Plymouth Rock thread!

[Fred's Hens]

Originally Posted by Fred's Hens

If you are just starting out, I would recommend just getting some chickens from a hatchery, feed store or at a swap from someone with a good reputation.

There is a learning curve with chicken husbandry and it best to practice for a year or two with such birds. When you are ready, you can follow along on the Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch thread, or the Heritage Large Fowl Thread.

On these threads, you will find more than a few people who have Barred Rocks of this quality, including me. They often sell fertile eggs to hatch or occasionally, they will ship you started chicks, although the former is affordable and the latter is a bit expensive.

I am so appreciative of this advice...on some of the breed threads you feel like a nitwit for even breathing the word "hatchery" but I do think it is a good way to start out. As a noob I got three breeds from MPC last year, and have decided that what I like best are my Delawares. So now that I know this, I will continue to grow and improve my Delawares.

I sort of fell into Rocks.

I ordered hatchery partridge rocks this year because they are so pretty then decided to do a hatch of mixed project eggs where I ended up with a breeding pair of chocolate rocks and in between times I saw Silver Penciled and swooned so by about this time next month I will have some of them purchased from a breeder too. I will see how it goes and if I like them I will continue to work with them and probably add a buff or two to the mix as well.

I am not into showing but I am into getting the breeds I may end up working with to the Heritage Standard. I keep chickens because the amuse me and give me eggs. I am a history teacher and like having breeds that have a story. I also like that you think it's OK that I and others are still learning. Thanks!

Thank you for your kind words. I've had and still have hatchery birds. That said, I dearly love the heritage fowl, birds that take your breath away. Birds that are true to their heritage. I have strong memories from the 1950's and 60's and learning poultry from my grandmother, who was born in the previous century, that's the 1800's. There are many very practical reasons as well. Reasons I won't get into, unless pressed. LOL

 

[Fred's Hens]

Sorry for the crummy cell phone shots and the fact that it was raw and cold the hens did not particularly think I should be taking their pictures, as they hadn't been out for a Do, or mani and pedi in awhile. LOL

 

[blackTNgiants]

Sorry for the crummy cell phone shots and the fact that it was raw and cold the hens did not particularly think I should be taking their pictures, as they hadn't been out for a Do, or mani and pedi in awhile. LOL

Beautiful Rocks Fred !!

 

[blackTNgiants]

Here are our's.. i enjoy them but clearly no where near as beautiful as heritage birds

 

[DMRippy]

and that's another dilemma, i don't want any roo's, we live in a neighborhood and i want my neighbors to still like me, but i have no idea how to tell the difference between the two as chicks. is there a rule to go by? or is it the luck of the draw?

What are you wanting out of your flock? If you primarily want eggs a Hatchery BR might be the way to go. If you are looking for yard candy... Heritage BR are the way to go. I don't have heritage birds for egg laying abilities. They are not HIGH production birds and go broody often so that cuts into your egg production. I know most backyarders are limited in how many birds they can have and want as many eggs from what they are allowed as they can get.

 

[donnie]

guys im looking to replace my barred rock cock bird , i currently have barred rocks from jeremy .. and would like a roo from the same lines that havent been crossed out , pm me please if you have one or two cockerels thanks

 

[4Hgirl]

what are supposed to be the differences between heritage and hatchery rocks? i am looking for a few barred rocks, this will be my first time raising chickens. but i would like to get the better of the two , if i can. is dick horstman shipping to you? 

Yes Dick ships them. I think it's affordable at $6 per chick but minimum a doz plus shipping =$114. Honestly can be much cheaper at a feed store for a few bucks each but since my daughter is showing hatchery or feed store birds just aren't usually competitive. But I'm used to horse showing where $114 don't buy you anything so I think to get going quick for show its cheap! If I just wanted egg laying pets I'd be happy with the lower quality. That's what we have now and they are great birds for pet quality!

 

[4Hgirl]

Two of our new Barred Plymouth Rock BT's. Luckily Dick hatched these last week with the polish BT's so the SF didn't squish them.

 

[4Hgirl]

SF Silver Penciled Rocks

 

[BGMatt]

What are you wanting out of your flock? If you primarily want eggs a Hatchery BR might be the way to go. If you are looking for yard candy... Heritage BR are the way to go. I don't have heritage birds for egg laying abilities. They are not HIGH production birds and go broody often so that cuts into your egg production. I know most backyarders are limited in how many birds they can have and want as many eggs from what they are allowed as they can get.

Completely disagree with this advice. Hatchery birds might lay maybe 50 more eggs a year, that's 1 egg a week. They also burn out quicker, leaving you having to cull a "pet" (I don't view them this way but many backyarders do), while a purebred will have a much longer natural laying life.