The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Wynette]

Clay

It is NOT the COLD or even a lack of heat that causes frost bite.... it is MOISTURE. This last cold snap we had was really dry so I don't think anyone would have had too many issues with frost bite around here. BUT the first one it was not as dry and I had about 3-4 roos get frost bite pretty bad. It was strange too as I have 10 pens all the same and it was the roos in the middle 3-4 pens. My guess is the moisture from ALL the pens managed to settle in the middle of the coops for some reason.... maybe the wind blew it to the middle. My coops are well ventilated for sure I made no attempts to make them air tight. I have a 10 inch over hang at the front of the coops with just hardware cloth over it at the peak. There is also lots of gaps in the wood too so air can move. Moisture was the ENEMY in my pens.

I can't say I agree here. I've got a few breeds with extremely large single combs (and wattles), and they get frostbitten every winter. One was in a breeder cage (indoors) this winter, so was never even outside, so...no moisture on his comb. He did get a good amount of frostbite on his comb.

 

[aoxa]

Clay

It is NOT the COLD or even a lack of heat that causes frost bite.... it is MOISTURE. This last cold snap we had was really dry so I don't think anyone would have had too many issues with frost bite around here. BUT the first one it was not as dry and I had about 3-4 roos get frost bite pretty bad. It was strange too as I have 10 pens all the same and it was the roos in the middle 3-4 pens. My guess is the moisture from ALL the pens managed to settle in the middle of the coops for some reason.... maybe the wind blew it to the middle. My coops are well ventilated for sure I made no attempts to make them air tight. I have a 10 inch over hang at the front of the coops with just hardware cloth over it at the peak. There is also lots of gaps in the wood too so air can move. Moisture was the ENEMY in my pens.

Stupid cold snap in December had humidity above 60% with windchills at -40F. It was ridiculous.

It's like a wet slap in the face. Thankfully our weather is improving *knock on wood* January was good December was the worst I have ever experienced. We had 4 foot drifts of snow by new year. Most was around 3 feet. I have 1 1/2 left after the thaw.

 

[Silver Rock]

Clay

It is NOT the COLD or even a lack of heat that causes frost bite.... it is MOISTURE.  This last cold snap we had was really dry so I don't think anyone would have had too many issues with frost bite around here.  BUT the first one it was not as dry and I had about 3-4 roos get frost bite pretty bad.  It was strange too as I have 10 pens all the same and it was the roos in the middle 3-4 pens.  My guess is the moisture from ALL the pens managed to settle in the middle of the coops for some reason.... maybe the wind blew it to the middle.  My coops are well ventilated for sure I made no attempts to make them air tight. I have a 10 inch over hang at the front of the coops with just hardware cloth over it at the peak. There is also lots of gaps in the wood too so air can move.  Moisture was the ENEMY in my pens.

Donna, in my opinion MOISTURE along doesn't cause frost bite. It is the Cold temperatures of Winter combined with MOISTURE. I have always used at least a little heat over my birds and have never had any problems with frost bite. The last thing I would want is to have a very nice bird I plan to show be held back because of a damaged comb due to frost bite.

Clayton Grace "Silver Rock"

 

[aoxa]

Example.. Humidity tonight is 86%. Temps are only 19 though, so that's a big bonus. This is perfect temperatures for winter if you ask me. I like when the ground is frozen but it's not so cold that it's hard to breath.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: Sometimes the air is just moist during these fronts. The first one we got hit with was moist for sure. This last one was VERY Dry. It is just in the air too. I have a few roos with a little on the tips that are in my shop too. No wind really and no heat but it was just really COLD and MOIST. You can keep that weather next year.... I have had my fill of it so no more for 30 years please.

I have seasonal eczema and in the winter when it is dryer it really flairs up. I know this last one was very dry because my hands broke out pretty bad. Had to do extra treatments and am still adding more Turmeric to try to get it under control.

 

[Wynette]

Ah, gotcha. Yep, of course there's humidity in the air. It hasn't been overly humid this winter in my area, but I honestly don't track that. I'm sure that's right - it's the humidity ALONG with the cold temps. Since my main goal is not showing my silver penciled rocks (they are not nearly ready), I honestly am not worrying about frostbite with them.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
Agree.... I have never seen anyone complain of frostbite in the summer.

 

[aoxa]

Agree.... I have never seen anyone complain of frostbite in the summer.

Heat rash from the humidity is an issue but not for the chickens.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Big, wide head. The head is a tell tale sign of intelligence and vigor. The Rock, of any variety, looks like a Rock when you get the head right. They're composite birds and some of the "other" stuff shows up as small headed birds and Rock breeders need to guard against crow heads, flat top heads, flat back of heads, and one of the worst; skinny heads.

Clayton's number one cockerel has a very pleasing head. Striking really. The other cockerel he has shown lacks that nice head completely. That Clayton has a choice for his breeding program? Awesome.

Wide butts, fluffy butts. These are two different things. A nice bird is wide straight through, from shoulders through the back. I often demonstrate with youth that you have to notice several planes when evaluating. From above, from the profile and from the rear.

From the top, you should see no pinching, or narrowing from the shoulders all the way through the tail.
From the side, you should see no undue cushion fluff in front of the tail.
From the rear you should see a nice wide, angular tent formed, but you do NOT want to see a bulge of fluff down below, nor see that excess Orpington type fluff in profile view either.

Fluff around the thighs can also be seen from the side, from the top and from the rear. Again, 3 planes of examination. Often, this fluff is poor feathering, too soft. If you breed a patterned bird, such as a SPR or Barred, you'll often notice this fluffy, soft excessive feathering on the thighs also do not "take" the pattern well and is of a dull, off, muddied mess.

Yes, indeed. It's breeding season in Rock land. The happiest time of year.

 

[smarsh]

Big, wide head. The head is a tell tale sign of intelligence and vigor. The Rock, of any variety, looks like a Rock when you get the head right. They're composite birds and some of the "other" stuff shows up as small headed birds and Rock breeders need to guard against crow heads, flat top heads, flat back of heads, and one of the worst; skinny heads

Unfortunately, this explains so much about myself