The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Fred's Hens]

Sure. Just put a Silver Penciled Rock or Columbian Rock (some strains) over a Barred Rock and ta da. Black Rocks on the female offspring.

The work then becomes a few generations of work. Never done it. Not an expert on how best to do it. But over on the Plymouth Rock thread it has been being discussed a lot today and yesterday. Here: post #5593

Since the Black LF is a project and not APA accepted, we won't get sidetracked into that conversation here, if you understand.

 

[Extra Java]

Thanks. Must be pretty rare then.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Thanks Fred. Have you ever seen one come from barred?

Too much silver at play here bred pure to pure,barring is a mighty powerful gene, one would probly have more chance at seeing a black one out of White rocks, I'd figure still about as rare as hens teeth(pun intended) LOL

Jeff

 

[Extra Java]

In Carefoot's book he mentions black female sports from barreds. These sports will have a black beak and dusky legs. The black males from a mating of a barred male with black female have silver striping in the upper neck hackle, some with red breaks in this region.

Barring inhibits the deposition of black pigment in the shanks and beak.

There's more but I found it an interesting topic. I'm always fascinated by shank colors and how they relate to other factors.

 

[DMRippy]

In Carefoot's book he mentions black female sports from barreds. These sports will have a black beak and dusky legs. The black males from a mating of a barred male with black female have silver striping in the upper neck hackle, some with red breaks in this region.

Barring inhibits the deposition of black pigment in the shanks and beak.

There's more but I found it an interesting topic. I'm always fascinated by shank colors and how they relate to other factors.

We have been having a similar conversation on this thread. This link is kind where it started..... you might want to look back some too.... we had the conversation a couple of time in a week or so.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273471/plymouth-rock-thread/5540#post_12462625

 

[Extra Java]

Didn't know there was another Plymouth Rock thread. Goodness. Thanks.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Speaking of slow to mature birds, one concern about hatching out later than say March is the question as to whether those pullets will even begin laying before the deepest dark days of winter set in. A corollary concern is whether those pullets will lay enough eggs in order for those eggs to grow to a decent size to be able to use those pullets in a breeding program that might need to start in January.

I personally do not like to use the first few dozen eggs a pullet lays no matter how desperate I am to begin using her in a breeding situation. I just don't personally believe it wise to hatch small pullet eggs especially when you're already fighting hatching vigor issues, such as we had.

 

[Fred's Hens]

F1 Barred Rocks, 7 1/2 months old, left three eggs. Rhode Island Red pullets, 11 months old, right three eggs.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

F1 Barred Rocks, 7 1/2 months old, left three eggs. Rhode Island Red pullets, 11 months old, right three eggs.

Fred.....I bet those three eggs came from girls with GREAT width of leg, HUH??!!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Of course!!!!