The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Fred's Hens]

Love this new Rock thread. Thanks for starting it, Fred. And thanks to all who are contributing.

I am new to Rocks, just starting out with 14 BR hatching eggs shipped from Fred. I was lucky enough to get 6 to hatch -- 4 cockerels and one pullet (and one chick that didn't make it.) They're about 13 weeks old now.

I am really impressed by how industrious they are. They have been free-ranging all over our yard since they were 8 weeks old, whereas our 18-week old GNH chicks still hang out close to the barn. And they are BIG, solid-looking birds. I will definitely be continuing with them.

The pullet and the biggest cockerel were fast feathering in. The other 3 cockerels took forever and a day, but have better barring as a result. One of the slower feathering cockerels was a bit runty at first, but seems to have caught up to the others now. Moving forward: Other than choosing for type, how important would it be to pair the fast feathering (only) pullet with one of the slower feathering males? Also, should the cockerel who was runty as a chick be considered as well, or is that grounds for culling?

I'll try to get updated photos this week, but here's a few of them growing out:


at 4 weeks old



at 10 weeks old (pullet is second from left; fast feathering cockerel is far right)


pullet at 10 weeks old

Well, Jill already has the plan figured out. It's pretty much a no brainer. Stand back and watch what she posts next spring!!!

 

[aoxa]

Hi Aoxa

Thank you for posting the pics of your spprs. These chicks are from my hens so I will comment about the brown smut. This is an ongoing issue with my cockerels. Some have brown smut and a few escape the curse. This is why I stayed breeding with my 2011 cock this year; the 2012 cockerel I kept had this problem (he is ready for the stew pot). I did get a few cockerels hatched this year without the brown smut, so I will be choosing one of these to keep. I don't show my birds, but I think the brown smut would be frowned at by judges and probably disqualified. (You would need to check a more recent standard book, the one I have is from the early 1900's)

I looked at some spprs in Nova Scotia this summer, hoping to find a suitable cock to bring to my flock. Unfortunately, I will need to look further. So, for now I will stay breeding within my own flock's genetics, until I can find a good source. Good things come to those who wait!

I must say that there is nothing cute about young spprs, they are slow feathering. . . but if you have patience until they are mature, they have a lot of eye appeal! Good things come to those who wait!

Thank you for starting this thread Fred; I have subscribed.

Has anyone successfully bred out brown smut? All my birds are related and some cockerels show the brown smut and some do not.

I will post pics of my flock on this website (probably this weekend).

Bye for now.

Thanks for getting into the details. There are quite a few boys that don't show it, so I will select the ones with smuttiness for the freezer. No harm. They are nice and big already at 6 weeks, so I can only imagine them being a good size at 20 weeks.

How do you guys grow out your cockerels? Separate pens I am assuming. I'm going to have to start selling off my males, or separating them.. Poor poor girls.

 

[Fred's Hens]

We use bachelor pads at the 9 or 10 week mark. This liberates the pullets and allows them uninterrupted access to the food, which is our primary motivation for the segregation.

 

[uphilljill]

Guess I'll have to send Fred pics of his kids more regularly so he doesn't ruin his shirt buttons.

Thank you for sharing your BRs!

 

[weavers rocks]

Here are a few pictures of the cockerel I am looking at keeping for 2014 hatching/breeding season. Any comments, critiques, strengths/weaknesses, advise, thoughts, etc would be greatly appreciated. Sire is my current brood cock and his name is Jack. My boys named this one JJ as in "Jack Jr". Click on the pix for a larger view












Now, you pick him out of the group shots

I say the one with head pointed down. I like the color pattern good lookin rocksyou have there. gotany pics of pullets

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hey Ken, is it Ken? There a lot interest in your White Rocks. Pointed a few folks your direction.

 

[weavers rocks]

how is your Columbians consistent layers scott

 

[weavers rocks]

Hey Ken, is it Ken? There a lot interest in your White Rocks. Pointed a few folks your direction

it is ken ,thanks

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

how is your Columbians consistent layers scott

Ken, they lay quite well. Probably average 4-5 eggs per week per hen

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I say the one with head pointed down. I like the color pattern good lookin rocksyou have there. gotany pics of pullets

Ken....he is my pick!! The one on the left. Here are a few pullet pix from late June (for those of you who've seen them I apologize for duplication)














At this stage they were right at 6 months (25-26 weeks) old