Morning everyone....here is an email I received from a man that I gave a few of my extra Ohio CR cockerels to
Well I took one of the cockerels I got from you to the show in Jefferson this weekend, he won best of variety and best of breed, though it was by default, there were no other standard plymouth rocks there. I would have just been happy not to get a DQ. I did get to speak to the judge, Tim Bowles, he said he raises them as well and to my surprise he thought the color was still a bit too light, and he was undersized, he said he has the same problem with his birds. Size wasn't a surprise, but reading the SOP I thought my bird had a bit darker under color, and a bit more black on the wing bay than called for. He told me that breeding to a white rock would improve size and keep most of your color, and what little you would loose in color would be easier to breed back into the line. He mentioned that breeding to a light brahma was also an option for improving color, then breeding selectively for type and clean leg. He also mentioned the brassiness on the back, but I believe that is as much from red clay and sunshine, not so much genetic. He said he was a great bird, he wasn't trying to down the bird, but I specifically asked for constructive criticism.
I knew that this line was on the small size, but the comment about being "too light in color" throws me a bit. I have asked him to clarify if the judge was commenting on the top color or the undercolor.
In either case, in the Columbian pattern
How can the top color be too light? And what do you do to improve it?
I understand the undercolor being too light and I have means to improve that.
REMEMBER, this was not one of the Canadian birds being judged, but the line I have from Ohio, obtained prior to the the Canadian trio
Thanks...
Scott