The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[colburg]

Fred, thanks for starting this thread. It's just what I've been looking for.

My wife and I have been talking about getting out of hatchery stock for almost a year now and finally decided on PRs. Since we're just getting started, and taking Bobs "single color for newbs" advice into consideration, we had decided on White. The tail spread I keep seeing on Scott's Columbians sure does catch my eye, but we don't have any experience breeding so that's probably out of our league.

On the Farming thread, Bob mentioned Barred Rocks over White Rocks if he had to choose only one breed for the farm. He also said Barred for meat and Whites for eggs so now I'm rethinking things so maybe someone can give us some lessons on utility within the Rock breed.

From a farming/profitability perspective, what should we be looking for? Space for strictly laying hens is no problem. We could easily support 200+ free-ranging and that's more than we need for our current customers. It's the meat production we're looking to get into and don't want to hang on to 100 cockerels for 12 months waiting for them to get to butchering size.

My thoughts are a bit scattered so my apologies,
Thanks,
Coley

 

[Fred's Hens]

I am not going to disagree with Bob, but I believe he just wanted to post the photo of the Barred Rock again. hahahaha Bob knows very well that the Whites have a lot of advantages to consider over the Barreds.

Seriously, if you want a good layer and faster developer, I wouldn't even blink. I'd have Whites. We've got a poster here, Ken Weaver, who has some of the best in the country. Ken would be glad to help you get started. I'd not waste my time with hatchery Rocks. Simply put, there isn't much meat on them. Breeder Rocks can be really meaty, it just depends on what you stress in your breeding. We push for good meat. The barring sloooooooooows growth. There is simply no other way to put it.

I'll be getting in touch with Ken Weaver myself in late winter. I have waited for years and years for a good White strain and it is a pleasure to see Bob Blosi's line of White in Ken's hands now.

 

[colburg]

Thanks Fred,

My next question was if the slow feathering actually slowed the growth as well(your ESPN must've kicked in

). The whites seem to be a perfect match for us.

We'd prefer a well matched trio to get started with but we may be a bit too late in the year for that.

Marvin Stuckel is the closest breeder of whites for me, recommended by Bob, but I left my number with his wife 3 days ago and he hasn't returned my call yet. Shipping or finding someone that'll be near Dallas the weekend of Oct 19 are currently the only options.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Picking up good, high quality birds can best be done by attending a poultry show. This is show season and that's what I would suggest. Breeders must pare down for the upcoming winter, just like everyone else.

To find a show in your neighborhood, check out PoultryShowCentral.com I believe it is.

 

[Fred's Hens]

First trip out of the brooder today.

 

[cbnovick]

First trip out of the brooder today.

Albeit limited by pics posted...i'll go out on a limb and say it's lookin' like a trio you have there, Fred??

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yup, it's a trio

 

[cbnovick]

Yup, it's a trio

Perfect

 

[colburg]

I've been on that site and another looking for something "close" other than a fair.

I don't know how I missed that one. The Abeline Tx Poultry Show is only 320 miles from me

. Anyone headed that way on the 26th of Oct? Anyone with White Rocks that is? Or someone that wouldn't mind bringing some to the show?

This could work out.

Thanks Fred.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Thanks Fred,

My next question was if the slow feathering actually slowed the growth as well(your ESPN must've kicked in

). The whites seem to be a perfect match for us.

We'd prefer a well matched trio to get started with but we may be a bit too late in the year for that.

Marvin Stuckel is the closest breeder of whites for me, recommended by Bob, but I left my number with his wife 3 days ago and he hasn't returned my call yet. Shipping or finding someone that'll be near Dallas the weekend of Oct 19 are currently the only options.

XW poultry (jwhip) on here has an awesome line of WRs I think they will fill your bill fine he is in Nebraska give him a holler he is in the chicken business and will return your calls.

Jeff