The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Pure Poultry]

This is my new roo

 

[Beekissed]

A few pics of some of my 2 mo. old group...can't really get good pics because I can't get them standing still! Right now I see a lot of cushion on their backs and other things I don't like but I'm hoping time will show me a few birds I can keep. I have another group behind them in age that has a few likely contenders but only time will tell. As is the usual scenario, the best looking bird I have out of this season's hatch is 1/4 mutt(hatchery BA)....I hope she's a pullet so I can at least keep her in my working group.

 

[Westguy]

Barred Rock Cockeral that is just under 6 months old.

 

[chicken pickin]

I took a few over head pictures of my Rocks today. They are almost 12weeks. I tried to take them in 2 groups over the feeders as they ate this morning so I think I got everyone but they moved around a bit. I do notice that I have a few with narrow bodies and also a few that are carrying their wings high. Anything else that might be notice feedback is appreciated.

Group 1




Group 2






I also have a pullet that has a drooping backside (rainy day back?)


And this is a better top line ?


A few just for fun

 

[Fred's Hens]

Don't rush to any judgements. Unless the flaw or fault is obvious and hideous, just wait, wait. At 24 weeks, you can always put the females in the laying flock and eat the cockerels that are not among the chosen "heir and spare".

It takes time, dare I say even years and multiple generatiions of raising these birds to better see their development. This is the year to notate religiously everything as various stages of their development. Records and diaries, some photos too, all help document things.



This is a classic female from our line. I'd recognize her type anywhere. I'd love to see a photo showing her head better and especially her breast development.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Should probably have posted this earlier. At 8 weeks, 12, weeks, and 16 weeks, and finally at 20 weeks, I evaluate the entire crop of the hatchling for the season. I pick up birds and handle them. I stand over them at feeding time and make notes. I follow them around slowly, making notes at these critical 4 week intervals. The notations are made by leg band number.

It is amazing to see birds change over the course of the half year growout period. This year, I enjoyed sharing this journaling with my 10 year old grandson, teaching him to note things and to sharpen his eye. Good experience.
Took him to the National at Knoxville last year. He had a ball and did very well with his Barred Rock pullet.

 

[chicken pickin]

Don't rush to any judgements. Unless the flaw or fault is obvious and hideous, just wait, wait. At 24 weeks, you can always put the females in the laying flock and eat the cockerels that are not among the chosen "heir and spare".

It takes time, dare I say even years and multiple generatiions of raising these birds to better see their development. This is the year to notate religiously everything as various stages of their development. Records and diaries, some photos too, all help document things.



This is a classic female from our line. I'd recognize her type anywhere. I'd love to see a photo showing her head better and especially her breast development.

I can take other pictures over the pic weekend to get better shots of her but for now I do have the pic I shot right before the other photo posted but she was mid walk
I like the pullet behind her also

This is another pic of her about 2weeks ago so roughly 10weeks old (Im pretty sure its the same pullet)

 

[chicken pickin]

I should really get some numbered leg bands. I know some of them from just sight, others are too similar to remember who is who. Having them numbered would be a significant help. I will try to get them banded soon and to also keep some notes on them for my own purposes and references.

 

[Fred's Hens]

You gotta band juveniles. How else can you keep records on them, supposing you have a few dozen birds? My birds earn their juvenile band at 8 weeks, thus assigned a number. They get their adult band at around 18-20 weeks. If you're thinking you can just 'remember" all this stuff, I would question that. The older you get, the less that method is gonna work for you!!! Believe me. hahahaha

Tip: you and use left leg, right leg similar to a code of a toe punch. You can also use color as a further code. Thus, you can see a legband on left leg and mean something different than a band on a right leg. You can have green bands mean something to you and yellow bands mean something else entirely. The number is individual identifcation for the bird, but whether it is right or left, green, blue or yellow in color can mean something easy to see, just by looking at the color of the band and on which leg the band has been placed.

 

[chicken pickin]

You gotta band juveniles. How else can you keep records on them, supposing you have a few dozen birds? My birds earn their juvenile band at 8 weeks, thus assigned a number. They get their adult band at around 18-20 weeks. If you're thinking you can just 'remember" all this stuff, I would question that. The older you get, the less that method is gonna work for you!!! Believe me. hahahaha

Tip: you and use left leg, right leg similar to a code of a toe punch. You can also use color as a further code. Thus, you can see a legband on left leg and mean something different than a band on a right leg. You can have green bands mean something to you and yellow bands mean something else entirely. The number is individual identifcation for the bird, but whether it is right or left, green, blue or yellow in color can mean something easy to see, just by looking at the color of the band and on which leg the band has been placed.

Makes perfect sense and I completely agree. I have seen others do what you describe above. I will come up with a system that works for me and get it in place very very soon.