The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Dahlisgrams]

Quote: Thanks for putting it all into such clear perspective Fred. You're really good at that!

I'll have to get some new photos of her tomorrow. My camera is still acting up enough to be really annoying but hopefully I can capture some good shots. lol

 

[John farmer]

here's a line we are working with out of Oklahoma McDaniel line "the cocks comb got frost bite damage it used to be nice" what do you think?

 

[Fred's Hens]

I don't know the source of that line, but perhaps it was from nearby Frank Reese and Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch?

These birds have nice thickness, which is good to see. John, you're gonna face the challenges of yellow legs. Often that is something feed can improve. I think you also face loose feathering issues and the dreaded cushions on the females and the lack of tails on the males.

None of these things are unique. Those are the challenges facing most Barred Rock breeders. Nothing to get worked up about, just what we face. Did you breed this group or this your starter flock?

 

[catdaddyfro]

I like that pic with the front view of the male he has the good rock look to him watch out for that wing angle though its a little low on him try to use level winged girls for mates, I see a couple there and as Fred stated try to avoid the cushions/back fluff on those breeder girls too. The leg color they will be good if fed the right combo of nutrients its not a genetic issue on the them, I don't believe. Some just show it more than others and their location, soil nutrients and availability to lots of green forage has a good deal to do with that issue. and also too this is a picture and the camera and screen also has a lot to do with what is seen posted on here.(colors that is)

Jeff

 

[John farmer]

Thanks Fred and Jeff they are starters i haven't bred them yet , the legs are a little washed out due to the camera but are still light but they also just finished their molt , I seen them a year ago and their legs were nice , so the under fluff is bad on barreds?
Im a cochin breeder and under fluff is a good thing LOL

I also have a new flock of Duckworth barreds that are about 4 months old just haven't got pics taken yet. I know crossing lines is a no no and dont plan on crossing as a standard I want to preserve the lines , but I am curious if I could improve these with the duckworth line strictly for the show aisle.

What is your thoughts on it?

and can you give me some of the history on the duckworth lines?

 

[catdaddyfro]

Thanks Fred and Jeff they are starters i haven't bred them yet , the legs are a little washed out due to the camera but are still light but they also just finished their molt , I seen them a year ago and their legs were nice , so the under fluff is bad on barreds?
Im a cochin breeder and under fluff is a good thing LOL

I also have a new flock of Duckworth barreds that are about 4 months old just haven't got pics taken yet. I know crossing lines is a no no and dont plan on crossing as a standard I want to preserve the lines , but I am curious if I could improve these with the duckworth line strictly for the show aisle.

What is your thoughts on it?

and can you give me some of the history on the duckworth lines?

You sure can cross those BR if you desire Once again I'll say till I'm blue in the face too if you got a line of chickens and they don't have what is needed you got to go out there and get it. If its not there you can't get it. LOL that crossing(or not crossing thing is a Red deal mostly) I think its an egotistical(bragging right)

thing too and most think theirs are perfect an afraid to mess them up I reckon. I figure there's alot more outcrossing going out there than there's let on to be too(between you me and the fence post)

Yes you want to get away from the under fluff on the Rocks and leave that for the Cochins it belongs there LOL

Jeff

 

[Fred's Hens]

Most all the good lines go back to Ralph Sturgeon and on back to EB Thompson, for the most part. They've been kept apart and criss-crossed back onto each other.

Jamie Duckworth took two lines and combined them for his. Those two lines are on the tip of my tongue, but just flew away. Sigh.

Here's what I ask myself. Can this line "A" over here bring anything to the equation? Is this line "B" over there already light years ahead? If so, why bother. Just focus on the better line. I'd guess that in most case, the line you showed might not bring much, if anything, to the Duckworth birds you have. So? Those are my thoughts.

If your Duckworth birds are sharp, and those I've seen sure are, and have proper feathering, proper legs, proper tails, proper heads, etc, what could this other group bring to the table? Meat perhaps? See what I'm saying here?

We respect what others do and have done. But, we must breed birds not get all caught up in just names. If the Duckworth birds are standing there looking like a million bucks, and the other Moore, OK group cannot bring anything to the equation, then why? Contrarily, it might be that the McDaniel birds better suit your own personal goals.

This isn't meant as a putdown of John McDaniel and his birds, as I understand his focus is meat and those birds are showing pretty good meat I suspect. All this also depends greatly upon what your personal goals are for the birds you keep/breed as well. Good talking points here.

 

[John farmer]

Great points from you both and thanks it sounds like we think a lot a like , I just knew i was going to get both barrels from Bob

no offense meant Bob Im passionate about my cochins like you are about heritage breeds.

I will try and get some pics up tomorrow and maybe we can use them to show the difference in the lines.

 

[John farmer]

Here are the pics of our birds from Jamie's line , the cockerels were in a pen with a lot of birds and had there tails all picked out but here they are, will watch them grow out together around 4 months old.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Kraig Shaffer and Tom Wheeler. Hope I have those names right. Those are the fellas that Jamie got his foundation, if I remember correctly. I've heard Kraig's story about his history and passion with the Rocks. It's a good story. As I say, these birds can mostly all be traced back to Ralph Sturgeon, more than likely.

You cannot judge these birds until their birthday, that's pretty much a given, especially the young males. You've got gorgeous birds to start. Assuming there would be any point to crossing your two lines is premature. If one line outshines the other? Then the second place line would have very little to offer to the superior line except the possibilities of muddying up the water.

So, enjoy them. Take your time in coming to judgements about them. You're off to a roaring start. Congratulations.