The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Fred's Hens]

Day 8. I candle only once, at day 10-12 and discard clears. That's all I ever do. I am hoping this batch's rate is high as I really need these chicks to evaluate. These were 4 different test matings. The results will help guide us in November when we set our pens for later winter breeding. There are 2 matings of the pure XW/GSBR and two matings of the F! out cross.

I honestly try to stay busy, (not a problem this time year) and not think much about these eggs.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Why do we breed for legs set wide apart?

The internal organs of the bird must have room to function. A narrow bodied bird has to struggle to "fit" all the organs, the heart, lungs, digestive tract, the reproductive organs into a small, narrow and compressed space. The wider the leg set, the more likely the bird will have the body width necessary to be healthy and productive.

A narrow set of legs is to be culled. These birds cannot be used in breeding and seldom make productive layers for the layer flock either. The knock kneed look is not only horridly unattractive, but also betrays a bird that is not thrifty.

 

[juliechick]

I'm raising BR bantams this year. I have 4 cockerels. I'm culling one because he has a huge comb with about 8 points and some irregularities. Anyway, out of the other three, I have one that is stocky and has profuse saddle feathers. The other two are more slender in appearance. They are only about 6 months old, so they will grow some yet and fill out. Which type do you all think is the most like a Plymouth Rock should be?
Here's one of the pullets. I think she is shaped pretty close to standard. Am I right?

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I'm raising BR bantams this year. I have 4 cockerels. I'm culling one because he has a huge comb with about 8 points and some irregularities. Anyway, out of the other three, I have one that is stocky and has profuse saddle feathers. The other two are more slender in appearance. They are only about 6 months old, so they will grow some yet and fill out. Which type do you all think is the most like a Plymouth Rock should be?
Here's one of the pullets. I think she is shaped pretty close to standard. Am I right?

This female looks pretty good!

Are the two pix of the cockerels the 2 you are intending to keep? If so, i would love to see a side/profile picture to see length of back and tail lift. Too many comb points doesn't bother me (as long as there are no side sprigs) if the rest of the bird is equal to or better than the others

 

[juliechick]

This is another of the 3 I intend to keep for now. If I need better pics, I'll have to get someone to help me pose them.

This is the one with the odd comb:

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

This is another of the 3 I intend to keep for now. If I need better pics, I'll have to get someone to help me pose them.

This is the one with the odd comb:

To me, wing carriage on both is too low and I think the combs on both are a little "oversized", but that can be fixed over time

Bird in the top pix looks "too big(??)" to be a bantam (I raise LF so my point of reference may not be so good)...the second bird seems to have great type, nice tail coming in that seems to follow the back nicely. Great barring on them both as well

If I were picking the bird to breed to, it would be the one with the blue leg band

 

[Fred's Hens]

Jullechick

It's hard to make hard and fast judgement online. You're standing there looking at live birds which puts you in a distinct advantage over us. Please, please bear that in mind when considering our comments.

This is a certain "look" we also see in our large fowl. I don't care for it much, to be very honest. He head is shrunken looking and his neck look thin. I'd cull this one. Somebody somewhere needs a cockerel and he'd be free to good home.




I would not cull this one. I like him. His pose here is crouched, as birds are often hard to capture on a digital file in a brief click of the camera. But I like him a lot. I'd like to see standing in a pose, profile.





Yep. She's a keeper. She'd be going nowhere if she were on my farm.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The wing carriage is too low on both of them

Ah, geesh. I see Scott already said that. LOL

Anyhow, tis true. Very true. The pullet doesn't carry that wing low. She's better than both of the boys.

 

[juliechick]

Thanks for the comments! I didn't even notice the wing carriage. I will have to look at them and see if they always do it or if it's because I was invading their space to take the photos. The one that's crouching is my favorite. I would like to breed some of the pullets to my original cock bird. (These aren't his chicks.) Here's a pic of him.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Low wing carriage is a serious gig against any bird. A poorly formed head is also not good. You'll likely have to select heavily against these moving forward. Your pullet shows no sign of it, but the males are. Your barring is awesome, tails look great. Over all type is excellent. We all have our bug-a-boos to get rid of, trust me. They plague us and we must strive to rid our lines of them. You have some awesome birds to work with. Thank you so much for sharing them.

If you've been following along from the beginning, it isn't uncommon to find nicer females than males, or conversely. This is what makes this hobby so darn challenging.