The Omega Rocks: The Last & Ultimate Barred Plymouth Rock Flock

[speckledhen]

It's 4:40 a.m. Ten chicks have hatched. One late hatcher left pipped and now zipping. Four chicks are still in the incubator all fluffed out so when it's light, will band them, put them in the brooder and wait for the straggler. No reason to think that one will have trouble hatching.
The fertility rate for this bunch is 73% because of the four from Jamie's #3 pen. If the last one hatches, and I see no reason to think it won't, that will be a 100% hatch rate on shipped eggs. Wow. I never expected to get that, though I felt it would be high after the 10 day candling. So many factors go into that like flock health, shell quality, packing of the eggs, no abuse in shipping and an incubator that is reliable. Pics of the new bunch coming later today. Maybe I will be able to get a preliminary read on the sexes as well. I just want a decent number of pullets.

 

[21hens-incharge]

That is a fantastic hatch!! I am excited to see all the little fluffy butts!

 

[speckledhen]

I'm amazed myself, actually. Even the Post Office couldn't stop this bunch!
For anyone interested, this statement from the late breeder, Robert Blosl, a BYC member, years ago when he was the secretary of the Plymouth Rock Fanciers Club lauded Jamie Duckworth's breeding efforts:

Jamie was a person about two or three years ago who wanted to get started in large fowl Barred Rocks to try to help preserve the breed. He has studied so many great breeders and has used a method for producing the large frame first that will give you quick feathering type birds. Also, the color has not been sacrificed to get these his birds up to the standard for showing. Jamie also has a web site where you can see pictures of his birds and I like what I saw.

I think the Stukel BRs may be one of other strains that make up what Jamie is producing today, but don't quote me on that. Bob had said years back that Jamie bred in three different strains, then worked to meet the SOP. Marvin Stukel himself began with Glen Holgerson's old line of BRs.
When I thanked Jamie last night for being so responsive with communication as well as for his beautiful stock, that I am grateful to have them, this is what he replied:
"I enjoy helping folks who want to be helped!"
Not everyone cares about preserving this breed in its proper form or about the Standard of Perfection at all and that's okay. Most just want eggs and fun pets and I get that because we eat a ton of eggs regularly, enjoy their company and value the rich fertilizer they produce for the garden. I am not able to breed to the level of a true preservationist and keeper of the flame, so to speak, partly because my life is such that I can't take on that amount of work and complication, but I do love the quality of a true BR over the production hatchery types, seeing that eye candy every day. Since my husband loves this breed more than any other, I felt it was worth it to restart mine with this type. I guess you can say I will contribute to the preservation of that quality when I sell my extra cockerels later on and help someone else improve their own BRs. Let's hope there are enough folks around who will see their value and want them!

 

[speckledhen]

I was just thinking today that I wish Hector's Jill and Maddie weren't too old/ not productive enough or I'd put them in with one of the new cockerels when I choose them. Also, that would leave Zara alone with little Mace because she carries a dwarf gene I don't want passing down into the new BRs. Maddie, especially, would be a good one to reproduce. She's larger than her mother so takes after daddy Hector and her barring is beautiful, but she's 7 years old and her mother is almost 9 years old so they don't need to be put upon by some young BR stud-muffin.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Congratulations on a great beginning for your new line! ENJOY!



Rusty

 

[speckledhen]

Congratulations on a great beginning for your new line! ENJOY!



Rusty

Thank you, Rusty! I'm very grateful to have these chicks and looking forward to seeing what they grow into.

 

[1muttsfan]

I'm very thankful I don't have anything in an incubator. We are in the middle of a big ice storm that has been going on for a day and a half and supposed to continue into tomorrow. No power since sometime last night, I know it was off at 2:00 a.m., on it 4:00 a.m. briefly and off again since.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm very thankful I don't have anything in an incubator. We are in the middle of a big ice storm that has been going on for a day and a half and supposed to continue into tomorrow. No power since sometime last night, I know it was off at 2:00 a.m., on it 4:00 a.m. briefly and off again since.

We have ice everywhere too, but thankfully we haven't lost power. Hope you get yours back soon. This time of year it feels like the bad weather will never end. Not sure what to wish for, snow or rain. This time it gave us everything in between.

 

[Ponypoor]

I'm very thankful I don't have anything in an incubator. We are in the middle of a big ice storm that has been going on for a day and a half and supposed to continue into tomorrow. No power since sometime last night, I know it was off at 2:00 a.m., on it 4:00 a.m. briefly and off again since.

Same deal here with the weather. My sister and niece both have had no power since Saturday 6pm, at their houses; no generators either. My younger niece is trying to run a couple generators up there to them but she is well over 100km away and the roads blocked with down trees… power lines…. I am so glad for my generator. And super thankful I don’t have to worry about eggs or chicks right now with my one niece. She usually hatches eggs for her class, thankfully she waits till a bit later in the year.

But it really make me worry about an incubator in the school over a weekend - what if the power went out? I guess I would have to drive to the school to collect the bator. But how would we know? I am going to bring this up with her when I see her next. Such a huge worry these eggs and babies. Great fun, but a huge worry also.

Be safe over there - remember it’s closer to July than November! It has to warm up at some point!

 

[Ponypoor]

It's 4:40 a.m. Ten chicks have hatched. One late hatcher left pipped and now zipping. Four chicks are still in the incubator all fluffed out so when it's light, will band them, put them in the brooder and wait for the straggler. No reason to think that one will have trouble hatching.
The fertility rate for this bunch is 73% because of the four from Jamie's #3 pen. If the last one hatches, and I see no reason to think it won't, that will be a 100% hatch rate on shipped eggs. Wow. I never expected to get that, though I felt it would be high after the 10 day candling. So many factors go into that like flock health, shell quality, packing of the eggs, no abuse in shipping and an incubator that is reliable. Pics of the new bunch coming later today. Maybe I will be able to get a preliminary read on the sexes as well. I just want a decent number of pullets.

Congratulations - well done!