Plymouth Barred Rocks! :)

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Moesmom12

Moesmom12

In the Brooder
Aug 16, 2015
36
2
26
Georgia
Hello, I'm a 20 something with my first flock of Plymouth Barred Rocks! At one point in time I had 6 RIR's who sadly did not make it due to foxes.
The Flock consists of four PBR one roo and three hens! All are 4 months old and are doing wonderful and very friendly!!
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I do have a few questions and I've done a lot of research on this breed.
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But the internet can be misleading so I would love to hear some answers, advice, or opinions from seasoned chicken owners!!!
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1: Do they or are they known to go broody at all? I would LOVE to have chicks for enjoyment as well as to expand the flock!

2: How old are Roo's before they try mate? My roo is very friendly with my girls so far and is not aggressive what so ever.

3: Around what age do I need to start layer feed for my girls? Currently they are on grower/finisher feed.

4: If PBR hens do not go broody what are some recommended hens who will sit on fertile eggs or have a tendency to go broody?

Random: My flock seems to be happy, healthy, and have great personality! The coop's bedding gets changed every 2 weeks and it's quite a fun thing to do. Once the bedding is changed the flock looks at me funny with the expression of "We liked it messy dont clean it!!"
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5: Around when should I expect eggs or does it just depend on the chicken?
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I know it is very late in winter as of now and they were hatched on October 28, 2015 so I would assume early Spring?

I am still new to the backyard chicken life and would appreciate any friendly advice on keeping my feathered babies happy!

Thank you all kindly in advance!!
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1. I personally have never had a Plymouth Rock go broody. That doesn't mean it's out of the question though. Broodiness varies by breed, but it really boils down to the individual bird, I think.

2. Roos generally hit "puberty" at about 4-5 months of age. Keep in mind that a roo's personality may drastically change when he reaches this age.

3. I've always switched to layer upon finding my first egg. I know there are specific dates, but it's always been easiest for me to do this.

4. Really, any heavy breed hen has the potential to go broody, however big or small that chance may be. This trait has been almost bred out of most production breeds, however. The best mothering breeds I have had have been Cochins, Orpingtons, Australorps, and of course, Silkies.

5. Pullets generally begin laying at about 6-8 months of age, give or take. So, it could be a little later than early spring.

I hope this helps. This is the best place to get your poultry questions answered, so don't hesitate to ask more questions!
 
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Silkies are probably the no.1 choice for broodies. However hatchery stock may have the tendency bred out of them. When a hen goes broody and sits on eggs, she will not lay eggs again until she is finished raising them. Silkies tend to lay a few eggs, sit on them and repeat after the chicks are on their own. The aren't known as great egg layers. They generally have a docile demeanor but, other breeds tend to pick on them because of their strange appearance.

Many people have them specifically to be brooders for eggs from different breeds of chicken, some have even hatched duck eggs,

Buff orps and cochins are also great broodies and being larger they can cover more eggs in the nest.
 
Hi and welcome to BYC - you have some great advice from fellow greeters, so I'll just say a big hello!

All the best
CT
 
Another question to add!
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If my hen does want to go broody or ever in her life decides to, what signs should I look for? How many eggs will she produce before she decides to sit on the clutch?
 
Moesmom12 said:
Another question to add!
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If my hen does want to go broody or ever in her life decides to, what signs should I look for? How many eggs will she produce before she decides to sit on the clutch?
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Only one of my hens went broody in the four years I've had chickens. She would stay in the coop most of the day and puff up really big when I opened the door. She'd made a growling like noise, when you went to get the other hens eggs that she had stolen to sit on. She went so broody, I had to evicted her from the coop a couple times a day. Literally shut the door so she would go eat and drink. (I let my chickens run free in the back yard and lock them up at night. ) So long story short, you'll definitely know when one of your girls goes broody. :)
 

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