The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Dahlisgrams]

First trip out of the brooder today.

They look great! Naked chicks always make me smile.

 

[Fred's Hens]

There are interesting things to watch in the development of these chicks. One thing that is interesting is to notice how dark some of the females are. Huge amounts of black ink on legs, horn on the beak and faster feathering. Here's an F1 female that really shows this dark strain. She is faster feathering and has really nice wide set legs. I also like her wide head. She's awfully gawky right now.



Here is a slower feathering, sharp barred male. He's got that look one gets used to seeing these old Ralph Sturgeon birds. Very slow to feather but he is growing large quickly.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Here's that same male again, I like his super wide head and nice leg spacing. This shot shows those features.

 

[uphilljill]

Stopped by the Cobleskill, NY poultry show today to check out the scene. Was happy to see a white Rock win American Champion (sorry, didn't catch the breeder. Congrats to whomever it may be!)

However, I was a little disappointed that there weren't any Barred Rocks entered. May have to do something about that someday.

 

[cbnovick]

Here's that same male again, I like his super wide head and nice leg spacing. This shot shows those features.

Very nice....I have a special soft spot for those 'baldy' ringlet male chicks...saw some at about 4 months old at Desertmarcy's in tucson last week...still somewhat downy but BIG. Super charming they are to me like 'mega chicks' lol

 

[Fred's Hens]

Very nice....I have a special soft spot for those 'baldy' ringlet male chicks...saw some at about 4 months old at Desertmarcy's in tucson last week...still somewhat downy but BIG. Super charming they are to me like 'mega chicks' lol

So funny you should mention that. I just walked out to check on some pullets in a grow out pen and noticed just how they've freakin' tree trunks for legs. LOL And those are the pullets!!! Sorry folks, just making a comparison, but you never seen legs like this on hatchery stock.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

Quote:
Sweet! I agree, they are so endearing. Very nice chicks, Fred. Thanks for the photos.

My youngest group of Barreds are almost past that point at 8+ weeks. One pullet still has a lot of bald areas but most have started to feather and their tails are coming in. Yay tails! Last night when it was time to lock them in there were a handful of cockerels that preferred to roost on the open door instead so I put them away one by one. I cannot believe how heavy some of those cockerels are!!! By no means could I be considered an experienced poultry person but I have raised a lot of different meat type and DP breeds trying to determine what our family preferred in terms of breed and NONE of them felt like these cockerels do. Not even close.

Are there any traits that could be culled for at this age, if present? I am also wondering about one of the best marked pullets I have here, currently 17 weeks of age. There are 3 with nice type and much better markings than the other pullets but two of them have tails developing and the third has essentially no tail at all and has always been slightly smaller than the others in the same hatch. Is this something to select away from or is it normal for her to be devoid of tail feathers at her age? Would this make her a potential cull and laying flock candidate?

I wouldn't let myself look closely at them until just recently but now I can't stop looking. lol

 

[uphilljill]

Here's that same male again, I like his super wide head and nice leg spacing. This shot shows those features.

Very nice! Just curious... Is wide leg spacing something that may change as they grow, or is it usually something identifiable that young and stays?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Very nice! Just curious... Is wide leg spacing something that may change as they grow, or is it usually something identifiable that young and stays?

Usually, it is something you often see as soon as the fuzz dries in the incubator, to be honest. It's what they're born with, in potential. The bird can grow and disappoint a bit and some improve ever so slightly, but the basics are there when they hatch, in my experience.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Sweet! I agree, they are so endearing. Very nice chicks, Fred. Thanks for the photos.

My youngest group of Barreds are almost past that point at 8+ weeks. One pullet still has a lot of bald areas but most have started to feather and their tails are coming in. Yay tails! Last night when it was time to lock them in there were a handful of cockerels that preferred to roost on the open door instead so I put them away one by one. I cannot believe how heavy some of those cockerels are!!! By no means could I be considered an experienced poultry person but I have raised a lot of different meat type and DP breeds trying to determine what our family preferred in terms of breed and NONE of them felt like these cockerels do. Not even close.


These are the real McCoys and yes!!! They are solid and heavy and the cockerels will continue to build bulk and will finish with amazing size and weight at their birthday.

Are there any traits that could be culled for at this age, if present? I am also wondering about one of the best marked pullets I have here, currently 17 weeks of age. There are 3 with nice type and much better markings than the other pullets but two of them have tails developing and the third has essentially no tail at all and has always been slightly smaller than the others in the same hatch. Is this something to select away from or is it normal for her to be devoid of tail feathers at her age? Would this make her a potential cull and laying flock candidate?

I wouldn't let myself look closely at them until just recently but now I can't stop looking. lol

The only traits I'd cull for this early is sickness or crippled legs, etc.

The runts can fool you. They can and often do bloom late into magnificent birds. However, once you get to your second breeding year, I would cull for being a slow bloomer. You cannot allow the birds to mature slower, and slower and slower. It's already an issue with many of these old type H birds.

By the second year, I'd be selecting heavily for early feathering and early size. But, that's the second year. First, you just gotta get a bunch hatched to look them over. First year? Don't rush to do anything too quickly. Post photos, if you wish. We can always give you some back seat driving suggestions. LOL