The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Silver Rock]

3 weeks ago I put 12 eggs in the incubator and 11 developed to day 18. It is now day 21 and I have 10 chicks out of the incubator, I am very happy with that. Going to leave the one egg in till tomorrow after that more eggs will go in. I keep telling myself this is my last hatch for the year but o well. I will get pictures of the chicks posted later once they have dried out.

Outstanding!

Clayton,

Are you getting grey or brown chicks out of your SP pens?

Hi Tom, at best my SPR chicks are a light cream with a hint of gray on sides of body with the chestnut down the center of the back. I have only used my lighter pullets "in chick down & feather plumage coloring" that showed no brownish cast in the breeding pens so I think that has helped me to get lighter chicks that are feathering out with gray feathers.
Last year I did have a few chicks that were dark "to dark in my opinion" with almost a chocolate tint to them that feather out with the brownish cast and I cull them out fairly quick.

 

[Silver Rock]

Here is a picture of my 10 Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock chicks that hatched today. This is my third SPR hatching this year and with the 19 chicks that hatched out early that are all still doing great this brings my SPR chick total to 29. Tomorrow I will add more eggs to the incubator and in three weeks if all goes well I will have more chicks to add to my chick total.

 

[Findtex]

Too bad the poses aren't better, Australia has some very good Barred Rocks. Does Australia have Dark and Light classes of Barred Plymouth Rocks?

As I said the photos were not great, Yes we have a Light and Dark Class and a Bantam Class at regional shows, all other colours have to go into AOV or AOC.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Wanted Breeding partner in central or northern Michigan who would love to work with Rocks. Drop me a pm if you think you might have a serious interest. Thanks.

We'll get you set up with a quality, breeding trio.

 

[Silver Rock]

Hi Tom, here is a close up of one of my SPR chicks showing the side of the body with the light cream chick down with the gray mixed in.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Breeding for vigor?

When you read old breed books, how to raise poultry etc. it always starts with choosing birds “full of vigor” or “vigorous birds”. Why is that?
Vigor - physical strength and good health.
synonyms:

robustness, health, hardiness, strength, sturdiness, toughness;
bloom, radiance, energy, life, vitality, virility, verve, spirit;
zeal, passion, determination, dynamism, zest, pep, drive, force;
When applied to chickens, to me vigor means attitude, ambition or motivation, sometimes confused with aggression. They are always trying to move up in the pecking order. If a young bird lacks vigor he will not be all he can be and health and maturity will suffer. It will not get the exercise and nutrients required to exploit its genetic traits. Think of an athlete vs. a couch potato, it’s easy to tell the difference. A flock lacking vigor is not a healthy flock regardless of how well it’s being taken care of.

So, how do you identify vigor before a lack of it turns into bad type, poor hatchability etc.? Through observation. Not only do I find it very enjoyable to sit with the flock with a cup of coffee, I also find it very productive. Does a bird jump up and snatch a fly or butterfly out of mid air or watch it fly inches over its head? Does a bird forage and scratch for tasty treats all day even though it’s not hungry or does it stand or lay down in the corner? Do they constantly spar with one another for that spot in the pecking order or do they back down at the first sign of aggression? Do they push and shove at the trough when you feed them even though they already had feed or do the stand in the corner until you leave? These are all signs of a vigorous flock that will exploit their genetic traits.

Thank you for this post, Tom. Thank you so much. Athleticism is tops on my list this year. The venerable, well-known, heritage line upon which our birds were built never pleased me in terms of vigor, thus I traced this issue from the earliest posts in this thread, way back at the beginning.

I watched my chosen male last fall, and while I like him for many things, I disliked his winter breeding lack of athleticism and decided that moving forward, that would be near to the top of the list.

I have a pen of 8-10 week old juvies that I loose from the grow out pen and I too pull up a lawn chair, a cup of coffee and watch them keenly. The things you articulated are precisely that one must notice. I've 3 choice White Pullets and they too will be judged on vigor and athleticism. I intend to be very, very hard on the Barred K's for this. I honestly admit that just as one can go "barn blind" for type, that such blindness can also be caused by seeing only one breed move and function, all the time. My Big Red Nelson Male in my avatar is only 9 months old. But, just his power, his moves, speed, jumping, aggressive mating, sharp senses and keen mind have impressed me. I decided that my old line Rock males are lacking, to a large degree, these athletic features and prowess. Changes are coming.

 

[Kinmera]

I finally got my WPRs outside last week, I'm hoping it perks them up a bit. They're being quite lazy all the way around lately. No eggs, lots of sitting around. I've only had 2 of them laying eggs at all this spring. 1 of them I am watching her hatches because her comb is seriously misshapen and I do not want that carrying through.
I am seriously looking for either a brand new Trio/Quad or some hatching eggs. If anyone has either please send me a PM with prices.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I finally got my WPRs outside last week, I'm hoping it perks them up a bit. They're being quite lazy all the way around lately. No eggs, lots of sitting around. I've only had 2 of them laying eggs at all this spring. 1 of them I am watching her hatches because her comb is seriously misshapen and I do not want that carrying through.
I am seriously looking for either a brand new Trio/Quad or some hatching eggs. If anyone has either please send me a PM with prices.

I am guessing you're in PA? That's an affordable shipping of chicks. I'd contact Ken Weaver and have him send you some chicks. He could easily put 4 or 5 chicks (5 weeks) in a standard nest and ship it up to you. Box is about $20 and the postage would be around $50. Way, way better than messing with eggs.

 

[Kinmera]

I am guessing you're in PA? That's an affordable shipping of chicks. I'd contact Ken Weaver and have him send you some chicks. He could easily put 4 or 5 chicks (5 weeks) in a standard nest and ship it up to you. Box is about $20 and the postage would be around $50. Way, way better than messing with eggs.

Falconer, NY actually.

Thank you for the information Fred!

Can you send me a PM with how to contact him?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Falconer, NY actually.

Thank you for the information Fred!

You're welcome. Drop Ken a pm at Weavers Rocks and see what he's got.