Plymouth Rock thread!

[BGMatt]

So, I have a three week old Plymouth Rock chick that appears to be rumpless, no tiny little tail developing, no nub where the feathers should be, just seems weird. Anyone ever have that?

 

[Ashburnham]

A good history lesson, thank you.

What does that mean when they say "black hens"? Were they completely black, or just with darker barring?

I think by black they mean "black barred", that is darker barred.

 

[KimmersMN]

Not sure how to pm on BYChickens but i'd be interested in those 11 chicks if they aren't sold? Do you think there are any hens in the bunch? How much to ship to Bluffton, MN 56518

My email is [email protected]

Please email because I think I hit the "don't subscribe" button so I may not know when you reply to this. Thanks!

 

[Wynette]

So, I have a three week old Plymouth Rock chick that appears to be rumpless, no tiny little tail developing, no nub where the feathers should be, just seems weird. Anyone ever have that?

There are rumpless chickens, and this issue does pop up spontaneously on occasion. But at 3 weeks, it's possible that you're just not seeing anything yet.

 

[catdaddyfro]

I've got some things in the works to help increase size; I considered breeding out to a Dark Brahma, but I wish to keep within the same breed. And, I simply don't want to introduce shank feathering and comb issues at this point in my flock. You will find your Horstman stock to be on the small side as well. This issue is fixable.

There are many things one can do to increase size. I have crossed a very large and excellent type Columbian Rock hen (from Scott Brazinski) to my sivler penciled cock bird, and the female offspring will be taken back to the silver penciled cock bird. I also have a friend locally with what he claims is a "ginormous" male that is from a silver penciled rock crossed to a gigantic white rock. He's giving that male to me, and I'll use him as well. So, it's a process getting these birds back to SOP, but one that I have been working on for many years - I am in this for the long haul.

One would think if you did an outcross to the Dark Brahma that it would surely not take any longer to work out the comb/feathered shank areas than it would be crossing in WR or CR genes which you will have to be breeding for color for a spell then too. I think all the while you could concentrate on breeding out those issues in the color fixing process at least the Darks more closely resemble the SP rock in color to begin with.

Hey I'm just blabbing here/thinking outloud,

(rainyday syndrome) but I would still consider this option maybe on down the trail some.

Jeff

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

One would think if you did an outcross to the Dark Brahma that it would surely not take any longer to work out the comb/feathered shank areas than it would be crossing in WR or CR genes which you will have to be breeding for color for a spell then too. I think all the while you could concentrate on breeding out those issues in the color fixing process at least the Darks more closely resemble the SP rock in color to begin with.

Hey I'm just blabbing here/thinking outloud,

(rainyday syndrome) but I would still consider this option maybe on down the trail some.

Jeff

Jeff

With a little luck, Wynette should have SPR "looking" birds in 2 generations.

The Columbians (I think you have some now, correct?) had Lt Brahma crossed into them about 8 generations PRIOR to the trio I got....my first two years I fought an occasional comb issue and plenty of feather stubs on the legs....most of that is cleared up now

The WORST issue (at least for me) has been the loose feathering. With the cochin blood running thru Brahmas, the tight feathering we want in our Rocks becomes a real challenge. I have 2 VERY nice looking pullets coming along this year and BOTH have prominent cushions, no doubt thanks to the Brahma blood....unfortunately, those two will be leaving as I am trying really hard to get this feather thing under control.

As a "bonus" Wynette will have the benefit of a previous outcross to Brahma (for size) and hopefully fewer "issues" to work through long term

 

[catdaddyfro]

Jeff

With a little luck, Wynette should have SPR "looking" birds in 2 generations.

The Columbians (I think you have some now, correct?) had Lt Brahma crossed into them about 8 generations PRIOR to the trio I got....my first two years I fought an occasional comb issue and plenty of feather stubs on the legs....most of that is cleared up now

The WORST issue (at least for me) has been the loose feathering. With the cochin blood running thru Brahmas, the tight feathering we want in our Rocks becomes a real challenge. I have 2 VERY nice looking pullets coming along this year and BOTH have prominent cushions, no doubt thanks to the Brahma blood....unfortunately, those two will be leaving as I am trying really hard to get this feather thing under control.

As a "bonus" Wynette will have the benefit of a previous outcross to Brahma (for size) and hopefully fewer "issues" to work through long term

Yeah hey Scott I do now have some of those CR you've managed to spread far and wide in such a short period all in which I greatly appreciate your generosity and sharing. I was thinking of how hard the party colors(partridge and penciled) are to work with and get correct in the first place without having to deal with an off esp the CO gene which as you full know is a very strong dilution gene which already wreaks havoc in the SP variety esp. the breast pattern of the female. Too the addition of the WR also could be difficult too as they will for sure produce a lot of black to deal with I'd figure.

