Plymouth Rock thread!

[MalMom]

she is hatchery bred type...so cute that she likes your pepper plant....but sorry for you...lol

Thanks! How can you tell so easily? I still just see black and white when I look at them.

 

[cbnovick]

Thanks! How can you tell so easily? I still just see black and white when I look at them.

These are standard bred Barred Rocks...so, it's in the shape, the barring definition and size.

 

[MalMom]

These are standard bred Barred Rocks...so, it's in the shape, the barring definition and size.

Awesome, thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

Compare two of my own Barred Rock hens, a 2 yr old Stukel line Barred Rock hen and the daughter of hatchery parents:

Ida is from the heritage line. Note her straight continuous, sharp barring (sorry for her rooster damaged feathers on her back), her gravy boat shape, the tail angle, etc.


In this close up picture of Ida, you can see it plainly on her chest, the precision of the barring.



Here is Ida's sister, Wynette, same thing.






This was their hatch mate, though I no longer have him-he went to be a friend's breeding rooster and died from a snake bite, probably defending his hens.





Now, look at my 4 year old Fern, daughter of two hatchery parents. Note the blurriness and choppiness of the barring, leaner body type, high tail set, even her comb is way out there.

 

[Fred's Hens]

True bred juvenile pair





Hatchery juvenile pair

 

[Fred's Hens]

True bred hen at one year old



Same bird as 7 month old pullet




Hatchery stock hen and pullet of same ages








As Speckledhen said, the barring is messy on the hatchery stock, the body type is smaller and wrong for the breed, the combs are often larger and tails much higher, betraying the outcrossing likely done years ago to Leghorn blood infusion to vastly increase egg laying abilities, quicker maturing, etc. Those are the traits that hatcheries like.

 

[MalMom]

Thank you guys so much for the explanation and picture! I can see what you are talking about now, and I can see why Frances is a hatchery chicken. Since she is just for eggs, and as a backyard pet I don't really care what her background is, but it is fun to learn all these things. Maybe someday I won't live in a city and I can breed my own chickens, then I'll care where they come from. I think it is so interesting that they can be the "same" kind of bird, but be so different. Thanks again!

 

[pysankigirl]

Hey! I haven't made it through this thread yet. (I am to page 403) but I have a few SPR's from Dick Horstman eggs...they are about 4 months old? I love them! but I have questions about the SP pattern in general. I am used to the look of my Barnevelders, I am seeing plenty of Pics of SPR's on here that look just like mine and people are saying they are correctly colored. the penciling is not nearly as distinct as it is on the Barnevelders. I have no plans to breed for show. just for more birds of my own. I just like having pretty and quality birds to look at while they putter around my yard.

I have been wondering what would happen if I bred the Barnevelders to the SPR's. Would that be a way of making the SPR penciling more distinct? what makes the Barnevelders penciling so crisp by comparison...the melanizing gene?

 

[catdaddyfro]

Hey! I haven't made it through this thread yet. (I am to page 403) but I have a few SPR's from Dick Horstman eggs...they are about 4 months old? I love them! but I have questions about the SP pattern in general. I am used to the look of my Barnevelders, I am seeing plenty of Pics of SPR's on here that look just like mine and people are saying they are correctly colored. the penciling is not nearly as distinct as it is on the Barnevelders. I have no plans to breed for show. just for more birds of my own. I just like having pretty and quality birds to look at while they putter around my yard.

I have been wondering what would happen if I bred the Barnevelders to the SPR's. Would that be a way of making the SPR penciling more distinct? what makes the Barnevelders penciling so crisp by comparison...the melanizing gene?

Barnvelders are laced there's a good bit of difference betwixt penciling and lacing look it up its all described in the SOP

if you cross Barnies and SPPRs you are mixing gold and silver together and will have a passel of combos come out of the cross(es) depends on which (s or S) is over which. Silver is dominant over gold and then gold over silver is sexlinked. J/S

Jeff

 

[BlackPanther]

I've only had her a week, so I don't have many (or good) pictures of her. I can post more later. From what I read I really like the temperament they are suppose to have, and their hardiness. This girl is really sweet. She comes over to me and clucks softly. She isn't big on being pet or otherwise touched, but she does like attention and to be close to me. She also likes my green peppers and has eaten all of them off my plant.

LOL! At least you can laugh about it...