Chicken Breed Focus - Plymouth Rock

[N F C]

Very nice @Akrnaf2 , beautiful photos!

 

[Akrnaf2]

Very nice @Akrnaf2
, beautiful photos!

Thanks!

 

[Oliver Douglas]

No, I think she was thinking "How do I get this thing into my mouth?"

 

[Oliver Douglas]

I posted this photo elsewhere, but since this is a BR thread, thought it was appropriate....

I have officially gone to the birds.

 

[N F C]

No, I think she was thinking "How do I get this thing into my mouth?"

I love your avatar!! As soon as I saw it, the theme song started playing in my head, lol.

 

[Oliver Douglas]

As far as chickens go, Barred Rocks can be pretty smart. This morning, I went to let the flock of four out to the tractor...they run right in because they see the feeder...one, two, three...only three! Then I heard some noise in the nesting boxes that we had closed off with cardboard and duct tape to prevent them from sleeping in there...opened the door to find one drowsy hen that had decided to sleep in...and slipped past the barrier.

 

[BusyBearMama]

Mine are so clever. Always first to do things and basically always get what we give them because they don't hesitate _ and they can fly fairly well and one likes it in the rafters

 

[TheLaboratoryBF]

· What made you decide to get this breed? I originally wanted a small mixed flock (one Barred Rock, one Buff Orpington, and one Rhode Island Red) as I've never kept chickens before and wanted to get a feel for a variety of breeds (plus I'm in town so didn't want to get too crazy with flock size), but there was a major chick shortage in my area around the time I was looking to start my flock. There were only five two-day old Barred Rock chicks at one feed store within about a 50-mile radius (I drove to and/or called countless places and no one had any other chicks). Barred Rocks were my one "must have" breed because I've always liked the looks of them, so I bought three to start...then felt bad about leaving the last two behind so I went back and got them too...I figured five would give me insurance in case one or two didn't make it or turned out to be roos...All five turned out to be pullets and were quite healthy and growing quickly so I gave two to a co-worker who has acerage and an existing flock (not to mention was already brooding 60 chicks of her own).

· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose? Definitely for fun! I grew up on a farm; had 80 acres that my mom and dad farmed and over the years had many different animals; dogs, cats, horses, snakes (yes, pet snakes), rats, mice (again, pets), but never chickens. I even majored in agriculture in college and now work for USDA but never had any experience with "yard birds". It figures that now that I'm a city dweller I finally have my flock. I'm honestly not even that big of a fan of eggs, but chickens' intelligence and personalities have always intrigued me and I love learning new things...not to mention the free manure and pest removal for my garden.

· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed? I agree with what most have already said; I love their fearlessness and curiosity! My girls are only 10 weeks old but they love exploring the patio, yard, and flowerbeds and are undeterred by sniffing dogs (we have two terriers). They also seem to have no interest in flying (and I'm sure that will decrease even further as they grow and get heavier); I was not looking forward to the possibility of wing clipping. They're fairly neat; I have pine pellets in their coop and run and they don't seem to scratch or fling too much out. They're not overly cuddly, but they don't mind being picked up/handled/petted/popped on the rear end to get them moving along (ok, maybe they do mind that last one).

· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!
Fluffy butts! (Never mind the chicken-like dog toy in the background)


Amy's ready for her closeup!




They've even convinced Eddie the Jack Russell to hunt for grubs!

 

[Chickenchick11]

[COLOR=000000]· [COLOR=000000]What made you decide to get this breed?[/COLOR] [COLOR=000000]I originally wanted a small mixed flock (one Barred Rock, one Buff Orpington, and one Rhode Island Red) as I've never kept chickens before and wanted to get a feel for a variety of breeds (plus I'm in town so didn't want to get too crazy with flock size), but there was a major chick shortage in my area around the time I was looking to start my flock. There were only five two-day old Barred Rock chicks at one feed store within about a 50-mile radius (I drove to and/or called countless places and no one had any other chicks). Barred Rocks were my one "must have" breed because I've always liked the looks of them, so I bought three to start...then felt bad about leaving the last two behind so I went back and got them too...I figured five would give me insurance in case one or two didn't make it or turned out to be roos...All five turned out to be pullets and were quite healthy and growing quickly so I gave two to a co-worker who has acerage and an existing flock (not to mention was already brooding 60 chicks of her own).[/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=000000]· [COLOR=000000]Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?[/COLOR] [COLOR=000000]Definitely for fun! I grew up on a farm; had 80 acres that my mom and dad farmed and over the years had many different animals; dogs, cats, horses, snakes (yes, pet snakes), rats, mice (again, pets), but never chickens. I even majored in agriculture in college and now work for USDA but never had any experience with "yard birds". It figures that now that I'm a city dweller I finally have my flock. I'm honestly not even that big of a fan of eggs, but chickens' intelligence and personalities have always intrigued me and I love learning new things...not to mention the free manure and pest removal for my garden. [/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=000000]· [COLOR=000000]What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?[/COLOR] [COLOR=000000]I agree with what most have already said; I love their fearlessness and curiosity! My girls are only 10 weeks old but they love exploring the patio, yard, and flowerbeds and are undeterred by sniffing dogs (we have two terriers). They also seem to have no interest in flying (and I'm sure that will decrease even further as they grow and get heavier); I was not looking forward to the possibility of wing clipping. They're fairly neat; I have pine pellets in their coop and run and they don't seem to scratch or fling too much out. They're not overly cuddly, but they don't mind being picked up/handled/petted/popped on the rear end to get them moving along (ok, maybe they do mind that last one). [/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=000000]· [COLOR=000000]Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc![/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=000000]Fluffy butts! (Never mind the chicken-like dog toy in the background)[/COLOR]


Amy's ready for her closeup! They've even convinced Eddie the Jack Russell to hunt for grubs!

Awww, so cute!

 

[Emmasoria]

Thanks, I'm looking forward to them starting to lay!