Plymouth Rock thread!

[Silver Rock]

so handsome....

Thank you

 

[Silver Rock]

A few pictures of my Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks. They will be 5 months old next week.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

A few pictures of my Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks. They will be 5 months old next week.

Clayton.....they have grown quite a bit and it looks like the pullets are nearing POL, hopefully you'll begin getting eggs here pretty soon before the light begins to wane too much. Now that you've had them 5 months (and since MANY people frequent this thread for info on Rocks), what is your critique of them vs the standard (SOP)? The good, the bad and the ugly....that way everyone can all learn about your variety, especially since SPRs are quite rare

 

[Silver Rock]

Hi Scott
I am very happy with them. As for putting them to the Standard there are some things I will be working on. Type is a little off because of the Dark Brahma blood added into this strain a few years ago. Me and you both know what kind of problems comes with that. But to get size into your strain you have to do what you have to do. After type is on track I will attempt to fix color by using the Double Mating System.

 

[chickadee5002]

Hello everyone! I have been looking at barred rocks for awhile. I heard they were a very friendly and well rounded breed. I have 10 buff orpingtons right now. Does anyone know if barred rocks would do good with orps? Also how good is their egg production?

Thanks!
Amy

 

[speckledhen]

I ran BR and Buff Orp hens together for years. The BRs are always more dominant than the Orps, at least in my experience, though for some reason, the blue/black/splash variety of Orp seems to be less submissive than the Buffs to others in the flock.

BRs, generally, especially the hatchery types, really can't be beat for egg production of the dual purpose breeds, IMO. They always matched my Rhode Island Reds egg for egg. I have BR hens who are almost 7 years old still laying. They were daughters of McMurray BRs out of a friend's flock. I've had both direct hatchery, hatchery-descended and true heritage BRs and RIRs for comparison.

The heritage BR hens lay a slightly smaller egg than my hatchery stock. They are less than 3 years old now so can't speak as to their longevity. My direct hatchery BR hens, like all the other hatchery hens, died awhile back from reproductive malfunctions, par for the course it seems with their genetics.

 

[aoxa]

Hello everyone! I have been looking at barred rocks for awhile. I heard they were a very friendly and well rounded breed. I have 10 buff orpingtons right now. Does anyone know if barred rocks would do good with orps? Also how good is their egg production?

Thanks!
Amy

They do very well together, and look very aesthetically pleasing together the buff and the barred.

I agree with Speckledhen, my Buff was much more submissive, but my barred were never considered bullies.

 

[speckledhen]

They do very well together, and look very aesthetically pleasing together the buff and the barred.

I agree with Speckledhen, my Buff was much more submissive, but my barred were never considered bullies.

They are not bullies, but you'd never call them pushovers, for sure! BRs here are never at rock bottom of the pecking order. My big Stukel Rock hen, Ida, is one of the younger hens in the main flock at just 2 1/2 years old, but one look and one growl from her can back down hens three times her age who have always been considered the top of the pecking order. No one messes with Big Ida. She doesn't start fights, but she will finish them. It seems to be a BR trait around here, being slightly bossy or just not allowing themselves to be pushed around. My remaining two Buff Orps are definitely very submissive, comparatively, though at present time, are not in the same flock with the barred hens.

 

[Silver Rock]

They are not bullies, but you'd never call them pushovers, for sure! BRs here are never at rock bottom of the pecking order. My big Stukel Rock hen, Ida, is one of the younger hens in the main flock at just 2 1/2 years old, but one look and one growl from her can back down hens three times her age who have always been considered the top of the pecking order. No one messes with Big Ida. She doesn't start fights, but she will finish them. It seems to be a BR trait around here, being slightly bossy or just not allowing themselves to be pushed around. My remaining two Buff Orps are definitely very submissive, comparatively, though at present time, are not in the same flock with the barred hens.

In my opinion the good old Buff Orpingtons are by far the most docile breed of the larger breeds. My grandmother had a large flock of Buff Orpingtons for many years and she loved them very much as they were her pets. I am a Plymouth Rock man but a very close runner up is the Buff Orpingtons for me.

 

[chickadee5002]

Oh wow! Thanks everyone! I wanted BR's in the spring and I don't have any more worries! You guys are great!