Ask the breeder, if you are going for show quality birds.
We've been very happy with our Cackle chicks, over several years, and multiple breeds. Murray McMurray has been good too. If there's a hatchery close to where you live, see what they offer.
Your approximate location helps; cold weather of hot all year? Breed choices will vary.
Mary

Yeah, I think that is what I need to do. My son really likes the BR, so that is what we have been focusing on, but maybe we can get a couple of other breeds (I like the Buff Orpingtons).
In order to protect the local "hatchery", I won't tell you my specific location, but let's just say I live in a place that gets it all...hot/humid summers and cold winters. I need birds that can handle both.

 

[Folly's place]

So many choices!
Speckled Sussex, Easter Eggers, French Marans, Buckeyes, Chanteclers, Australorps, Plymouth Rocks in other colors, Wyandottes, just to start.
Mary

 

[3KillerBs]

Before Cornish X, Delawares were the favored broiler breed.

Though I'm told that finding the heritage, broiler-type Delawares can be difficult.

 

[edgarmongold]

What hatchery did you order from?
It seems you got the bottom of the barrel in terms of even hatchery birds, which are smaller than breeder birds.
Depending on what you want them for, (breeding for sustained eggs and meat) it could be worth it to you.
Barred rocks aren't a breed, Barred is the color, Plymouth Rock is the breed and they come in about 7 colors/patterns.
Heritage Rocks are maybe slightly meatier, but the main difference is their feathering pattern. Plymouth Rocks are not huge chickens, hens are about 4-5 lbs, Roos are 6-7, maybe 8.

Standard weight for Plymouth Rock large fowl
Cocks 9.5
Hens 7.5
Cockerels 8
Pullets 6

 

[edgarmongold]

Heritage breeds are more marketing than the strains that meet the guidelines set.
Almost all hatchery Barred Rock large fowl stretch to call any of their breeds Hertiage.
Try The Livestock Conservancy for defining qualities

 

[MysteryChicken]

Heritage breeds are more marketing than the strains that meet the guidelines set.
Almost all hatchery Barred Rock large fowl stretch to call any of their breeds Hertiage.
Try The Livestock Conservancy for defining qualities

Meyer's is different, so you can't say that about all hatcheries.

Have you seen the birds I posted.