Plymouth Rock thread!

[speckledhen]

Glad to help, chickadee.

 

[aoxa]

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.

My Rocks seem to be at the top of the pecking order, without having to enforce it. I like it that way There are some breeds that really seem to have to push their way to the top. Not a Rock. At least never for me. I've had quite a few of them.

They are laid back, but step in if they feel the need. I'm trying to think of my worst breed for bullying.. I have to say it was this one old Delaware hen I had. Not sure if it's the norm for the breed or not, but she was queen, and everyone had to know it. I used to have more bullying issues with hens when we didn't have any roosters. The roosters seem to keep that all under control.

 

[speckledhen]

My Rocks seem to be at the top of the pecking order, without having to enforce it. I like it that way There are some breeds that really seem to have to push their way to the top. Not a Rock. At least never for me. I've had quite a few of them.

They are laid back, but step in if they feel the need. I'm trying to think of my worst breed for bullying.. I have to say it was this one old Delaware hen I had. Not sure if it's the norm for the breed or not, but she was queen, and everyone had to know it. I used to have more bullying issues with hens when we didn't have any roosters. The roosters seem to keep that all under control.

Actually, not my Delawares. They mind their own business and don't bother anyone unless someone gets in their faces. Then, it's on. They are quite similar to my Rocks in that regard. I know that hatcheries have propagated strains of nasty Delawares and I mean aggressive to humans as well as other birds, but not my bunch. The only problem is that Isaac hates the BR hens. He literally stomps his foot and chases them away quite a bit. Weird for a rooster with barred hackles and tail feathers himself. But, like yours, he's great at breaking up hen fights, just jumps right in the middle and separates them. Good leader.

My worst bullies are my older BBS Ameraucana hens and one of my EE hens (she happens to be head hen in the main flock, though, and Isaac's favorite). The Barred Rocks and the Delawares are fine in the flock unless we throw in some new youngster. Right now, roost time is chaos with my four young "teenage" roosters and two pullets trying not to be pushed off onto the floor.

Rocks will always be my favorite. I like the ones I don't have to worry about all the time.

 

[Silver Rock]

My Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks enjoying a very nice cool evening.

 

[DMRippy]

I can't believe I was in GA Monday and Friday and didn't even bring home chickens. kinda proud of myself.

 

[Pinky Macgyver]

Hi all. A friend recommended I post here to see what you think About some Chicks I've been hatching. I should say, I'm in Australia so things may be a little different here but here'goes.

I have these two as pets and one turned out to be a rooster so I've been hatching their eggs.

I Didn't have a proper incubator for their first season so didn't hatch any myself but someone else did and got two nice, normal chicks. This season I have an rcom and these are the first few I hatched About a week ago.

I have since hatched a total of twelve and four of them are white.

Also, the first four dark ones seem exceptionally dark and the more recent ones have more of the yellow on the head and back.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. do you think they'll stay white or have a little barring?

Thanks

 

[Fred's Hens]

They will stay light colored.

If you are absolutely, positively sure that no other birds, beside the two you showed, are involved here, then you are seeing the "sport" the White Rock. White Rocks were sports of the Barred Rocks and soon became their own variety outright.

However, it would appear that one of those birds is a recent cross with a White Rock. Breeders do this to increase the size and to pump up hatching vigor and other reasons. I'll be very, very curious to see these chicks as adults to confirm or deny their type as Rocks.

Also, in your lower photo, the chick just hatched appears to have rusty coloration as well? Is this correct?

 

[Pinky Macgyver]

Oh, that would be disappointing if they're crossbred. :-\ what makes you say that?
The newer ones do seem to have a bit of color of some sort but that might just be from hatching? I dunno. The first one is sure white.
These are the most recent three

 

[Ashburnham]

I would have thought White Rocks were very rare in Australia, and unlikely to be used to "beef up" Barred Rocks?

Whatever - I want some of your eggs Pinky. - please put me down for some about late October.


xxxxx M

 

[Fred's Hens]

White Rocks are used in the US from time to time to boost the Barred Rocks. These are not breed outcross, only variety outcrosses. If you say the White Rock is rare in OZ and thus unlikely to be in mix, you'd know much better than I.

Obviously, to have these yellow chicks pop out is either a sign that these eggs weren't solely from the two parent birds shown or one of the Barred Rock parents has indeed been outcrossed to something in the somewhat recent past. The high percentage of yellow chicks you're are getting is evidence.