Show me your Partridge Rock roosters!

[cybercat]

Quote:
This suprises me that you can not tell the roos from the pullets yet. I was able to pick out one of my roos at 2 weeks the other at 3. Here is his pic.





This is him at 4 and a half weeks.

 

[mrbstephens]

Here are pics of my 11 week old. His name is Pauly and he was supposed to be a pullet.

 

[Sparklee]

Quote:
My opinion only: The Partridge Rock chicks that I received from McMurray are not the best of breed. I think they are runty and not growing as one would expect. Two of them, at least, still prefer the pine shavings to food (I see the littlest ones digging in the shavings more often than I like), but they still have managed to survive and remain active. So I guess that's something, huh? I thought for sure they were doomed. They were moved from brooder boxes (Rubbermaid) in my living room to the brooder house at 6 days along with 10 Dark Cornish and the Free Rare Chick -- and they were put in with 25 Ideal chicks (5 Dark Cornish) that were 10 days older and quite a bit larger. No problems at all. None. A great co-mingling--which surprised me and made me quite happy.

The difference between Ideal's and McMurrary's chicks is like night and day. Ideal's babies all showed up very active, having been air shipped. McMurrary's were listless after being sent "Surface" mail. I lost one before I could get them in the brooder container in my living room. I had to get them to drink a few times before they perked up. The Ideal chicks were lively and rushed the food and water on their own. Because I got Dark Cornish in both orders, I can compare them. The growth of Ideal's Dark Cornish far outstrips the growth of McMurray's Dark Cornish. I lost one of McMurray's Dark Cornish at around 10 days. It just wouldn't grow. A couple of others were like this, but managed to survive. Oh and some of the McMurray chicks arrived with pasting; I could feel it when I pulled them from the box and got them to drink or I'd have never guessed they had it.

So, all this is to say that I think that I can't sex them yet because the Partridge Rocks from McMurray (just the ones I got, mind you) are not developing at the expected rate.

I doubt it's environmental either because we have one of those Ohio Station brooder hovers that Plamondon recommends and it allows for the chicks to self-regulate their warmth levels. So both batches of chicks, while being 10 days apart, could move to the location in the brooder house that best suited their warmth needs. They all get the same feed and water. And there is no bullying when I watch them ... about 1/2 to and hour a day. Two waterers and they started with 3 feeders, went up to 4 feeders and are now down to two (one red one with many holes and a large tube feeder. So everyone can get food and water as necessary all day and night.

And now I'm off to look up Mt. Healthy. Sounds like I should have checked them out initially, however, I'd never heard of them until now.

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
My opinion only: The Partridge Rock chicks that I received from McMurray are not the best of breed. I think they are runty and not growing as one would expect. Two of them, at least, still prefer the pine shavings to food (I see the littlest ones digging in the shavings more often than I like), but they still have managed to survive and remain active. So I guess that's something, huh? I thought for sure they were doomed. They were moved from brooder boxes (Rubbermaid) in my living room to the brooder house at 6 days along with 10 Dark Cornish and the Free Rare Chick -- and they were put in with 25 Ideal chicks (5 Dark Cornish) that were 10 days older and quite a bit larger. No problems at all. None. A great co-mingling--which surprised me and made me quite happy.

The difference between Ideal's and McMurrary's chicks is like night and day. Ideal's babies all showed up very active, having been air shipped. McMurrary's were listless after being sent "Surface" mail. I lost one before I could get them in the brooder container in my living room. I had to get them to drink a few times before they perked up. The Ideal chicks were lively and rushed the food and water on their own. Because I got Dark Cornish in both orders, I can compare them. The growth of Ideal's Dark Cornish far outstrips the growth of McMurray's Dark Cornish. I lost one of McMurray's Dark Cornish at around 10 days. It just wouldn't grow. A couple of others were like this, but managed to survive. Oh and some of the McMurray chicks arrived with pasting; I could feel it when I pulled them from the box and got them to drink or I'd have never guessed they had it.

So, all this is to say that I think that I can't sex them yet because the Partridge Rocks from McMurray (just the ones I got, mind you) are not developing at the expected rate.

