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

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They're a nice looking group. They are really calm too. Gorgeous.

 

[speckledhen]

UPDATE: Snapped the few pics I could today. Asked Jamie if he would cull for a couple of crooked toes and if one of the combs qualified as 'floppy" or is it okay. Waiting for his answer.
Pen #1 (purple band) I don't think any have a thumbprint comb, but of the three males from Pen #1, one has a comb that flops over to one side from midway back. Jamie mentioned floppy combs but what degree of flop is a disqualification for that male is what I asked. The other one has one split point, I know not a big deal, but all other traits being equal, I generally default to a comb for the tie-breaker. The third one has a great, straight 5 pt comb, all have great size on them. So, that's Pen #1. Unless the comb flopping over in back is a sticking point, they are all decent choices.

As for the two males from Pen #7 (black band) where all four pullets come from, they are just gorgeous and huge. Both are curious and interested in whatever I'm doing, not prone to panic. Of course, they are at least half siblings to all four pullets. One of them has decided that Little Man from Pen #3 must be disciplined regularly so he's always on his case about something, bullying the pullets or some other transgression. This pen #7 produced some really nice youngsters. The pullets are pretty and have good size as well. All have excellent barring. The only things I need to check as they fill out more are that they have straight backs, deep chests, good tail carriage, etc. I will choose two and may keep three of them. I have the four EE hens I can add to the group to take the pressure off the four pullets if I need to do it.

Pen #3 is the problem; those are the two with the skittish personalities; these were white bands, but had to change to yellow when I ran out of white and the better male has two bands on the same leg. The smallest male is shorter and less wide than the other one as well as all other males from the other two pens. He has the worst personality of all of them, avoids me, screams like he's going into a crock pot when I do catch him. Others don't seem to like him much either. He is hard to catch and hard to handle. The larger one looks really good to me, nice straight 5 pt comb, good size, personality is slightly less bad (he will calm down after holding him for a couple of minutes, but it's a struggle until then), and I was considering him as a keeper, but I noticed recently that he has three crooked toes, two on the right and one on the left. Two of them, he walks on their sides and one of them, the inner toe on the right crooks to the left. If I recall, most crooked toes are genetic, though they can be from incubation. Since incubation went so darn well, I wonder if he would be a disqualification for that reason? Those two are the only real problem members of that entire group
(Adding that I have two favorites from Pen #1(purple) and two from Pen #7 (black), but I can't keep four, only three max)
Any of these look especially good (or bad) to you?