The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Fred's Hens]

Can't think of anyone better than Matt to give you pointers.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Sitting on a 5-gal bucket out in a pen studying my Barred Rock cockerels today, trying to decide which and how many to take to the Nov. show. I sure wish I had your eye, Fred. They all look so similar to me except their combs and I know there are details I am missing.

Desertmarcy

It can be quite overwhelming sometimes, but I normally go out and here are the most important things (my opinion) I try to compare in my LF Rocks:

1. Leg spacing (must be really wide, or as Fred says, legs you can drive a truck through), and look at leg color also
2. Length of back....Rocks need a long flat back
3. WIDTH of back....they should carry their width from shoulders to tail. Watch for narrowing at the hips (those get tossed aside at my place)
4. Heads...they gotta be big. WIDE skull and the head itself large.
5. Front end.....nice and round. Looking for that deep bowl shape, no "V" shape
6. Tails....well spread on females and well spread and lifting on males

Try really hard to avoid looking at color and pattern

 

[Fred's Hens]

Try really hard to avoid looking at color and pattern

That. The camo that Nature and Mankind gave the Barred Rock to hide it from predators and give it eye candy can also confuse your eye and cause it not to "see" the check list Scott gave above. That's the basic check list we repeat over and over. Whether it is taking to a show or taking to a breeding pen, run the checklist. Then, run it again.

Edit: Nice coloration or pattern of ANY kind can create the same challenge.

 

[catdaddyfro]

I have participated in a few shows, so not all new. For me right now, it is more a matter of having the time and pen space to get them ready. And Matt 1616 has given me a lot of advice. I will just do the best I can.

Pretty good mentor there on the subject too. He just cleaned house in Baton Rouge over the weekend with a RIR cockerel don't have any other specifics but I'm sure that was not all he was awarded for, if I know Matt and his birds,LOL

Jeff

 

[desertmarcy]

Yes, I am looking for all the things that Yard Full O' Rocks mentioned. One thing I noticed, if they ALL have the same characteristic, say the head width is about the same on all--it is hard to see any distinct standout. And sometimes there is a standout for one characteristic, but poor in others. No perfect bird, as everybody keeps saying. I did see a bit of brownish coloration on one of the cockerels. But you say don't pay attention to color?? Matt had told me to look for solid black feathers in wings and tails. Don't see any of that in the cockerels, although I do have a pullet with a black tail feather. She is not very nice otherwise, so no big decision there.
Also, I know that combs are not big for points in the show, but I hate, hate, hate ugly combs. They are such a prominent feature in the Rocks, and other breeds with straight combs. A lot of mine have much less than perfect combs. Not talking # of points, but the overall shape of the comb and the symmetry or lack thereof.

I filled out my entry form and decided to take 3 cockerels and 2 pullets of the Barred and a pair of my Buffs. I know the Buffs are not old/mature enough to really place, but it will be nice to have them seen. Same reason I will take a pair of Spangled Russian Orloffs

25 of my birds are going altogether. I have my work cut out for me getting them ready and down there on coop-in night. My DP has agreed to drive my other truck down and again when the show is over so I can take a couple of turkeys. There is absolutely no room in my main truck for turkeys! And I want them seen, too.

 

[cbnovick]

Yes, I am looking for all the things that Yard Full O' Rocks mentioned. One thing I noticed, if they ALL have the same characteristic, say the head width is about the same on all--it is hard to see any distinct standout. And sometimes there is a standout for one characteristic, but poor in others. No perfect bird, as everybody keeps saying. I did see a bit of brownish coloration on one of the cockerels. But you say don't pay attention to color?? Matt had told me to look for solid black feathers in wings and tails. Don't see any of that in the cockerels, although I do have a pullet with a black tail feather. She is not very nice otherwise, so no big decision there.
Also, I know that combs are not big for points in the show, but I hate, hate, hate ugly combs. They are such a prominent feature in the Rocks, and other breeds with straight combs. A lot of mine have much less than perfect combs. Not talking # of points, but the overall shape of the comb and the symmetry or lack thereof.

I filled out my entry form and decided to take 3 cockerels and 2 pullets of the Barred and a pair of my Buffs. I know the Buffs are not old/mature enough to really place, but it will be nice to have them seen. Same reason I will take a pair of Spangled Russian Orloffs

25 of my birds are going altogether. I have my work cut out for me getting them ready and down there on coop-in night. My DP has agreed to drive my other truck down and again when the show is over so I can take a couple of turkeys. There is absolutely no room in my main truck for turkeys! And I want them seen, too.

That's great, Marcia...looking fwd to seeing you, DP and your birds there!
You certainly do have your prep work cut out for you...25 birds--wowza!!

 

[maryhysong]

Yes, I am looking for all the things that Yard Full O' Rocks mentioned. One thing I noticed, if they ALL have the same characteristic, say the head width is about the same on all--it is hard to see any distinct standout. And sometimes there is a standout for one characteristic, but poor in others. No perfect bird, as everybody keeps saying. I did see a bit of brownish coloration on one of the cockerels. But you say don't pay attention to color?? Matt had told me to look for solid black feathers in wings and tails. Don't see any of that in the cockerels, although I do have a pullet with a black tail feather. She is not very nice otherwise, so no big decision there.
Also, I know that combs are not big for points in the show, but I hate, hate, hate ugly combs. They are such a prominent feature in the Rocks, and other breeds with straight combs. A lot of mine have much less than perfect combs. Not talking # of points, but the overall shape of the comb and the symmetry or lack thereof.

I filled out my entry form and decided to take 3 cockerels and 2 pullets of the Barred and a pair of my Buffs. I know the Buffs are not old/mature enough to really place, but it will be nice to have them seen. Same reason I will take a pair of Spangled Russian Orloffs

25 of my birds are going altogether. I have my work cut out for me getting them ready and down there on coop-in night. My DP has agreed to drive my other truck down and again when the show is over so I can take a couple of turkeys. There is absolutely no room in my main truck for turkeys! And I want them seen, too.

wow that is a lot of birds, glad you have at least a little bit of help! So glad you are taking some buffs! I know they are too young, but will be nice to see them altogether and get an opinion on them!

 

[smarsh]

question please

I noticed a breed chart that listed rocks as broody. I don't think I have ever had a rock to go broody, but have never own anything but hatchery birds.

Do heritage rocks have a tendancy to go broody?

thanks

 

[DMRippy]

mine have not really. I think I have had 2 go broody. one was a blue and one was a blue barred pullet. non hatchery bird will be more broody but I don't really cater to broodies so they usually give up and RARELY go broody again. my Marans are broodier but again if they are broody I don't get to hatch their eggs so they may be breeding out of the Marans by their own choosing. same really with all my birds haha. I have way too many to accommodate broodies.

 

[Fred's Hens]

KathyinMO says her Barred Rocks (XW-J-Whip) often go broody. Whether she lets them, I do not know. I know we had one show some interest, but we broke her up. It wasn't good timing for us, and that is the problem with broodies. Timing. Never when you want and often when you do not.