The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Wynette]

AOXA! Holy heck, look at those yellow yellow legs on your SPR! Are they all from PEI? My stock from her doens't have extremely yellow legs like yours do. I REALLY like them, but it seems the yellow leg color is a tough one to come by in this variety. Okay, girl - spill it - WHAT are you feeding? Just kidding. Great pics - thanks for posting!!

 

[aoxa]

AOXA! Holy heck, look at those yellow yellow legs on your SPR! Are they all from PEI? My stock from her doens't have extremely yellow legs like yours do. I REALLY like them, but it seems the yellow leg color is a tough one to come by in this variety. Okay, girl - spill it - WHAT are you feeding? Just kidding. Great pics - thanks for posting!!

Yep. They are from PEI Chicken.

I feed fermented and soaked whole grains AND unmedicated starter. But they do free range all day long on top of that. It was really slow to develop into the yellow you see now. I was worried for a while. Some looked like they had extremely PINK legs!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Justine, you have such a nice group. Really nice.

I like this pullet right here.

 

[aoxa]

Justine, you have such a nice group. Really nice.

I like this pullet right here.

I'm going to have to start banding the ones you pick out

She would be my pick in this photo as well. I have quite a few girls in a younger group as well. This group is very boy heavy.

 

[Fred's Hens]

This group is very boy heavy.

Noticed that.

 

[Wynette]

Ah....FF. Yeah, I'll not be going there. I think it's awesome, don't get me wrong...but...I seriously don't have the time. However, it's on my reading list to learn about it over the winter and try to come up with a system for making it that 1) doesn't take a ton of time; 2) doesn't need to be checked on several times a day; and 3) is user friendly (easy). Thanks!!

 

[Wynette]

Justine, you have such a nice group. Really nice.

I like this pullet right here.

Seriously, Fred - how can you tell in a group shot like this, when she's not even standing upright? WHAT DO YOU SEE? Edumacate me...

 

[Fred's Hens]

Seriously, Fred - how can you tell in a group shot like this, when she's not even standing upright? WHAT DO YOU SEE? Edumacate me...

She's got spunk that shows. She's bullying her way in among the boys, not timid. I like her pattern, and like her little tail. Her back shows no cushion and no ridge. Cannot see her stance nor her chest in that photo, and those are make or break, of course. I also like her head, which is classic.

She's got a ton of black smear and I bet she ends up with great yellow legs too, as aoxa seems to pasture that yellow right into them. LOL

 

[Wynette]

mmmm....I see what you mean about her head, and no cushion, and leg smear. THe rest...

I'm learning. Always. At least, that is my hope.

 

[aoxa]

Ah....FF. Yeah, I'll not be going there. I think it's awesome, don't get me wrong...but...I seriously don't have the time. However, it's on my reading list to learn about it over the winter and try to come up with a system for making it that 1) doesn't take a ton of time; 2) doesn't need to be checked on several times a day; and 3) is user friendly (easy). Thanks!!

You might be reading from the wrong people.

It doesn't take much time for me at all. I soak more than I ferment, because my flock goes through food so fast. The soaking alone saves me $40 a week in feed right now. Soaking it doubles the mass of what is being served. Also, they drink 1/3 of the water they would if eating dry, so I don't have to refill waters like I used to. Refilling waters is my least favourite chore.

Another thing, soaking it gets every bit of that dust that is in the crumble. There is no waste. They eat every single morsel. I like saving money and not wasting. In the winter it is more tough to work out because it freezes. Thankfully my barn has a heated room where I keep the feed. On the very coldest days I will feed dry. Otherwise they get the FF all through the winter in a mounted gutter on the inside wall. I feed enough for about an hour in the winter. It won't freeze in an hour. I'll throw fermented whole grains in the bedding after draining for boredom.

This year I have an insulated barn. I hope that really helps with freezing.. At least slows it down.. Wouldn't that be nice? I close the doors all night right now, and when it gets in the 40's (has already gotten that chilly) it was 70 in the barn. Pretty happy about that!

You do not have to check on it several times a day. Once a day is all it needs. Stir when you make it, stir before you serve it. That's all I do. My feed soaks 12-24 hours before fed.