The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[catdaddyfro]

Has anyone gotten to second generation of working Heritage Barred into the Blue Plymouth Rocks? Due to the problems with cross breed contamination with the GSBR's I couldn't get my eggs this past spring. Chomping at the bit to get started with this project but wont even have the "barn to paint" until next year. If anyone has gotten to Blue sire over the blueXbarred hens I'd like to see some photos of grown cockerels or comments on how well type was improved. Is lacing showing in those cockerels? Very curious to see how things are going.

DMRippy, tigercreek, Kathy in Florida (her call name here eludes me at the moment) halo would be whom I'd ques. on that. They are the Blue rock specialist here or Joe Emenhieser <(sp.) is on showbird forum, he is a Blue Rock guru too.

Jeff

halo it is I had to ponder for a bit on that one, she doesn't visit much anymore

 

[Fred's Hens]

Test Matings and what we learn.

As summer was slipping away, I requested a test mating. I don't really like brooding out chicks in October up here. It simply draws too much electricity and spins my meter. But, the information gained can sometimes be worth it.

The hatch rate wasn't too good as the heat of late summer often means it is difficult to attain high fertility rates as the males slow down their activity and keeping the eggs cool for storage and shipping isn't helpful either. I hatched 6 out of 12 eggs. I culled two chicks early for in-egg developmental issues I've seen before and have learned not to try to "save" or keep such chicks. A third cockerel chick had severe angel wing and was culled. These three bounced out their shells and had terrific vigor from the get-go. I like that.

Now, at 7 weeks, the feathering is coming along. Don't care much for the male at this point. He isn't mission critical for the breeding programs anyhow, not being a Labor Day hatched chick. The one female is a rainy day bird, but full of size, quick growth and is very pleasant in temperament and likely will be put in the layer flock.

But look at the cleanly barred little pullet in this group, right behind the Nelson Red. I'll pose her outside, if we get a nice Indian summer day, and show her off a bit.

 

[cbnovick]

Here's a LF Buff pullet at almost 17 weeks...tail and hackle still needing some time to finish...I am taking her to the Tucson show at the end of November. Looking forward to single mating her

I would love a darker primary tip...and a bit more width between the legs. always something right??

 

[catdaddyfro]

Here's a LF Buff pullet at almost 17 weeks...tail and hackle still needing some time to finish...I am taking her to the Tucson show at the end of November. Looking forward to single mating her

I would love a darker primary tip...and a bit more width between the legs. always something right??

I would 'bout lay out odds at a dime to a dollar you will get atleast one top ribbon BV (Best variety) as these are about as rare as hens teeth(I just had to say it couldn't help myself)LOL more than likely you'll get anther one or two to go with it too J/S and yes I'm partial too, as really, really like those Buff Rocks a bunch.

Jeff

 

[cbnovick]

I would 'bout lay out odds at a dime to a dollar you will get atleast one top ribbon BV (Best variety) as these are about as rare as hens teeth(I just had to say it couldn't help myself)LOL more than likely you'll get anther one or two to go with it too J/S and yes I'm partial too, as really, really like those Buff Rocks a bunch.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff!
They certainly are exceedingly rare and especially those that approach the SOP, no less.
I hope to single mate this gal in the coming year.
I appreciate your enthusiasm....many here on BYC have been so nice to sort of a 'newbie to standard bred' poultry like myself. I can only take credit of course for the hatchin' and a raisin' though.

Tom Roebuck put some years into this line and has done the hard part. He acquired his breeders from Mark Peterson in MN.
Doug Akers and Jeff Halbach like her as well. Sure wished the show was in December or Jan....challenging to do a late hatch in June when exhibiting in the Fall...not too mention this gal was hatched and grew out in extreme heat conditions here in AZ. I did make sure to take the utmost care of my birds this summer to prevent heat stress issues. She is an active foraging type gal too...like a good Rock should be. Her hatch mates have all done just fine in Tucson and Claypool, AZ. Lots of exposure to stress of relocation and to other birds etc. I think that says alot for this line of birds' vigor. Going to be interesting to see what age she comes into lay.
I'll keep ya posted.
Cindy

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hoorah!!! The first F1 pullet laid a little egg today. 24.5 weeks old. Very pleased. I'll try to chart the laying start from all three of these pullets and I'll use an average start in my thinking.

 

[cbnovick]

Hoorah!!! The first F1 pullet laid a little egg today. 24.5 weeks old. Very pleased. I'll try to chart the laying start from all three of these pullets and I'll use an average start in my thinking.

always a smile with that first egg from a POL pullet...especially from your F1 project---24.5 weeks is very respectable indeed, Fred!!

 

[BGMatt]

Hoorah!!! The first F1 pullet laid a little egg today. 24.5 weeks old. Very pleased. I'll try to chart the laying start from all three of these pullets and I'll use an average start in my thinking.

Awesome. An outcross can be very good for all sorts of traits.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Of course, these F1 pullets go back under a pure XW/GSBR male this February. We shall see what F2 brings us as to laying start. I'd be very pleased if the F2 pullets started at 26-28 weeks. I expect a slight pull back, just not too much, please.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

Here's a LF Buff pullet at almost 17 weeks...tail and hackle still needing some time to finish...I am taking her to the Tucson show at the end of November. Looking forward to single mating her

I would love a darker primary tip...and a bit more width between the legs. always something right??

Beautiful pullet!!! I like her a lot. Wow.