The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[weavers rocks]

chicks are decently feathered in at 6 weeks...and barring looks clean from photos.
older hen does not look to be from Good Shepherd lines?? what strain(s)??
NICE spread on the 16 week male.
You sure may be on to something with this mating....

Brings to mind a subject of much debate in years past at least....What does everyone think of 'ol EB Thompson's double mating for ringlets????
Method requires more birds and more space...are the downsides for most in modern times...IMO.

these are the stukel line

 

[cbnovick]

Fred

I think ya done good.....if you read the history on the EB Thompson (Imperial Ringlet line) he crossed his Barred Rocks to a Leghorn at some point (I don't recall which variety), but it's said that it was that outcross that initiated the slow feathering that caused the very straight barring we see today!! IMHO, I think there can be some very valuable results from selective outcrossing

X 2
Man, I'd love to procure of a copy of that booklet by Ralph Sturgeon regarding his Rock breeding....can't recall the name offhand.

I think this project will prove out nicely for you, Fred...
Of course...it's just my amateur SOP chicken hobbyist, yet earnest opinion (-;

 

[Fred's Hens]

'Morning all.

Double mating was and is still practiced by many breeders for certain lines of certain breeds. If you commit to doing this and work at it, you will produce some positive results by keeping and working a male line and a female line. I don't think very many of us are going to do this, however. There are many reasons why we won't.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Morning.....

Fred, I tried double mating this past season and the results we quite good. Takes a LOT of space however. I think long term I will double mate "occasionally", as a see a specific need for an improvement (specifically color) in either the males or females that I cannot accomplish any other way.

Time for coffee

 

[Fred's Hens]

Above is Weaver's White pullet

Now, here's a Barred F1 pullet who is a bit younger





If these two pullets were walking together in the pre-dawn early morning light and all you could make out from your kitchen window was their silhouettes, you would still see two Rock girls out for a stroll. If you couldn't see a darn thing about their color, you'd still see two Rock females. If you were to Paint Shop these two and make them solid black, you'd still see them for what they are.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I wish I were better at using photo marking tools, but if I could draw a perfect "half ring" or a soup bowl, making a smooth lower line under these two pullets, you'd what a rock should have in my mind's eye.

Disregard the nice backs on these two pullets, and nice tails and so forth. Just trace the underline. To me, no matter how pretty a Rock pullet is on top, she's got to have that continuous underline that I look for. No V shape's, no notches, etc.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Now, look at the top line of Weaver's pullet. And, finally, look at that tail. Not a pinch to be seen.
Run your cursor over her back line. Notice how it slowly rises from front to back, but not too fast. We don't want a Wyandotte look. I really like this pullet. I'd love to see her after a moult. I hope she keeps a slightly tighter feathering. I don't care for Rocks that are so soft looking and over Cochin blood showing.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

X 2
Man, I'd love to procure of a copy of that booklet by Ralph Sturgeon regarding his Rock breeding....can't recall the name offhand.

I think this project will prove out nicely for you, Fred...
Of course...it's just my amateur SOP chicken hobbyist, yet earnest opinion (-;

I think Ralph wrote several if I recall.....I think I might have some photocopied versions of one thats something like "start where you are with what you have"....I think he also did "the secret's in the dame"....I bet if we put Karen (3riverschick) from the Heritage Thread "on it" she'd dig it up for us!!

 

[Fred's Hens]

I have read this online book over and over and over. The American Standard of Perfection: A Complete Description of All ... - Page 32 - Google Books Result

This is online. It is very old, which makes it obsolete in many ways, but also makes it a GREAT read. It will whet your appetite for buying the current APA SOP. I heartily recommend that everyone buy the current SOP. The first 90 pages or so are worth their weight in gold.

The book isn't that expensive in the paper back. Yes, I am a proud member of the APA.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Here's the book. Start where you are with what you have. Ralph Sturgeon If you want to own/read the book, you'll have to search Abe Books, Ebay etc for a copy as it is out of print.