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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I can see why it will be hard to choose. They are gorgeous boys. Will you let their personality help? Sometimes the best lookers know it, and are not nice cockerel to the pullets. Just like teenage boys.

 

[speckledhen]

I can see why it will be hard to choose. They are gorgeous boys. Will you let their personality help? Sometimes the best lookers know it, and are not nice cockerel to the pullets. Just like teenage boys.

Yes, definitely. That's why I'm waiting until at least 16 weeks to make any real decision, after they enter the hormone stage. That should tell me a lot. First it's temperament, then personality. I prefer friendly males, but non-aggressive is more important. Hopefully, I can have both.

 

[speckledhen]

I checked combs more closely. No ugly thumbprints, which I didn't think there would be. But I have been noticing that the possible keeper male of the Pen #3 males, the brother of the smallest male, has a crooked middle toe; he walks on the side of it. I think his brother may as well. Others place their feet perfectly flat and straight as far as I can tell. Just one more tidbit of information in the files.
The smaller guy picks on the girls and the massive black banded male rushes to discipline him. The big guy is also the calmest of the males as far as being handled. Hard to believe that these tanks are only 12 weeks old. But, I think I recall Hector being a fairly wide load as well at that age.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Well now that big black banded boy deserves the name Tank. I'm rooting for him defending the girls.

 

[speckledhen]

He certainly is a tank! The only downside I can see to him as a keeper, though he may be my alternate choice, is that he is directly related to the pullets through at least their sire. Depending on how many hens Jamie has in that pen, one or more could be 100% brother/sister. I've done that in the past when I had few choices, not totally verboten, but not ideal.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

He certainly is a tank! The only downside I can see to him as a keeper, though he may be my alternate choice, is that he is directly related to the pullets through at least their sire. Depending on how many hens Jamie has in that pen, one or more could be 100% brother/sister. I've done that in the past when I had few choices, not totally verboten, but not ideal.

Definitely don't want to inbreed too much. Unless you want 2 headed chickens? I've seen a few three legged chickens. It's not attractive.

 

[speckledhen]

Nooo two headed chickens! The main thing about breeding close relatives is the inheritance of unwanted traits. Case in point... Atlas's son, Apollo, over Zara and Athena, producing two dwarfs. That means that, though you cannot see it, all three were dwarf gene carriers and I hit the jackpot.
Jamie said something about breeding two birds who have opposite traits, one good to make up for the mate's shortcoming in that area. I'd rather not have closely related ones, but I am a bit taken with the huge guy now affectionately known as Tank, thanks to Lisa, LOL. That reminded me of my Delaware, Isaac's, group I was choosing males from. He stood out from the rest and I was calling him The Rockstar, then Rockstar and when he was the one in the end, I named him Isaac.

 

[NanaK]

Jamie said something about breeding two birds who have opposite traits, one good to make up for the mate's shortcoming in that area.

I know some Marans breeders that use a similar technique. Seems to work well for them.

The birds are just beautiful!

Wouldn't hurt to consider keeping 2 males if you can.

 

[speckledhen]

Wouldn't hurt to consider keeping 2 males if you can.

I am definitely keeping two, but I'd like to figure out how to keep three of them, just in case. You never know what will happen, predator loss (though it would be the first time), personality twist, injury, etc. A sire and a spare, at least is what the plan is with possible third alternate.
I checked the smallest male for crooked toes and he doesn't seem to have them, though he is so averse to being approached to the point of going nuts when I catch him; he isn't a keeper, IMO, first to go. Hector didn't like being picked up, but otherwise, he was sweet and friendly. This one is neither and he picks on the pullets a bit too much for my taste. His brother is better, but not by a lot as far as being personable. He's just better looking other than his crooked middle toe.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

His brother is better, but not by a lot as far as being personable. He's just better looking other than his crooked middle toe.

It could be worse. My last hatch produced only 1 roo, but he's gorgeous. Probably the best roo I have ever had. Just one small problem...one leg is about an inch longer than the other. Never seen that in a chicken before. sigh.

I do envy your many choices here!



Rusty