I doubt it's environmental either because we have one of those Ohio Station brooder hovers that Plamondon recommends and it allows for the chicks to self-regulate their warmth levels. So both batches of chicks, while being 10 days apart, could move to the location in the brooder house that best suited their warmth needs. They all get the same feed and water. And there is no bullying when I watch them ... about 1/2 to and hour a day. Two waterers and they started with 3 feeders, went up to 4 feeders and are now down to two (one red one with many holes and a large tube feeder. So everyone can get food and water as necessary all day and night.

And now I'm off to look up Mt. Healthy. Sounds like I should have checked them out initially, however, I'd never heard of them until now.

I bought my chicks from a feed store. I just happened to notice that they came from Mt. Healthy. By the way one of my EE that came from them had cocci which I noticed the day after I brought them home. I don't know if she picked it up from the hatchery or from the feed store. Thankfully I knew to treat her and she recovered!

 

[cybercat]

Quote:
It looks like I am seeing some bettle green color in the feathers if I am right then that is a roo. Pullets do not have that color at all. I am sure you will find out soon enough.

I knew of MT Healthy but wanted to buy from Meyer. But my local feed store gets there chicks from Mt Healthy so I got them. Wow I am real glad I did these are turning out to be some really nice chicks. Not that Meyers would not have been it is just they stopped carrying them this year. I was going to switch breeds because of that till I found out the local feed store was ordering in for people and from Mt Healthy.

Turns out it is the first time in 20 years anyone in this area has even order this breed thru them. The lady that does the chicks at the feed store has been doing it for that long. Small town in the country.

Since I will be breeding for heritage I am already seeing possilbe culls due to leg and feet color. I am not surprised at all about that though. Size wise these are some big chicks at 4 and half weeks they are already just a bit over a foot high without stretching their necks. I am used to working with a smaller breed than these so it caught me by surprise.

 

[walkswithdog]

I initially bought PRs from MM. I sold them all. I then bought from Ideal and was far happier.

Here's George a few months ago, he has his faults but he's sweet and a good Roo...

His tail set sucks but for hatchery stock he really is not bad, good and broad, great big screaming yellow legs.

 

[mrbstephens]

Walkswithdog that's a beautiful bird! Would you say the PR is a loud crower. Do they also tend to crow often or are they a quieter breed?

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
It looks like I am seeing some bettle green color in the feathers if I am right then that is a roo. Pullets do not have that color at all. I am sure you will find out soon enough.

I knew of MT Healthy but wanted to buy from Meyer. But my local feed store gets there chicks from Mt Healthy so I got them. Wow I am real glad I did these are turning out to be some really nice chicks. Not that Meyers would not have been it is just they stopped carrying them this year. I was going to switch breeds because of that till I found out the local feed store was ordering in for people and from Mt Healthy.

Turns out it is the first time in 20 years anyone in this area has even order this breed thru them. The lady that does the chicks at the feed store has been doing it for that long. Small town in the country.

Since I will be breeding for heritage I am already seeing possilbe culls due to leg and feet color. I am not surprised at all about that though. Size wise these are some big chicks at 4 and half weeks they are already just a bit over a foot high without stretching their necks. I am used to working with a smaller breed than these so it caught me by surprise.

Yes, actaully Pauly has a lot of green. I've come to terms with the fact that he is a rooster. If he continues to be well behaved and doesn't make TOO much noise then he can stay. My neighbors live real close to me.

 

[walkswithdog]

Quote:
He crows mostly morning and night and when he percieves a challenge. Not too often. I have had louder and more frequent crowers.

He's broader and heavier now, his tail's a tad better, his spurs are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. He's calm and easy going and I can still pick him up, though he's like a teenage boy. MOMMMMMM don't hug me in front of the GIRLS!!!

 

[loverOFchickens]

My opinion only: The Partridge Rock chicks that I received from McMurray are not the best of breed. I think they are runty and not growing as one would expect.

So, all this is to say that I think that I can't sex them yet because the Partridge Rocks from McMurray (just the ones I got, mind you) are not developing at the expected rate. quote]

I agree they are not show quality but mine was not runty or slow growing.
Maybe it was the year you orderd??