Plymouth Rock thread!

[speckledhen]

I was afraid that the old line heritage BRs would lose that lovely friendly personality I fell in love with over the years, but other than Ida, who is a tad more standoffish than the rest, they are sweet, sweet hens. Ida is also sweet, but just not as likely to ask for attention as the others. They are perfection. And there's no plumage more silky and soft than a BR's. You have no idea until you have one of these-others have remarked on that when they hold one of the girls, how super soft they are.


No, Kathy, Dottie must stay here. She is my digging buddy. Every hole I dig, she is right at the edge of it, LOL.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Keep up the good pics!

 

[RachaelS]

Okay so one of my SPRs started laying 3 weeks ago at 28 weeks and she is still the only one out of the group of 5 that is laying, she lays one a day for 5 days, then skips a day. Pretty sure it is just her since they have gotten progressively bigger. So we are at 31 weeks now and only 1 laying

My Hatchery White PR started to lay a week ago

. So I am at least getting 2 eggs a day but that is out of 22 hens. In all fairness only 11 are really at the age of lay.

 

[Chickawawa]

You are having better luck with your SPRs than I am. I have 2 hens and 3 pullets of laying age and get maybe 3 a week from the lot of them. I'm seeing some feathers so am making the excuse for them that they are molting so Hubs doesn't insist on selling them for something that actually lays eggs. We got 2 RIRs to help with the egg count and they are very consistent layers tho flighty and unfriendly. The SPRs are all at least friendly and easy to put in at night after free ranging all day.

Hope you start getting more eggs soon!

 

[dinahmoe]

I've always said that BRs don't have to be show quality to be great birds. He has a nice head and if he has a good temperament, he's a keeper! My first ever rooster was a McMurray BR named Hawkeye. I've had his sons as well, including my beloved crippled rooster, Zane, who died suddenly this year at the age of 4 1/2. Zane was the feathered love of my life.

thank you for always showing others it is possible to be honest and nice at the same time.

 

[kingsfarm]

am trying to decide what will be the BASE breed of my flock...Have Isa Browns (I think I am disappointed in them)..a few Buff Orps. that I love (My main Roo is a huge Buff Orp and his SON is Roo #2) hens a RIR...have 4 Barred Rocks not laying yet...have not culled any so far, need chickens for eggs AND meat...Live in Louisiana and they are know to keep Dominiques so BRs should be good here also...just bought 20 BR chicks 6 weeks old..did I do a good thing...hoping they will be the NEW hens next season....don't really know too much about them to choose or rectify what I have purchased...they became available and I took a chance....good deal or not? what do you think?

 

[DMRippy]

am trying to decide what will be the BASE breed of my flock...Have Isa Browns (I think I am disappointed in them)..a few Buff Orps. that I love (My main Roo is a huge Buff Orp and his SON is Roo #2) hens a RIR...have 4 Barred Rocks not laying yet...have not culled any so far, need chickens for eggs AND meat...Live in Louisiana and they are know to keep Dominiques so BRs should be good here also...just bought 20 BR chicks 6 weeks old..did I do a good thing...hoping they will be the NEW hens next season....don't really know too much about them to choose or rectify what I have purchased...they became available and I took a chance....good deal or not? what do you think?

Rocks are usually great layers. Mine will lay when the others are on strike. My only problem with them is the eggs size. Med-Large, but more Med. I like the size of my Leghorns and EE better for eggs. My second favorite for eggs is my Cuckoo Marans. They lay a jumbo egg (I think that is NOT common with Marans). Don't get me wrong I love my rocks. Most people have them for layers because of the egg production they get. Me I like a BIG egg and I don't get that from my Rocks. I am getting bigger eggs from my Older hens... but to wait 3 years to get a Large egg.

They are good layers though.

 

[kingsfarm]

What do you think of them for meat purpose.....with so many I will certainly have enough eggs....what will happen if I mix with a Buff Orp. roo (huge) this should make a good meat bird...my birds are not pets or for show, we are old and they provide our meat. should I acquire a Barred Rock Roo.

 

[kingsfarm]

I want to add, am keeping my RIR hens (laying great) and Buff Orpington hens....so my EGG delima is kinda solved but for MEAT will I be disappointed with the Barred Rock.....? I don't want to fool with the MEAT BIRDS that you feed for x amout of time then butcher.....Thank you for listening...

 

[RachaelS]

You are having better luck with your SPRs than I am. I have 2 hens and 3 pullets of laying age and get maybe 3 a week from the lot of them. I'm seeing some feathers so am making the excuse for them that they are molting so Hubs doesn't insist on selling them for something that actually lays eggs. We got 2 RIRs to help with the egg count and they are very consistent layers tho flighty and unfriendly. The SPRs are all at least friendly and easy to put in at night after free ranging all day.

Hope you start getting more eggs soon!

thanks keeping my fingers crossed.