The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[lefty26]

Whooo can't wait to see them.

 

[colburg]

I finally got some pics of the 4 pair of WR's and narrowed it down to 45 pictures. I have profile pics, front, rear, top, and head shots of almost all of them. There's also weights and toe punches of each.

We've been planning on using a 4 pen rotational breeding program and we're going to single mate the pairs so that we're starting with 4 pens.

The previous owner was using the same system and gave us 1 cockerel from each pen, and the 4 pullets are from 3 pens.

If anyone's up for helping us select pairs, let me know which pics and info is needed.

Thanks all,
colburg

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I finally got some pics of the 4 pair of WR's and narrowed it down to 45 pictures. I have profile pics, front, rear, top, and head shots of almost all of them. There's also weights and toe punches of each.

We've been planning on using a 4 pen rotational breeding program and we're going to single mate the pairs so that we're starting with 4 pens.

The previous owner was using the same system and gave us 1 cockerel from each pen, and the 4 pullets are from 3 pens.

If anyone's up for helping us select pairs, let me know which pics and info is needed.

Thanks all,
colburg

I'm in.....glad to help however I can

Might be best to see Ks and Ps separated if possible

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Well....it's day 21 and the first chick of 2014 has just hatched!!! In my "cooler hatcher" that Fred and I both built!! 5 more to go

Let the 2014 season begin!

Will try to post a pix later once it has dried and I'll explain the breeding pen it is from

ALL HATCHED!!

2 are still kinda wet, so I'll try to get pix after church when I move them to the brooder

 

[colburg]

OK, here we go. Starting with K's

K1 toe punch: Left Inside weight: 9.8lbs










K2: toe punch: Right Outside Weight: 9.0lbs












K3: Toe Punch: Right Inside Weight: 9.6lbs Note: He was leaning forward and knock kneed the whole time he was in the cage. When out of it, he stood normal, but was still slightly knock kneed.














K4: Toe Punch: Left Outside Weight: 9.2lbs

 

[colburg]

Now for some P's. I believe the only rule for pairs right now is the toe punches can't match.

P1: Toe Punch: Left Outside Weight: 5.8lbs











P2: Toe Punch: Right Outside Weight: 7.2lbs













P3: Toe Punch: Right Inside Weight: 7.2lbs










P4: Toe Punch: Right Inside Weight: 6.4lbs

 

[Fred's Hens]

First, all of those breeding other varieties of Rocks?? Please take note.

THIS is why the climb is so very uphill. As a variety, the White Rocks just knock it out of the park, even as a group.

It is going to take brave, innovative, consistent and long term breeding for the other varieties to compete against the Whites. There are soooooo many good White Rocks around. Gosh.

My choices for compensatory matings are filling my imagination. I see lots of compensating match ups I'd love to make. Breeding isn't always just choosing the "Best" one and the "best" one.

The pullets are a very level group.

 

[bruceh]

my goals this year. as i am new to rocks. is i will be obtaining stock from 2 places. xw poultry/ jeremy w. and another source. then i will watch these chicks for breeders for next year. we will see. meanwhile being i have no rocks. i will be working on the barnevelder.

 

[desertmarcy]

I would start by adding an hr since you are behind (add light only in the AM). Give it a week then add up to 1 1/2 hr, another week, go to 2 hrs....you need to work up to a total of 14 hr of light

It will take a little white for it to kick in. I use a cheapy timer from Lowes to turn mine on/off. And you dont meed much light. I think my largest coop has a 40W bulb in it.

Whatever you do, PLEASE think about safety and be certain the light is secured somehow so that it doesn't fall into shavings and start a fire, etc!!!

What is the point of "working up" to 14 hr of light? I just put the lights on timer for 14 hr total day length right from the beginning. Had no problems with that, worked like a charm.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

What is the point of "working up" to 14 hr of light? I just put the lights on timer for 14 hr total day length right from the beginning. Had no problems with that, worked like a charm.

Point is to simulate "actual daylight"....slowly increasing the # of hours of actual daylight is what occurs in the Spring time