exhibition/heritage Barred Rocks - History, breeding, and discussion

[punky rooster]

a part of a artical on plymouth rocks by Bob Blosl

Standardizing the Breed

The American Poultry Association admitted the Barred Plymouth Rock to the American Standard of Perfection in 1874. The general color of the Barred Plymouth Rock was garish white, resulting from dark bars crossing each feather. The barring was to be even in width, straight and carry the entire length of each feather. Six years later, the breed was changed to a fuller and longer fowl to increase egg-laying capacity and to produce a frame with more meat for commercial purposes. The new standard called for a male to carry his tail at a 45° angle, while the female's must be at a 40° angle. Encouraged breadth across the back became a desirable trait. Since 1910, there has been little change in the makeup of the breed standard Plymouths Rocks. Many poultry historians find it fascinating that the early shape and size of the Plymouth Rock is still maintained by current breeders. Today, we have a young cockerel that will weigh nine pounds at eight months of age, and a female, if bred for width of body, can lay 180 large brown eggs in her pullet year

more here http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/3/3-5/plymouth_rocks_the_heirloom_breed.html
punky​

 

[BayouPoules]

Reading this thread and learning,. always learning,..

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
I'll bet I find plenty more!
good shepard poultry ranch http://www.goodshepherdpoultryranch.com/Chickenbreeds.html :
Plymouth Barred Rock

The Plymouth Rock, often called simply Rocks or Barred Rocks (after their most popular color), is a chicken breed that originated in the United States. It was admitted to the A.P.A. Standard in 1874. They possess a long, broad back; a moderately deep, full breast; and yellow skin and legs. The Plymouth Rock was developed in New England in the middle of the 19th century and was first exhibited as a breed in 1869. Plymouth Rocks were bred as a dual-purpose fowl, meaning that they were valued both for their meat and for the hens' egg-laying ability. The first Plymouth Rock was barred and other varieties were developed later. The breed became popular very rapidly, and in fact, until World War II, no breed was ever kept and bred as extensively in the United States as the Barred Plymouth Rock. Its popularity came from its qualities as an outstanding farm chicken: hardiness, docility, broodiness, and excellent production of both eggs and meat.

Reese line birds they they can be traced to the "RINGLET" line of rocks I believe:

 

[punky rooster]

Going to try to revive this thread

The Barred Plymouth Rock earned its huge popularity as a dual-purpose breed. A hardy bird even in cold weather, it is also docile, tame, and active. Both cocks and hens have an upright carriage and are graceful, stylish birds. The hens are broody and good mothers. The hen will also lay light brown eggs year round. The bird itself has a long, broad body with a moderately deep breast. The yellow-skinned Barred Rock matures early into a broiler at 8 to 12 weeks of age. Cocks weigh up to 9.5 pounds and hens up to 7.5 pounds. Breeders of Barred Rocks need to avoid underweight birds, small, narrow bodies, and high tails

The coloring of the Barred Plymouth Rock is distinct. The barring on the feathers continues down to the skin. On the cock, the black and white bars are of equal width and end in a dark tip. In the hen, the black bars are slightly larger than the light, so that the cock appears slightly lighter in color. The overlapping of the feathers also produces a slight bluish tinge. The eyes are reddish bay, and the comb, wattles, and earlobes are bright red. The beak, shanks, and toes are yellow.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/Barred-Plymouth-Rock-heritage-poultry.aspx#ixzz1F5ua1rvy
this is one of my favorite pages http://albc-usa.org/EducationalResources/chickens.html
Rocks Rock!

punky​

 

[zekii]

If anyone on this group that raises & has Barred Rocks or hatching eggs foresale and is located fairly close to Southwest, NH
please contact me. I would like to raise some Barred Rocks, and would like to get some locally than having them shipped.

Thanks,
Mary

 

[Bo Garrett]

Just got the Barreds last year and obtained a trio at the APA National in December, I only have a few chicks hatched but I have always admired this variety. On the genetics end, I have heard many breeders say they use barred males over white rock females to get better type and tail structure. Since the barring is sex linked the male tends to be lighter because he carries like sex chromosomes whereas the female carries the differentiating chromosomes thus causing her to be darker. This is why when barred males are bred to black or white females they will produce one sex of chicks that are barred, can't remember if it is the pullets or the cockerels, but most likely the pullets.
My personal goals are to produce a barred bird that will compete with the whites in the American Class and produce eggs like the Barred Rock should. I would like to get a few birds from Chris Magdelena and would also like to find some of Paul Hardy's strain which are some of the best I've seen.
It is strange working with birds that have no feathers on the legs, feet and toes but they sure are easier to clean up for shows!!

Bo

 

[speckledhen]

#1. Mating the Standard colored male to females whose dark bar is broader than their light bar, and whose dark bar is so full of black pigment that it may even carry a greenish, metallic luster. The undercolor of these females is also comparatively dark. This mating produces cockerels several shades lighter than their dams, for the natural tendency is for the male to run lighter in color than the female. This mating is known as the dark or cockerel mating. The pullets from such a mating are dark like their dams, and like their dams are very valuable for breeding exhibition cockerels. Both cockerels and pullets from this mating are what are known as “cockerel-bred.”

Well, I find this interesting. Green sheen, which some keep saying should not be there at all, is apparently quite useful in this type mating strategy. I see this in all my Barred Rocks, hens and roosters alike, but if you look at some writings, it says the black should be "just short of positive black", which is the black with the green sheen.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Well, I find this interesting. Green sheen, which some keep saying should not be there at all, is apparently quite useful in this type mating strategy. I see this in all my Barred Rocks, hens and roosters alike, but if you look at some writings, it says the black should be "just short of positive black", which is the black with the green sheen. http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt115/lalastarrr/emoticon/thMsgPlus_Img1084.png

Oh yes! I have researched this extensively, and have found out that even though the metallic luster is not desirable at any other time, these birds (as described) do make valuable breeders. Alot of the breeders are singly much less than perfect; but the 2 together often make fabulous progeny. I am finding that with other details too .... like tail angle and such. Kinda funny, isn't it, that the breeders often have undesirable traits?!

 

[speckledhen]

It's very weird, Kathy. Count this among the things that make you go "hmm....". I'll have to go tell my Becca that her green sheen is a good thing.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
No, no, no, Cyn ..... It is not green sheen. It is "metallic luster!" Doesn't that sound classy?