The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[kwMississippi]

I will try to get pics of all my cockerels maybe Sunday and ya'll help me narrow them down.

Kenny

 

[catdaddyfro]

I will try to get pics of all my cockerels maybe Sunday and ya'll help me narrow them down.

Kenny

Ok just remember at 7 mo for these type guys its still a little early to cull hard one can cull for very obvious faults but 10-12 mo is when they will be getting to where they are going for sure. but post away we like looking at them in all stages it lets us know where we are and if were all on the same pages LOL

 

[desertmarcy]

I've had egg eaters before and have been successful in getting them to stop by moving them to another pen. When a CONFIRMED egg eater goes to a new pen, the entire pecking order is upset and typically, the newbie is on the bottom - at least at first. In any event, it's normally enough of an upset for the eater to be moved that it becomes the last thing on their mind. After a few weeks of non-eating of eggs, I move her back to the original pen she was in. Just a thought! Sorry you're dealing with it. It rots to be sure.

I guess I will try that first, thanks Wynette. I do have a mixed layer pen flock, and hardly any of them in there are laying right now, anyway---so even if she does not get upset with a move to there, not many eggs to be had

She looked like she was waiting for that other hen to lay, jumped right in and started pecking like she'd done it many times before. I have taken Rock eggs out of that pen, so thought maybe the dark color of the Marans was attracting her. I put another Marans egg in the nest box (after I removed the offender) to see if any of the others go for it. So far, so good.

 

[desertmarcy]

Yes a lot of times just a change up such as you described or confining them like that will "bust them up" they are very much creatures of habit and any little disturbance will change them up a lot. I have found to that those egg eating frenzies/episodes I can make dents in by supplementing extra(more available spots) oyster shell or by giving them a supplemental type feed along with their regular rations some times its acase of them missing something(diet wise) that causes this and too, there are the ones that are determined egg eaters too no matter what you do (more of that habitual stuff). I'd try to break her esp if she's part of the creme de le creme before lopping off her head good breeders are hard to get.J/S

Jeff

All my layers are getting 19.5% protein (mixed 50/50 17% layer pellet with 22% grower crumble). Organic feed, but vegetarian. They also get a bowl of water with red cell added every other day and always plenty of oyster shell.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I would love to see the pullet on right posed. This is merely a casual shot, but i can see her nice big head. Small heads on Rocks, especially the solid colored varieties like the Buff, really can take away from the stunning beauty of these birds.

I like her back from this angle too. Again, I'd like to see her posed.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Marysong asked earlier this question. "What do you look for at each stage of early development"? Good question.


Experience is something that just cannot be underestimated. You've just got to see hundreds and hundreds of chicks grow out. You see so many that your "eye" picks out the good from the bad. Just like seeing the one or two good birds in a pen of 25 birds, you don't see just a blur of matching birds, but detail and individuals. Like watching in slow motion, sort of. I try hard to teach others to "see" what I see and jump ahead of their limited experience. Some "get it" and make great progress.



Here's a male and female, in the brooder. The male on the right? Note that wisp of feathering on top of his wing. That is a fault. This cockerel is 4 weeks old and is a cull, really. Did I wait awhile? Yes, but I didn't need to. Just a softy and the othe birds needed the companionship.

Note the little pullet on the left, Keep an eye on her. She showed the Big Head. Look at her leg width. She's a tiny chick, but look at the leg width. It's already there. The tight barring is already there. The wing carriage is right. When you see a chick like this, you note it as the fuzz dries in the hatcher.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Here's another click of the camera. Note that cockerel's split wing. Do you see it? That's a cull from the get-go.

The pullet? Again, note that Big Head and the high cranium above her eye. Zoom in on her back. You'll see the stubs of proper pullet chick feather development. Those feathers? THOSE determine whether she'll have a cushion or not as an older pullet. When I see feather stubs like this? I know I'll not see a cushion. See her nice wide, rounded butt? That is a proper tail in formation. Sorry, I don't have any pinched tail photos to show you, but pinched tails are a cull. We don't see many of those with this line. In hatchery stock? My goodness, that's all you see.

 

[catdaddyfro]

I admire Fred's efforts of trying to show and tell one how he would go about picking/choosing or judging. I'm one that can do but can't really explain it in an understanding way for most folk to get fully. I could show one how I do it in person.(OTJT) I learn too by ''watching'' his posts though an I see a lot of the same things he explains too. He is right you can notice the keepers very early in life there is just something more to them than one that is not as good.

Jeff

 

[Fred's Hens]

Thanks Jeff. Kind words.


I know I probably freak out some people by some of my ideas, but I'm just a farmer and I notice things, I guess. Notice the same thing over and over and patterns of development emerge. One caveat, however. You gotta know your line and know it well. Things become somewhat predictable, but only if you really know your line.

I want to post a photo of that same pullet as above. Again, I assure you that this pullet will not have a cushion. Note how (three weeks later) there is that slooooow development of the back feathers. Those are quality feathers. Tight. This is desirable. If those rows of back feather pop right out? Chances are really good that the quality will be poor. Too fluffy, too loose, and not stiff enough.





The back feathers are growing in noticeably slower. They appear "lower", almost as if someone ran a hair clipper down her back like the start of a bad Marine Corp haircut. LOL This will produce the hard, tight feathering you desire.

 

[Silver Rock]

Here's another click of the camera. Note that cockerel's split wing. Do you see it? That's a cull from the get-go. The pullet? Again, note that Big Head and the high cranium above her eye. Zoom in on her back. You'll see the stubs of proper pullet chick feather development. Those feathers? THOSE determine whether she'll have a cushion or not as an older pullet. When I see feather stubs like this? I know I'll not see a cushion. See her nice wide, rounded butt? That is a proper tail in formation. Sorry, I don't have any pinched tail photos to show you, but pinched tails are a cull. We don't see many of those with this line. In hatchery stock? My goodness, that's all you see.

Hi Fred I want to learn as much as I can on the cushion development in chicks & the early signs of a cushion problem to come. Can you please go more into detail on what to look for in the early chick feather placement on the back.