The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[desertmarcy]

It's not an exact science, because since some cocks simply adore certain favorites or some females are overly submissive they get overbred, so this has to be factored. BUT…..

If you have a cock over a pair or trio of females from one line and they are scalded off in two weeks time, but you put a dual or trio of females from a entirely different line and during their two weeks of breeding you see no damage at all?

THAT is something that grabs your attention. You begin to ponder if this is in some small way a measure of feathering quality on your females. It would be interesting to hear from some on their experiences on this.

I have a trio of Rhode Island Red hens in with a cock bird, been paired since early Feb. Almost all their eggs are fertile, but not a feather out of place on their backs. They are good enough to take to a show. This I like. I wonder, should all breeds have the tighter feathering? I see definite differences between breeds.

 

[Wynette]

I wonder, should all breeds have the tighter feathering? I see definite differences between breeds.

Orpingtons and Wyandottes to name just a couple have much looser feathering than what the PRs and Reds have (or should have).

Interesting that Fred mentioned feather quality. It's something that's not often spoken about, but I've been keen on learning more about it. At a show in Newnan, GA last month, I was very fortunate to be part of a lesson taught by judge Rip Stalvey in regard to feather quality. I had dinner with him and a few other folks the evening before, and was fortunate to sit near him; we spoke about feather quality for a good length of time over dinner, and he offered to stop back out to the fair grounds the next morning and do a seminar of sorts on it.

Boy, it hasn't much been OUT of my gray matter since then.

There is SO much to learn about feather quality, it's not just about how the feather looks, but how it lays, how thick the shaft is, how much (and tightness) of the down, etc. VERY interesting stuff. Matter of fact, there was a bird there that at the outset looked fabulous (and placed quite high) to me; however, once a feather was plucked and Rip pointed a few things out, the quality just wasn't there.

Anyway...for anyone wondering about feathers, I highly, highly recommend learning all that you can about feather quality. It is VERY eye opening!

 

[uphilljill]

Quote: You were correct: Molting did not appear to affect my rooster's fertility. All 3 BR eggs I stuck in the incubator last weekend are fertile. Thx!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Last fall, I hatched some test matings. These have proved to be invaluable. One match up produced a pullet, that I've shown from time to time, with the tightest feathering, especially in the troublesome areas, of any pullet we hatched out last year, to my eye.

She's pure XW/GSBR so true to her lineage, she's a super slow developer and still isn't in lay. UGH. That's the typical not-so-good news. But, she will be key, I believe, in future matings to bring a better quality feather to bear. Since we knew who both her sire and her dam was, we also are relying on going back to that mating to hopefully produce some more chicks who also have that feature.

Pressing for tighter feathering was my number one pressure point this year, so it is on my mind frequently when I post.

Right now, this weather has my breeding pens in a tither and I'm a bit grumpy and frustrated by it.

 

[normanack]

Right now, this weather has my breeding pens in a tither and I'm a bit grumpy and frustrated by it.   ​

We got 8" of snow yesterday. . . . me, grumpy? You bet. :-/

 

[desertmarcy]

Quote: Where can one learn more about feather quality? I don't have a clue what I'd be looking for in a feather to determine if it is quality. Wish there was someone out here could teach about that, you are lucky, Wynette.

 

[Wynette]

Where can one learn more about feather quality? I don't have a clue what I'd be looking for in a feather to determine if it is quality. Wish there was someone out here could teach about that, you are lucky, Wynette.

Hey there - I'd been on a quest to learn more for years, actually, since I got my nice line of Jersey Giants from a breeder in Oregon. She'd been really pushing me to watch the feather quality on my breeders and I was totally clueless about what the heck she was talking about. After getting to know Rip a bit, I was finally able to bring myself to just ASK outright: What's all the talk about feather quality? Goodness, that was all it took, and we chatted the evening away, mostly about that! Amazing stuff, and yes, I DO feel fortunate that I at least have a good, basic understanding of it now.

Do you go to shows? I'd begin by asking some LONGTIME breeders (I bet Bob knew all there is to know about feather quality...) or judges. Most are more than willing to share their knowledge. Rip pulled a feather from the same spot on a number of birds - different breeds & genders, but the feather came from the same spot on each so we'd have a good, direct comparison. Each feather was held up to the sun so we could see how thin or thick it was. Also, when you have the bird in hand, run the BACK of your hand across the topline; that's the very first indicator of quality feathering. They should feel quite smooth, and sikly. It's funny, because I have Marans of several different lines on my property, and I have often noted that one particular line always felt "softer" to me. Well, LIGHTBULB MOMENT as we went though the "class" by Rip! That line, come to find out, has EXCELLENT feather quality!

