The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Fred's Hens]

Fred has seriously taken me under his wing with the Barred Plymouth Rocks. I would not understand what to look for if it wasn't for his help. I really want to thank him for that again.

So the show. We didn't win anything - but I didn't expect to with the molting that was happening. Jagger beat all 4 of his girls I put in there with him. He was not at all in his prime.

None of my birds were going to win and I knew that. Weren't in show condition. I didn't bathe anyone or go all out like I did previous years. I am still struggling after the accident, so I just didn't have the ability to do so. Either way, it was really fun and saw some really nice birds. Unfortunately only one other Plymouth Rock was entered. Except for the bantams.. and one white pullet won and I can't figure out why..


She has a cushion. She looks in very good condition, but she reminds me of a Wyandotte

Champion SCCL
Reserve Champion Land Fowl
Reserve Grand Champion APA
White Plymouth Rock

Am I just reading into this too much? I didn't take this photo, but when I saw her in person I thought she had a cushion as well.

aoxa, I think your eye is pretty good, in that this pullet does have a cushion. However, the judge who handled her found many things he did like. Her feather looks fantastic, her conditioning is very nice, (meaning she probably was silky clean and well mannered when handled and all judges LOVE that) her legs are good, her thighs show little to no fluff, her head is extraordinary and to die for, and so on. Is she perfect? no. Does she have the shape you or I would prefer? maybe not and cannot see her keel. But, look at her wing carriage. Spot on.

So while we can see she isn't a 95 point bird, she is easily a 92 point bird and she won. With THAT particular judge on any given Sunday.

You and I would take that bird for our pens, I assure you I would. I've got long bodied males that would "fix" that cushioned Wyandotte look. I'd LOVE to have her in my breeding group.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'm in the process of getting rid of all my hatchery birds to free up space for my good White Rocks. That will give them the 10 sq ft of coop space that they will need. Right now I don't have a run for them so am giving sprouts and alfalfa pellets to help out. I'm excited to see where the next few months will bring me on my rocks.

Linda, you have a good start. You were fortunate to take over a few good birds from someone getting out of them.

You have some XW birds and Blosl female. Frankly, you've got a great start and THAT is what breeding is. A good start. You begin a process of learning, breeding, culling and working with what's in front of you. I know the birds you have. I know where you got them. I've seen the parent stock from whence they came.

You have a solid male and you'll have at least 3 good females to put under him. Just do it. Hatch out 50-60 chicks and keep solid records. Use a system whereby you understand where your chicks came from, which dam. The sire will be known.

Next year, at this time, you'll have dozens of birds to evaluate as juveniles and have a better idea which direction you're heading. When the XW/Blosl chicks hatch, some will be silver, some will be less so and some will be yellow with almost no silver. This is where good legs bands or toe punching is going to be vitally important to you. We'll explain more about that in spring when you're hatching.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Linda, you have a good start. You were fortunate to take over a few good birds from someone getting out of them.

You have some XW birds and Blosl female. Frankly, you've got a great start and THAT is what breeding is. A good start. You begin a process of learning, breeding, culling and working with what's in front of you. I know the birds you have. I know where you got them. I've seen the parent stock from whence they came.

You have a solid male and you'll have at least 3 good females to put under him. Just do it. Hatch out 50-60 chicks and keep solid records. Use a system whereby you understand where your chicks came from, which dam. The sire will be known.

Next year, at this time, you'll have dozens of birds to evaluate as juveniles and have a better idea which direction you're heading. When the XW/Blosl chicks hatch, some will be silver, some will be less so and some will be yellow with almost no silver. This is where good legs bands or toe punching is going to be vitally important to you. We'll explain more about that in spring when you're hatching.

Fred

You said a mouthful there....NOTHING is of more importance to me than is excellent record keeping! Always need to have a means to recreate what you have "just in case" something were to happen to your flock OR as a means to ID what is providing good progress and what is not....some matings just don't click even though they are from 2 good birds!

 

[aoxa]

aoxa, I think your eye is pretty good, in that this pullet does have a cushion. However, the judge who handled her found many things he did like. Her feather looks fantastic, her conditioning is very nice, (meaning she probably was silky clean and well mannered when handled and all judges LOVE that) her legs are good, her thighs show little to no fluff, her head is extraordinary and to die for, and so on. Is she perfect? no. Does she have the shape you or I would prefer? maybe not and cannot see her keel. But, look at her wing carriage. Spot on.

So while we can see she isn't a 95 point bird, she is easily a 92 point bird and she won. With THAT particular judge on any given Sunday.

You and I would take that bird for our pens, I assure you I would. I've got long bodied males that would "fix" that cushioned Wyandotte look. I'd LOVE to have her in my breeding group.

I thought she was beautiful, except for that cushion look. I can't imagine getting them in such tip top condition. I guess it's the free range in mine. The whites are hard to get clean for shows I have found, so I prefer the dark birds. (Note I do not have White Rocks, I have White Ameraucanas that are hard to get perfectly white for shows)

There was a RIR cock that was stunning. I kept going back and looking at him.

A Runner Duck took grand champion of show. He was beautiful as well.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Spent some time with the 5 month old cockerels this morning. The guy on the right is top contender from this group.





They're still young and have some growing to do, but they're finally coming out of their awkward juvenile stage. It's nice to see some progress after "the long wait."

Jill, you've taken a HUGE step forward this year in your program. Last year, when you first got your start, you raised them out got going. This year, these are birds are the results of the decisions you make, working with what you had.

