Plymouth Rock thread!

[Fred's Hens]

Most people who know me? They know I'm sorta the "Freak Big Head" king.

A lot of these better lines of Rocks suffer from a couple of rather annoying constants. Lack of tails on the males and lack of

FREAK BIG HEADS


(we're not alone with this challenge. Have you seen the tiny heads on the Wynadottes and some Orps?)

 

[4Hgirl]

I do like the females type as they look to have no cushion problem at all. I unfortunately do have a cushion problem in my Horstman line females and hope that my Padgett line is a little better in that area.

What do you mean by cushion problem?

 

[Fred's Hens]

A "cushion" is a big mattress looking fluff of feathering on the back, in front of the tail. It is very unattractive on a Rock. Some varieties of Rocks were made by using bits of other breeds, in other words, a composite. From the Brahma in the composite comes the cushion issue. Lots of breeds fight this.

Tighter feathering and longer backs, as well as wide set legs are connected to this fault, as in if you get longer back, tighter feathering and wide set legs, the cushion issue is greatly reduced.

The cushion is a sign or signal that the "composite" is out of whack.

If you look, for example, at Bob Blosl's line of White Rock that Ken Weaver has now, you'll not see cushions. Other Rock varieties, such as the Silver Penciled Rocks face this to much larger degree, it seems to me.

 

[Silver Rock]

What do you mean by cushion problem?

It is a Brahma influenced trait where my Horstman line pullets have a large amount of feathers between the back and tail.

 

[aoxa]

I've been told that it was due to their slow growth in the off season that ended up helping increase size. Cold weather = slow growth, and that slow growth during the short days is what ultimately helps them increase in overall size when finished. BUT - either way, I'm all for January hatching.

Aoxa, girl, you need to make yourself a light box. DH made me one awhile back, and I love that thing; it's collapsible for to save space. You can get them nice & posed in there! I did a thread on it here...I'll find in a few & edit my post here for reference.

Here's the link to my light box thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/727872/show-me-your-light-boxes-all-types/10

DH ended up making me one, which I took pics of during the building of it. They are at the very end of the thread. I use this thing constantly.

I'd have to catch them now wouldn't I?

Would be awesome for chicks though!

 

[Silver Rock]

Most folks don't hatch pullet eggs at all, SR, but sometimes you do not have much choice.  I would definitely think that chicks raised during the times when the spring grasses are just beginning to green up would be the healthiest bunch around...that does make sense to me.

I agree 100% about the pullet eggs. But the last conversation I had with Mr Blosl he convinced me it would be wise to get some eggs hatched now for insurance as Bob saw something good in the cockerel I have and told me I should breed around him because he had great balance & type.

 

[aoxa]

Okay so here are some different angles and different birds.

Contender #1


Contender #1


Contender #1



Pullet - keeper


I like this one's legs and head is good size. Can't tell much more from the photo though



Another Contender - We'll call him #2



Pullet


This is the pullet you guys chose from this photo I shared a week ago (see below) This picture shows her leg distance better.

Contender #3 (banded)


Contender #3


SPPR Male


Another one



and yet another...

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

This is the cockerel I recently bought. He is roughly 8 or 9 months, give or take a little. It is really hard to get a good picture of him, because he is constantly moving, so I took a lot. Any critiquing or opinions are well, good and bad. You aren't going to hurt my feelings.







^that is a size 10 mens shoe beside him



this is about the best picture I could get, a bantam salmon favorelle kept being a little photo bomber. I couldnt get a picture of him standing up all the way

 

[Fred's Hens]

He's nice and wide from front to back. That we can see and that's a good thing.

Without a better "stand up" pose, it is really hard to judge his front, top line or bottom line, sorry. I know sometimes how hard it is to get the shots you want.

 

[speckledhen]

Most people who know me? They know I'm sorta the "Freak Big Head" king.

A lot of these better lines of Rocks suffer from a couple of rather annoying constants. Lack of tails on the males and lack of

FREAK BIG HEADS


(we're not alone with this challenge. Have you seen the tiny heads on the Wynadottes and some Orps?)

You remember my Indy? He has one of those FREAK BIG HEADS you're talking about. And he's as tall as my knees, too. Dang, Fred, I wish you could see him in person. He doesn't have the great tail set of his late Uncle Rex (well, he barely has a tail yet, so hard to truly judge that), but he sure has size of his Stukel mama, Ida and Delaware Dad. If he grows into that frame, he will surpass sire, Isaac, in size. And the wing carriage on him and his brothers is fabulous-something I see lacking on some of the really gorgeous BR roosters.