Plymouth Rock thread!

[Rock N' Faverolles]

Quote:
I have some barreds only a few weeks old and they already have yellow legs (and yes they are show quality birds and not hatchery ones). Sometimes it's genetics others it's what you feed them. Try feeding them extra cracked corn or scratch grains if you're not already. It may help.

David

 

[speckledhen]

But, Rocks should have yellow legs, per Standard, no matter what their diet. It's a bit off-putting to see so many white legged Rocks, especially in the show types. I'm not used to that at all. It will keep me from getting any of the ones with the super crisp barring. I'll stick with my couple generations from hatchery stock if all the show types have whitish legs. Their legs look most like Cuckoo Marans than Rocks.

 

[kathyinmo]

Well, I am not going to change their diet. I do not feed corn, other than what is in their feed.

I will wait and see if I get emails from the breeders. If the leg color is staying like this ..... WELL, they are almost all boys anyway ..... I will take them to be processed in late August along with my Cornish Cross birds.

 

[whillo]

Ah, thankyou Bourne and Kathy. Puts my mind at ease a bit.

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

Quote:
I know Rocks should have yellow legs. I am saying that corn intensifies that yellow. I have never seen 'show rocks' with white legs before so that is why I said it may be genetics.

 

[Rock N' Faverolles]

Quote:
I was just answering your question that you posted. Yes the leg color should be yellow, but no matter how yellow they are, it will intensify if you feed corn. I'm not saying to feed them tons, just a few handfuls of scratch each day. You would be suprised at how much that helps. What you do is up to you.


David

 

[speckledhen]

Corn may make them brassy, though, like this:

Hawkeye, may he rest in peace, was fed a diet of only corn before I got him and this is what he looked like that day:

Within a month of a proper diet, he looked like this- he's still in the quarantine cage.

 

[halo]

Cyn, thats just amazing. Cant believe the diet changed that.

I do agree, tho, that they should have yellow legs without any feed additives. If they are not naturally yellow, I dont personally want them. Its what the standard calls for, and its what they should be. If you're feeding any processed feed, you're feeding corn anyway.

Im so surprised to see show birds with white legs. I got some hatchery barred rocks with white legs, but then I also got hatchery barred rocks with very yellow legs.

 

[kathyinmo]

I got this reply from Jamie.

If you go to my home page:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/SandyFlatFarm/
you can see there is a difference in "yellow". both the buckeyes and rocks have yellow legs, but the tint can be different...... also, what are you feeding them? I have seen pale legs from a nutrient deficiency. Do they get to scratch around for bugs and eat some grass?
Jamie

 

[speckledhen]

My crippled Barred Rock rooster, who will be three years old in November.

Needs another beak trim.