Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Beekissed]

If I had to try to find the WR without having an actual WR? Kathy's Delawares would be the closest thing to them...but from what I hear they even excel past the WRs.

It would be great if she could give us a post on her birds with some pics and history of the breed but I'm sure she is really busy right now. From what Fred tells me, they are the best of the best in what makes a chicken.

 

[Pozees]

If I had to try to find the WR without having an actual WR? Kathy's Delawares would be the closest thing to them...but from what I hear they even excel past the WRs.

It would be great if she could give us a post on her birds with some pics and history of the breed but I'm sure she is really busy right now. From what Fred tells me, they are the best of the best in what makes a chicken.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Fred, Bee, and all other WR fans - if you could not have white chickens would another color Rock be your first choice, or is there another breed you feel is closer to the collection of attributes that is the WR?

Short answer to your question? No. Not exactly like the good White Rocks. Nothing else is a White Rock and I've no idea why that it is so.

 

[Fred's Hens]

But remember, I've no experience with the Buffs, Partridge, etc. I've also had no experience with a true Delaware either. So many possible good birds, so little time.

 

[Pozees]

But remember, I've no experience with the Buffs, Partridge, etc. I've also had no experience with a true Delaware either. So many possible good birds, so little time.

Ain't it the truth?

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Wooohoo !!!! Congrats

I hope to be posting a pic like this soon

 

[Beekissed]

IMO, the other Plymouth Rock varieties aren't a bit like the White variety. I currently have the BR and the PR and they as different as night and day in build, hardiness and performance...of course that all varies with the genetic line of origin also, so that isn't a definitive assessment of those breeds.

 

[Mountain Momma]

IMO, the other Plymouth Rock varieties aren't a bit like the White variety. I currently have the BR and the PR and they as different as night and day in build, hardiness and performance...of course that all varies with the genetic line of origin also, so that isn't a definitive assessment of those breeds.

I thought the dissection was very interesting. I'm not sure what was the agreed upon cause of death though....

I have common hatch chickens but I finally found out where the second batch came from, Estes Hatchery here in Estes Park Colorado. Min shipment is 250 or pick up smaller orders.
Of those I have the Americaunas, Astrolops and I think two plymouth rocks. The others that I had gotten at Big R are from Privett? Hatchery and of those I got mostly plymouth rocks. All of the plym rocks seem the same to me in that they are great at getting to the food fast and holding onto it, large sized in general, peaceful and good layers. If WR chickens are better than these that is saying a lot.

The problem chicken I just took in is also a plymouth rock. The PR one I traded is already a member of her new flock, fitting in nicely causing no disturbance. The one I took has had it rough for a couple days but now seems to be fitting in and is getting her spunk back. She roosted on the lowest roost last night. She also healed fast where the peck on her comb was. I have nu stock on order at the feed supply, wont be in till next week but I already had a powder to stop bleeding in livestock so I used what I had.

Im still confused on the bussle look that is preferred. I understand the tent but most of my chickens have very fluffy bussles that fluff out on the sides a good bit. They seem wide and motherly rather than svelt and girlish, as the ones in the photos seemed to me. So I want to believe the motherly look is good but its not what im hearing!!!!

L

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

I'm happy to hear the positive reviews of the WR after I had two die this summer... Extremely healthy birds up until the end. My farrier, who has some WRs kept commenting on his visits about how big and healthy my two girls were. Around the end of July, one started hanging out by herself, tail down. After 2-3 days of this (and me giving her a couple of warm baths with hopes of relaxing her to move the egg I just knew was stuck), yellow eggy poos, and significant weight loss, I decided to cull her the next morning and put her in a dog crate by herself, in case she was contagious. Woke up the next morning to a dead chicken. Should have killed her the night before, and I felt ridiculously stupid for that one. Never again. Anyways, husband and I did our own little necropsy. Interesting, having never seen a healthy bird besides the pics I looked up online to help me out,it was completely fruitless. Wish I would have known/thought to take pics and post them here. Didn't find an egg, or gross egg mass, which is what I expected. Did however discover that she had virtually no eggs in her ovaries, so she would have been a poor layer anyways. Also, her whole reproductive system seemed "off" in color - a grayish black in some places - so we determined cancer. Have no idea if thats what it really was, but that's what we decided.

Second WR fell of the roost in the middle of the night. Assumed heart attack, but didn't have time that morning to necropsy so we buried her. She was still her normal, healthy weight when found dead.

Anyways, prior to reading about the OT experience with the WR, I was determined to never own another. May change my mind. I love my barred rock though. Also, mine were hatchery birds purchased at TSC at the end of Feb. If there's a Next time, I'll try for better quality

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

Unrelated question...
On my way to work, a chicken breeding facility seems to have popped up within the last few weeks. What caught my eye was that in the dozen or so cages scattered around the person's backyard amidst the dozen or so cages of purebred dogs I'm sure he's puppy milling, there are 2 hens and one rooster in each, all game birds. I've been watching closely for new developments, and today it was there: blue 55 gallon drum with a hole cut in it, and a game rooster tethered to it's side. Seriously, not ten yards from the road. Think there is some illicit activity going on here, (and the guy has some serious guts to advertise right alongside the road) or am I overreacting to a simple breeding facility? Any good reasons to tether a rooster?

As I contemplate the phone calls I'll be making tomorrow regarding this setup, I'd love to hear your opinions. I've not been part of the chicken world for very long, and never intend to be a part of the underground (or not-so, in this case) aspect of it.

Thanks
Nikki