The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[chicken pickin]

I was able to get all my Barred Rocks banded last night. I really like these numbered bandettes in the sense of putting them on the birds. I did it by myelf last night while they were on roost, I simply had them stand up one by one and I wrapped a band around each leg, easy.

What I find difficult about the bands so far is because they are all the same color if the number isn't pointed outward you cant tell who is what number. I tried to test them out by taking a few pictures but trying to get them in a good pose while trying to see if the number is visible is a bit tough. I don't have wire cages like many of you do so It will take me a little more time to get a good picture of each.

Here are a few pictures I was able to get of my 2 pure Roy cockerels together, in horrible poses but I thought I would share.

num 18 (he doesn't typically stand this upright)

18 in front 21 to the back right

num 18

18 left 21 right

18 left 21 right

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Really? I am under the assumption that the whites would mature a bit faster. Now that you have both varieties side by side your saying this is not the case or that you don't maintain weight records and any difference is negligible?

I've never dealt with whites but it stands to a semblance of reason that the solid color would better allow breeders over the generations to maintain/achieve a good utility bird.

I have dealt with a side project of Joe E's birds and they can get huge. It was something to see an essentially Andalusian looking cock with hulk size and muscle mass. Cobb cornishX to Barred being three generations back and sire being Andalusion. I'm still bummed I lost those birds due to moving. I had a pullet result that had real promise, lacked brassy, fair type (in perspective) and the tail was coming down. She was a beauty if keeping the goal of project in mind.

Keep in mind the ORIGINAL "Whites" were sports from the Barreds, thus, those tightly bred thru Rock only lines would have the same tendency as the Barred birds

 

[Fred's Hens]

Five generations later, the ocassional "white-ish" chick still pops out. About 3%, three chicks out of 100 eggs, hatched similar to this. Thanks to Gary F. for sending the photo along from one of his egg customers, Carey L.

 

[Joanmcm]

Hi. I will be reading through the thread gathering up some of your insights to think about. We picked up some lovely, lovely chicks from Jill last weekend. Jill, they are settling in very well...a little confusion the first night with where to roost but they learn very fast. This morning the chicks learned how to work the automatic feeders...hysterical. They have regular food bins too but kept trying out the chicken nipples and the chicken lever feeder.

I am a little worried about letting them out to free range and will wait til tomorrow night. I just love looking at them. The chicks are beautiful and have lovely personalities. No name for the rooster yet ... most likely my grandkids will name him.

My egglayers were shocked ... but adjusted quickly and are laying eggs today. We have had a few feathers lost but that is it. My strategy is the same as with family...overfeed and water everyone and there is no reason to argue

Thanks again Jill.

 

[uphilljill]

Glad they're settling in and hope you enjoy them.

 

[Joanmcm]

Hi. Realize this is an old posting and I am going through the BR discussion from the beginning. A few years ago we got a gorgeous RIR rooster for my nephew at the South County museum in Narragansett, RI. My nephew wanted a RIR rooster with a good temperment and had been looking for awhile. The museum hatchs a hundred chicks and had roosters and chicks available. The museum works with RI University on heritage RIR lines. Just thought I would mention in case there is any interest. That rooster was not only beautiful, he had a great temperment, kept the hens in his flock safe and happy. He produced many, many chicks that had his same look and temperment even though the rest of the flock was random breeds and quality. The rooster is a pet. I believe he is leading a flock of fifty right now. Probably many more were placed in other homes where folks wanted egg layers.

They had no female chicks available when we were there...all were spoken for.

 

[Joanmcm]

Pardon. I thought this reply would go under a discussion two years ago and it posted here instead. Sorry for the disruption.

 

[sgribble]

Great thread

 

[Fentress]

NO reason to post pictures of ugly chickens, but I will share my story. I got three separate lines from Jamie Duckworth, last year. Two of the lines appeared to be related, based on the coding on the eggs,so I hatched those together. Did not keep track of the lines because I felt that I did not have the facilities to line breed, so this spring I set up two families with 3 females in each family and then selected two K's, whose lineage I did know, from each of two lines. The plan was to rotate the males between the two families and mark the chicks, in order to keep track of performance and avoid future sibling matings. WHAT A MESS! I have a nice collection of pinched tails, even some wry tails and my two oldest K's are a narrow, goofy looking joke. I am not that knowledgeable about double mating or male vs female lines, but I don't think crossing this lines was a good idea, at least for a beginner. I'm sure Jamie does it from time to time. I do have a hand full of good chickens, which probably resulted when the male and female of the same line mated. So, for next year, I probably need to stick with just one of the males and/or get an incubator and put a lot of feet on the ground and work my way through it. Not sure. If a cross always produces a poor product, then there is no reason to continue doing what I am doing, because it will never get selected. My assumption was that I was not crossing, because they were all Duckworth chickens - not so. I hope this makes sense, comments welcome.

 

[Fred's Hens]

There's a LOT to go over but I'll try to just make things simple, (yeah right

) without making it even more complicated.

Small time breeders have to track things much more carefully than they do, in many cases. Where is the fault coming from? From the cockbird used? From the female(s) used? From that particular matchup? These are unanswerable if precise matings are not done. Single matings, good records, punched chicks, etc all give you the information needed to see where the faults are coming from.

Using two diferent males over three different females makes my head hurt thinking of the possible permutations. Think license plate numbers.

Personally, I would do this, perhaps. Just a suggestion. Sort through what you have and choose a top male. Choose a backup male. KISS. Bob always preached it and it still makes a lot of sense. Keep it simple.


Then, go find two or three females of the highest quality you have. Put a special breeder band on those 5 birds. Start with a fresh slate next year and be systematic. I'd encourage you by this. 1. You've probably got some excellent starter DNA to work with. Be hopeful. 2. Promise yourself you'll be more deliberate and purposful next go round. 3. Take some comfort in the fact that Barred Rocks are generally a messy breed when it comes to offspring levelness, in my experience. Cull ruthlessly. Realise you are not alone in this and everyone I know who raises BR culls 90% of their flock to the feezer, layer flock or compost pile. Hope this helps, fentress.