The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[aoxa]

I'm noticing my females are completely feathered now at 14 weeks, but my males.. Wow.. very slow. One boy is still partially naked.

 

[aoxa]

My oldest cock bird is a year old now. He will stay here as long as he's able. He has won that right with the hawks he has fought off this month. Once I get a couple better males, I will just use him with my layers. The temperament can not be beat. I have never had a better rooster.

He's trying to impress the girls here (and me).

 

[Dahlisgrams]

I'm noticing my females are completely feathered now at 14 weeks, but my males.. Wow.. very slow. One boy is still partially naked.

Mine are in similar states. An exercise in patience. lol

Thanks to some good advice on the Heritage thread I split up my youngest group of HBR by sex, now 9 weeks old. I've already seen a difference in the birds. The pullets just seem much more relaxed. There were just too many cockerels. 11 cockerels and 6 pullets... man I hope some of those pullets are stars! I think the separation will be beneficial in the long run.

 

[slatts]

Hey folks. Great discussion in this thread which i admit i didnt read the entire thing. I am very interested in this breed. As for me, I'm relatively newbie to chickens. My first group of a dozen hatchery mixed pullets are 8 weeks old that I'd like to free range in a limited way. In the group are a couple BR that I really like the looks of and it seems to be a very popular breed here in south central Texas. I have heard that the barring is natural camoflogue from predators. I've also heard that BRs are very good foragers. Both attributes are important to me.

For my next group of birds to start in the Spring I am thinking of focusing on only BR. My daughter is a high school freshman in FFA and we may use the birds to have her show in a few years. But even if she chooses another animal, I'd like to get the best BR genetics possible started in the Spring.

What breeders are recommended? Thanks.

 

[uphilljill]

My pullet from Fred started laying this week! She's only at 20 weeks... So a bit earlier than I expected for BRs. Fred, what did you put into this mix!? Are you seeing similar with this group? Of course, the HBR boys are still a gangly bunch, but they're SLOWLY getting there.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Jill, that pullet is likely an F1 of our line. This is the heterosis vigor one sometimes gets, but it is unpredictable. I am sure she was a faster featherer and you probably fed her well on a high protein feed? If you did your math right, she's an exception. I've got some on week 24 and show no signs, which I consider a bit more typical. Well, good for you.

Is this the pullet you posted earlier? I could likely tell by looking what pen she came out of.

 

[uphilljill]

That's her. Hatched May 5-6th. She was a fast featherer, and yes, they get a high protein feed (19%) and free range. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen her lay an egg myself the morning.

 

[uphilljill]

Here's a pic from today. Comb is redder than before.

 

[PEI chicken]

Uphilljill, you have a lovely barred rock pullet!

I've wondered about the size of combs. My silver pencilled PR's combs look so small in comparison. Should they be as large as white and barred PR combs?

Pics of 2013 pullets today, and surprizingly I have been getting pullet eggs for the past week. At least 2 of them are laying.

Note the two different types. My 2013 pullets and cockerels all came from the same rooster, but I have some "porkers" and some that are more upright.

As you can see, I also have some very heavy set hens and I really like them, although some people may find them too "cochinish". for silver pencilled rocks.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

PEI Chicken

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

PEI

My CRs (pullets/hens) have smaller combs than that and I am in the DEEP south....supposedly the comb size increases as a way to dissipate heat. Thus far mine are very small and seem to be staying that way

I don't think its anything to be concerned with

I really like that one girl I singled out......I'd put her back over her daddy and see what kind of chicks you get next Spring. She is FINE!!