Just trying to feel out the balance of the two evils is all I was going on still yet the color is the least issue and supposed to be the easiest to fix after the type and size is established so like I said I was just thinking out loud mostly. Ya'll just be glad I don't post on here ALL that is twirling in the ol' gourd more often, LOL

Jeff

 

[cbnovick]

Yeah hey Scott I do now have some of those CR you've managed to spread far and wide in such a short period all in which I greatly appreciate your generosity and sharing. I was thinking of how hard the party colors(partridge and penciled) are to work with and get correct in the first place without having to deal with an off esp the CO gene which as you full know is a very strong dilution gene which already wreaks havoc in the SP variety esp. the breast pattern of the female. Too the addition of the WR also could be difficult too as they will for sure produce a lot of black to deal with I'd figure.

Just trying to feel out the balance of the two evils is all I was going on still yet the color is the least issue and supposed to be the easiest to fix after the type and size is established so like I said I was just thinking out loud mostly. Ya'll just be glad I don't post on here ALL that is twirling in the ol' gourd more often, LOL

Jeff

Jeff...I really enjoy ALL your posts!!!

How are your high $$ WR chicks from Jeremy coming along?

Sure wouldn't mind a rainy day here...good lawd, it's gonna hit 106 today by 3pm...got misters and a fan on my birds for 100+ temps...don't want ANY losses this summer in AZ.

Jeff & Scott-
My Buff Rock eggs from Roebuck are developing nicely thus far...only day 6 though...

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Yeah hey Scott I do now have some of those CR you've managed to spread far and wide in such a short period all in which I greatly appreciate your generosity and sharing. I was thinking of how hard the party colors(partridge and penciled) are to work with and get correct in the first place without having to deal with an off esp the CO gene which as you full know is a very strong dilution gene which already wreaks havoc in the SP variety esp. the breast pattern of the female. Too the addition of the WR also could be difficult too as they will for sure produce a lot of black to deal with I'd figure.

Just trying to feel out the balance of the two evils is all I was going on still yet the color is the least issue and supposed to be the easiest to fix after the type and size is established so like I said I was just thinking out loud mostly. Ya'll just be glad I don't post on here ALL that is twirling in the ol' gourd more often, LOL

Jeff

Ya know .... the fun thing about this hobby is its like a "relatively" inexpensive ADULT science experiment. And the best part is, you can eat your mistakes!

I think Wynette is simply trying to get size/type fixed and then can work on color....NO DOUBT penciled (and partridge) are a tough pattern to get right, but when they do, the birds are stunning

I've got an experiment in the works currently to "fix" the brassiness in the CR males (under the strict guidance of a gentleman that truly is a genetic poultry expert). I have a "black" female rock that is CR male over BR (Wheeler) female. She was bred back to my current CR broodcock and I have a "mixed bag" of chicks on the ground. Some look like CR chicks, some are black and some are black with white wing tips....will be interesting to see the outcome. No doubt I am going to step backwards a few in "color" with my line as well, but the brassiness HAS to be fixed somehow

CBNOVICK - glad to hear eggs are doing well....have you already candled them???

 

[catdaddyfro]

Ya know .... the fun thing about this hobby is its like a "relatively" inexpensive ADULT science experiment. And the best part is, you can eat your mistakes!

I think Wynette is simply trying to get size/type fixed and then can work on color....NO DOUBT penciled (and partridge) are a tough pattern to get right, but when they do, the birds are stunning

I've got an experiment in the works currently to "fix" the brassiness in the CR males (under the strict guidance of a gentleman that truly is a genetic poultry expert). I have a "black" female rock that is CR male over BR (Wheeler) female. She was bred back to my current CR broodcock and I have a "mixed bag" of chicks on the ground. Some look like CR chicks, some are black and some are black with white wing tips....will be interesting to see the outcome. No doubt I am going to step backwards a few in "color" with my line as well, but the brassiness HAS to be fixed somehow

CBNOVICK - glad to hear eggs are doing well....have you already candled them???

Scott I agree and I love experimenting and esp with the ones as you say you can eat if all else fails. The good Lord knows a lot of my experimental mistakes were not very edible, matter of fact some were down right nearly fatal. pshwee glad I made it out of those too.

Hey Cindy glad all is well so far with those Buff eggs I hope for you to get a good great hatch from them too maybe some day when I get all done with my other umpteen hundred projects or wanna be projects that I can get me some of those awesome Buffs to behold too.

The WRs are doing good I'm fairly sure I have 2 pullets I already placed an order for either jwhip or Mrs. Kathy to keep me back a good male for use in the future. I'm glad I got 2 pullets though and it is what I really needed now for one of my famous(

) projects I have in mind now.


Jeff