Of course your birds are so, so familiar to me, as I bred their parent stock. You've done an awesome job. This young K exhibits some of the best aspects or "pluses" of the line. Are their challenges that still remain? Absolutely. Those working with this line have to push for longer, more upswept backlines and watch out for rainy day dominance. Don't allow your entire group to exhibit that rainy day look. Getting good tails on the males of this line? Super challenging. Really, really challenging and that will remain something to work on. This male has a better-than-average comb, trust me. That's good. He's got his grandsire's thick body, broom stick legs and wide through the legs, wide enough to drive a truck through. These are the good features of this line. Keep up the good. Work hard on the areas where these GSBR based birds need improvement.

But remember. ENJOY them!!! These birds have an easy, pleasant, no nonsense personality. They're pretty easy keepers.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I thought she was beautiful, except for that cushion look. I can't imagine getting them in such tip top condition. I guess it's the free range in mine. The whites are hard to get clean for shows I have found, so I prefer the dark birds. (Note I do not have White Rocks, I have White Ameraucanas that are hard to get perfectly white for shows)

There was a RIR cock that was stunning. I kept going back and looking at him.

A Runner Duck took grand champion of show. He was beautiful as well.

Justine, one doesn't normally clean the Whites for the show, but one must KEEP the Whites white for showing. Once they're stained, they're very hard to get clean for a show. If you have farm birds like mine? I don't care. But, if showing is your intention, you've got to raise them entirely different. Cannot even use roosts where the bird above will poop on the bird below.

Raising, conditioning and showing White birds is it's own special world. PITA

I've got a White Rock pullet I'd love to put in the Fall Poultry Fest as I think she is a rare enough bird to bother with showing. Alas, I'll not enter a pullet that hasn't laid her first egg, for a pullet will never look better than the day she lays her first egg.

These pullets I have are not going to make lay soon enough. Such is life. The only reason I'd show her is just to see and hear the feedback from others and from the judge. Make sure I've not lost me sight completely to horrendous near sightedness and cataracts that plague me these days. Or, just admit to some level of barn blindness.

 

[LindaB220]

Linda, you have a good start. You were fortunate to take over a few good birds from someone getting out of them.

You have some XW birds and Blosl female. Frankly, you've got a great start and THAT is what breeding is. A good start. You begin a process of learning, breeding, culling and working with what's in front of you. I know the birds you have. I know where you got them. I've seen the parent stock from whence they came.

You have a solid male and you'll have at least 3 good females to put under him. Just do it. Hatch out 50-60 chicks and keep solid records. Use a system whereby you understand where your chicks came from, which dam. The sire will be known.

Next year, at this time, you'll have dozens of birds to evaluate as juveniles and have a better idea which direction you're heading. When the XW/Blosl chicks hatch, some will be silver, some will be less so and some will be yellow with almost no silver. This is where good legs bands or toe punching is going to be vitally important to you. We'll explain more about that in spring when you're hatching.

What a wonderful day. I got rid of 27 of my excess birds. Freeing up tons of space. I'm keeping one Coronation Sussex, 2 Sapphire blue egg layers pullets and two Barred Rocks not hatchery. One of each I think. Along with my 1 Blosl pullet and 3 XW pullets and a cockerel I'm set. I'm going into the winter with big plans for next year. I have a small 4' x 6' coop and a 3' x 12' grow coop that I'm going to set up as 3 separate brooding pens. I'll make a run for each. Oh, the plans I have.

The people I sold to today had a fit over the White Rocks. Waiting until next spring to get chicks or eggs. Thrilled about it in fact. I'll be fair on price because I want them out there locally

Thanks for all your help Fred. Appreciate it.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Fred

You said a mouthful there....NOTHING is of more importance to me than is excellent record keeping! Always need to have a means to recreate what you have "just in case" something were to happen to your flock OR as a means to ID what is providing good progress and what is not....some matings just don't click even though they are from 2 good birds!

I'll go one step further. Your best birds seldom come from your best birds. Which is why true breeders will often sell your their show ribbon winner winners, but never, ever sell you their breeders.

A concept that boggles the minds of folks, I know. But, 'tis true.

 

[aoxa]

Justine, one doesn't normally clean the Whites for the show, but one must KEEP the Whites white for showing. Once they're stained, they're very hard to get clean for a show. If you have farm birds like mine? I don't care. But, if showing is your intention, you've got to raise them entirely different. Cannot even use roosts where the bird above will poop on the bird below.

Raising, conditioning and showing White birds is it's own special world. PITA

I've got a White Rock pullet I'd love to put in the Fall Poultry Fest as I think she is a rare enough bird to bother with showing. Alas, I'll not enter a pullet that hasn't laid her first egg, for a pullet will never look better than the day she lays her first egg.

These pullets I have are not going to make lay soon enough. Such is life. The only reason I'd show her is just to see and hear the feedback from others and from the judge. Make sure I've not lost me sight completely to horrendous near sightedness and cataracts that plague me these days. Or, just admit to some level of barn blindness.

You're right Fred. Not my cup of tea though. I like to allow them to dust bathe in dirt and scratch in grass. It's watching them do that that makes this hobby so fun for me. Not all about the showing at all.

I do really want to preserve breeds. It's very important to me. Not all are perfect. Have you ever seen the PERFECT bird? I haven't.

Next year I am hatching early so I will only bring young birds to show. This time of year is molt central.. I don't add extra light, so they are naturally molting.

On a fun note, I did enter a couple in the layer class - my naked necks - and I had a saddle on one who was pretty rough from roosters. The other was in okay condition. The one with the saddle beat out her twin sister. The judge wrote: Nice coat! I got a kick out of that.. so I left with a big purple rosette - even if it was for just a class just for kicks. I wanted people to know I had them, and my goal was accomplished

 

[aoxa]

Also.. What could make earlobes pale on the females?

Eta: Could it just be the molt?