The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Kinmera]

Thanks again Fred!

 

[uphilljill]

This cockerel from the 11-week-old group (with a pullet from the 7-week-old group) caught my eye today. Love that they're starting to fill in already.

Fred, these two would be 75s (from the pair I hatched from your eggs last year.) Are you thinking of keeping any of this generation of cockerels?

 

[Fred's Hens]

This cockerel from the 11-week-old group (with a pullet from the 7-week-old group) caught my eye today. Love that they're starting to fill in already.



Fred, these two would be 75s (from the pair I hatched from your eggs last year.) Are you thinking of keeping any of this generation of cockerels?

Jill, the 75 K's are simply outstanding. I have tried to share them with folks as I believe they represent a step in the right direction. I've still got a bunch here and they're some of the best looking, friskiest K's I've watched in a long, long time. To answer your question, YES. These K's are now worth keeping and worth using next season, no doubt in my mind.

Your little guy there is a slightly different fork, but they're cousins. In other words, it is a 75 bird that YOU made out of the 50 birds from last year. He's looking great, Jill. Really great. You're doing a super job with these birds.

.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Jill

I think the improvement in vigor alone would be reason to keep some. From what I've seen of Fred's 75s they are a home run!

I have some 87.5s this yr (Columbians) that are 87.5% Canadian Col Rock and 12.5% Wheeler barred rock. The males are outstanding for type and I plan to keep one for next yrs breeding pens

Sometimes a "slight" outcross makes a huge difference

 

[Fred's Hens]

Been thinking. Always thinking, I guess. I have two chess plays next year. One is to breed the 75 to 75 and see how stable the current mix really is. I know I want to do that and will do that. But, I could also make some 88 Piano Key birds.

My guess, however, is that the 88s will not be made. Why not? I don't want the birds to have 88% of their original foundation line. So, the chess move there would be to another line altogether, a line in fine shape. So, the result would be real blend that will take 3 years to stabilize and that's a big project. The gene pool would be really stirred up, eh?

If I do nothing other than breed the 75 birds to each other next year? I'll be fine. We'll see if my palms start itching long about October. LOL

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Fred

75 crossed to 75s will yield 50/50s right??!!!

 

[racertomtom]

75/25 x 75/25 = 75/25
75/25 x 25/75 = 50/50

 

[Fred's Hens]

Fred

75 crossed to 75s will yield 50/50s right??!!!

Tom is correct. When I breed the 75 together next year, (and I will) they'll still be 75s.

To be really, really honest, I like these proportions of blood. The only reason to "add" something more to this line would have to be narrowly defined and focused for a specific reason.

You bred two varieties in your 75 and 87.5 birds. I did not. I simply refer to the ratios of the lines used. Hope that helps.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Although, I know my birds got White Rock through the so-called Maine Line just a few generations back. So, who knows what the real ratios are. A breed is "pure" not because of it's blood, but is "pure" when it well represents the standard. This is a major difference between chickens and dogs, for example. It is something that is hard for many people to wrap their heads around.

When the type is right? It's pure. When the type is wrong? It's not, regardless of the blood that may be in it.

 

[uphilljill]

Been thinking. Always thinking, I guess.  I have two chess plays next year.  One is to breed the 75 to 75 and see how stable the current mix really is.  I know I want to do that and will do that.  But, I could also make some 88 Piano Key birds. 

My guess, however, is that the 88s will not be made.  Why not?  I don't want the birds to have 88% of their original foundation line. So, the chess move there would be to another line altogether, a line in fine shape.  So, the result would be real blend that will take 3 years to stabilize and that's a big project.  The gene pool would be really stirred up, eh?

If I do nothing other than breed the 75 birds to each other next year?  I'll be fine.  We'll see if my palms start itching long about October.  LOL

What lines would you consider for a third?