Unfortunately, it's just not something that would be easily learned online and I'm not very good at describing things. I wondered after the class whether it could even be taught via video, and I think that just wouldn't work either, because of having to hold teh feather up to the light. I just don't think a video camera would pick it up correctl, but I could be wrong.

 

[Wynette]

OH - desertmarcy, I just thought of one other thing. I asked Rip whether he'd be willing to evaluate feathers via mail...I've been EXTREMELY busy these last couple of weeks, but I told him that I'd love to pull together some sort of form that folks could fill out; the form would show where to pull the feather from and give Rip's mailing address. I haven't even started yet, but goodness - this might be a really good thing to share on this thread!

Okay, I'm getting all amped up about feather quality again! I'm going to think about questions for the form, yank some feathers & get them sent in to Rip, I'll take some close-up pics of them before I send them, and I'll share the results that Rip provides on here.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The Standard, when speaking about a Plymouth Rock feather, says the feather should be long and broad. Let's start there.

We've all seen birds with poor feathering and upon closer examination, the feathers are individual feathers are simply not broad enough. Too narrow. This can give the bird a stringy look that doesn't befit the breed. Broad. That's a strong word. Find two birds in your flock or from two of your strains. Find a bird with the narrowest feathers and one with the broadest feathers. Take the bird outside, 4H style bird handling, like we teach kids.

Let the sun show you the feathering on the hackles, back, cushion, thighs, and tail. Have your eyes see the individual feathers. Do they look broad? Do they look wispy, fuzzy or shredded? (an awful thing on any American) Do they look healthy and able to protect the bird from weather? A dual purpose bird should be feathered with an idea of protecting the bird, so says the Standard. Stroke the bird, in the sun. Feather quality is determined in large part by genetics, but is also supported and/or defeated by nutrition.

When we talk about marking our early feathering chicks, it is interesting to know that the Standard itself mentions this and suggest it as a positive trait of a dual purpose bird. A feathering that has good support of a quality shaft, is wide, feels soft, yet "slick", is a wonderful thing to see and feel.

The Standard also mentions that all Americans should have feathering held moderately close to the body.

 

[desertmarcy]

Hey there - I'd been on a quest to learn more for years, actually, since I got my nice line of Jersey Giants from a breeder in Oregon. She'd been really pushing me to watch the feather quality on my breeders and I was totally clueless about what the heck she was talking about. After getting to know Rip a bit, I was finally able to bring myself to just ASK outright: What's all the talk about feather quality? Goodness, that was all it took, and we chatted the evening away, mostly about that! Amazing stuff, and yes, I DO feel fortunate that I at least have a good, basic understanding of it now.

Do you go to shows? I'd begin by asking some LONGTIME breeders (I bet Bob knew all there is to know about feather quality...) or judges. Most are more than willing to share their knowledge. Rip pulled a feather from the same spot on a number of birds - different breeds & genders, but the feather came from the same spot on each so we'd have a good, direct comparison. Each feather was held up to the sun so we could see how thin or thick it was. Also, when you have the bird in hand, run the BACK of your hand across the topline; that's the very first indicator of quality feathering. They should feel quite smooth, and sikly. It's funny, because I have Marans of several different lines on my property, and I have often noted that one particular line always felt "softer" to me. Well, LIGHTBULB MOMENT as we went though the "class" by Rip! That line, come to find out, has EXCELLENT feather quality!

Unfortunately, it's just not something that would be easily learned online and I'm not very good at describing things. I wondered after the class whether it could even be taught via video, and I think that just wouldn't work either, because of having to hold teh feather up to the light. I just don't think a video camera would pick it up correctl, but I could be wrong.

Yes, what limited shows we have out here, I go and enter birds. So where on the bird were you pulling feathers to evaluate? From their back or hackle? My Reese/Mohawk line of RIRs has good feathering, I believe, so at least I can compare to them. Doesn't help comparing your birds if they all have poor feathering. I think the idea of sending off feathers for evaluation is great, if the evaluator has the time.