Columbian Rock Questions

[bbond]

So I have six of the cutest little things in my brooder. Got a straight run of them from the farmers co-op. My guestion is, do the males feather out differently that the females in a noticeable way before their initial molt? I have just noticed that two of the bolder chicks have some grey (black?) at the base of their wings. Is this just an undesirable feather pattern for either gender or is it giving a clue? Attached is one that’s more white and one that’s more grey.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

No way to tell gender until they're at least 6-8 weeks old.

 

[bbond]

No way to tell gender until they're at least 6-8 weeks old.

Figured. Just never had them before and wanted to check about the initial coloring.

 

[Alexandra33]

My Columbian Rocks didn't look any different. The big tip-off came after a few weeks, when those little combs began to sprout. Colors like Wheaten, Salmon, and Brassy Back, however, are easy to distinguish between genders before comb/wattle growth.

~Alex

 

[bbond]

My Columbian Rocks didn't look any different. The big tip-off came after a few weeks, when those little combs began to sprout. Colors like Wheaten, Salmon, and Brassy Back, however, are easy to distinguish between genders before comb/wattle growth.

~Alex

Thank you! How were the temperaments of your birds? These seem so sweet and calm. I hope a few turn out to be cuddle bugs.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Too young. Post pics of their combs at 6 weeks.

 

[Alexandra33]

Thank you! How were the temperaments of your birds? These seem so sweet and calm. I hope a few turn out to be cuddle bugs.

You're welcome!

Mine are/were bantams. Overall, the pair turned out quite docile, though slightly reserved. Sounds as though yours may very well be cuddle bugs in the making.

~Alex

 

[drumstick diva]

hope yours stay sweet and calm

 

[GaryDean26]

I have some Columbian Plymouth Rocks. I ordered mine from Cackle hatchery. They are NOT show birds, but I did take a pair to the county fair where our hen was reserve of the Open Show (out of only 35 entries). I spent a ton of time trying to learn how to select for the best color in this variety to get the best pair to take to the show. I only ended up with 2 cockerels and a single pullet out of the 15 chicks that we got from Cackle hatchery that did not have a disqualifying feature on it. So...they are hatchery quality but we did see better results in the 2nd year and do enjoy having them.

First off - the grey at the base of the feathers is correct for the variety. You want the slate under color (i.e. grey fluff under the main feathers). You do not want the white under color.

Second - The coloring on the pullets and the cockerels is the same at hatch and as they start to grow out will be the same until the hackle and the saddle feathers grow in. The hen does not have saddle feathers (it is a male feature) so from her back to her tail will be white. The cockerel will get saddle feather (with pointed tips) and they should have the black lacing at the nd of their back before the tail feathers. The hackle feathers on the cockerel are also pointed where the hen's hackle feathers are rounded on the end.

Third - I got some chicks that were almost black, some that were almost white, and some that were grey. I talked to a breeder of Colombian Wyandotts and she said you have to keep some of all three types in your breeding program and said that she breed the nearly black cockerels to the nearly white pullets. I read commentaries on the breed from the early founders of the breed and they had their own thoughts on breeding strategies. I decided to NOT keep any of the hens that were nearly white. Both the pullets and the cockerel that hatch nearly white failed to get thick black lacing black lacing on their hackles. The lacing was really pale and washed out. I didn't keep any black pullets either. they came through with too much black lacing to where they would get black on their back and breasts too. I only kept hens that were well balanced in color (grey chicks). One of the breeders that was a pioneer in the breed said that you start by adding the color (i.e. black) and then work to remove it from where it doesn't belong. If you don't have color you can correct anything. My cockerel that i kept was on of the black chicks. He was a little too dark but over all i was seeing more problems with not having the black where it needed to be than having it where it wasn't supposed to be. I kept a hens that was to the color standard and a "dark" cockerel. All the offspring came out grey and I didn't have any problems with pale of washed out coloring or with black coming tips coming through on the feathers of the breast or back of any of the birds.

After the chicks start to grow you can not longer see who has the white chick down, who has the black chick down, and who has the grey chicks down. The grey as the bask of the feathers is how you check this. If they don't have grey they do not have the correct under color and the coloring will not pattern in the bird as desired. You basically want the color to be as dark as possible without getting black tips on the back or breast feathers.

Note: Defects that i saw were side springs on the comb (this is from the rose combed blood that was in the creation of the breed from Brahma and Wyandots), Feather stubs on the shanks (this is from the Brahma blood used to create the breed). Yellowing of the the feathers, poor lacing, splotchy color (white spots in areas that should be all black), etc.