Partridge Rock Thread

[armorfirelady]

They are very nice looking!

they are going to Molt again at around 16 weeks. They will have their big girl feathers then and will probably be redder then.
Your girl looks nice too!

I like that they are smaller than the Barred Plymouth Rocks but still lay a nice large egg.

Ron

They are so very very soft when you touch them. I see a few colored feathers here & there in the coop but they love to walk on top of each other so I figured was from that. I see some of the grayish white feathers poking out from them so I am fguessing that means they are getting ready to molt? 16 weeks will be the end of August.
Also are pullets not likely to roost at night? The girls all snuggle in a nesting box (&boy do they put out a lot of heat!!) I have never seen them on the roost when they are sleeping (I peak in on them them before I go to bed. Ever see a hen sleep with her head curled around her as she is laying in a nesting box? lol)

I did put a few sticks in their main run for them to roost on. It is quite amusing to watch them get up there and wobble as they try to stay on it. I figred it was good practice so they will start roosting at night

 

[ronott1]

Quote: Yes, they are very soft. My sister thought they would be stiff and pokey. On a thread called Dumbest things people say about chickens a post said "where to you think feather pillows come from". The PRs are much softer than the Rhode Island Reds for sure.

PRs are large fowl. Large fowl should roost on flat boards, like a 2x4 with the big end up. They have trouble grabbing onto round roosts and resting all night long. Get a 2x4 and attach it higher than the top of the nest box. Try moving them to the roost at night. I had to do that with my Australorps. it took several days but eventually they figured it out.

Chickens go through several molts before the first year. Depending on when they hatch, they many not molt after that for another year or so. Some breeds are fast feathering, so they don't look as ugly as others during the juvenile molts. Australorps and Marans look like monsters! My PRs never did look too bad. You will notice extra feathers and all of a sudden they will look different.

They should start laying eggs in September or October. They will sometimes take longer because of the shorter days, but should continue to lay through the winter. PRs are winter layers, so they will still lay the second winter, but not as much as the first winter.

Enjoy them!

Ron

 

[armorfirelady]

Yes, they are very soft. My sister thought they would be stiff and pokey. On a thread called Dumbest things people say about chickens a post said "where to you think feather pillows come from". The PRs are much softer than the Rhode Island Reds for sure.

PRs are large fowl. Large fowl should roost on flat boards, like a 2x4 with the big end up. They have trouble grabbing onto round roosts and resting all night long. Get a 2x4 and attach it higher than the top of the nest box. Try moving them to the roost at night. I had to do that with my Australorps. it took several days but eventually they figured it out.

Chickens go through several molts before the first year. Depending on when they hatch, they many not molt after that for another year or so. Some breeds are fast feathering, so they don't look as ugly as others during the juvenile molts. Australorps and Marans look like monsters! My PRs never did look too bad. You will notice extra feathers and all of a sudden they will look different.

They should start laying eggs in September or October. They will sometimes take longer because of the shorter days, but should continue to lay through the winter. PRs are winter layers, so they will still lay the second winter, but not as much as the first winter.

Enjoy them!

Ron

Thank you for the info on the roosts. I actually put a 2x4 in the house above the nest but i put the 2' part up so I will change it so its flat for them. My son just texted me that the girls are happily roosting on the 2 sticks I put in the run for them. They are fun to watch.

I will try putting them on the roosts at night tonight. My mom is chicken sitting over the weekend so I dont know if she will or not lol

 

[armorfirelady]

I am so excited !! After putting 2 of my girls on the roost last Tuesday night I checked them again Wednesday night & was happy to see all 4 roosting. Now every night they are roosting on their perches


And here they are enjoying their roosts in their run. Every day all 4 are up their roosting part of the day. I do have to say I find it amusing to watch them get on their roosts and try to keep their balance lol

 

[FarmerChic]

I am so excited !! After putting 2 of  my girls on the roost last Tuesday night I checked them again Wednesday night & was happy to see all 4 roosting. Now every night they are roosting on their perches


And here they are enjoying their roosts in their run. Every day all 4 are up their roosting part of the day. I do have to say I find it amusing to watch them get on their roosts and try to keep their balance lol

l

It took mine forever to get the perching concept it seems. Now, at 5 months old, all 12 of them perch every night it sure makes counting them much easier!

 

[ronott1]

I am so excited !! After putting 2 of my girls on the roost last Tuesday night I checked them again Wednesday night & was happy to see all 4 roosting. Now every night they are roosting on their perches


And here they are enjoying their roosts in their run. Every day all 4 are up their roosting part of the day. I do have to say I find it amusing to watch them get on their roosts and try to keep their balance lol

That is great! They are smart Birds!

Ron

 

[armorfirelady]

I have another question for you. I put in a nipple waterer for the girls. Its made from a bucket. I initially had it hanging in their small run with the regular waterer in the main run. They went for the regular waterer everytime. So yesterday I put the nipple waterer in the main run and the regular one in the small run. Is there any way to get them to drink from the nipple waterer? I hate to pull their regular waterer out until I know they are using the nipple waterer since its still been getting warm out and the waterer is their first stop when I open the coop door.


Also will the Roos be bigger in size when they are pullets? I have one that is def a lot bigger than the other 3 and the comb is a little bigger and turning a brighter red than the other 3's. I will try and put a pic up here......I just hope its a hen since I can have roosters here :/

 

[FarmerChic]

Also will the Roos be bigger in size when they are pullets?  I have one that is def a lot bigger than the other 3 and the comb is a little bigger and turning a brighter red than the other 3's.  I will try and put a pic up here......I just hope its a hen since I can have roosters here :/
[/quote]

My birds just turned 5 months and about amonth or so ago I began to notice size differences. The bigger ones turned out to be roos. The coloring was also much different. The pullets have a lot less color variations than the cockerels. That was actually my first cue as to who was who.

Ps. If anyone needs a PPR cockerel, I have at least 3 available!

 

[ronott1]

Also will the Roos be bigger in size when they are pullets? I have one that is def a lot bigger than the other 3 and the comb is a little bigger and turning a brighter red than the other 3's. I will try and put a pic up here......I just hope its a hen since I can have roosters here

My birds just turned 5 months and about amonth or so ago I began to notice size differences. The bigger ones turned out to be roos. The coloring was also much different. The pullets have a lot less color variations than the cockerels. That was actually my first cue as to who was who.

Ps. If anyone needs a PPR cockerel, I have at least 3 available![/QUOTE]

Yes! The Cockerels lose the barring and get black feathers the cover the neck(hackle feathers). They also get long tails that arch up in the back. The comb and wattles get much bitter and of course they start crowing well before 5 months.

You should be able to tell at 6 weeks or so.

Pleas post pictures of the combs.

Ron

 

[armorfirelady]

THis is the best picture I have now available. Its the one on the left with *her* head up. She has always been the biggest and the only one whos comb is red instead of a light pink like the other 3. The coloring for them all seems to be the same but they are beginning to moult