The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Wynette]

Looks like split wing; can happen in any breed, any time. It's just a "thing." Something to cull for.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Most of us face split wing or what appears to be something similar in our other breeds too. Cull. We see it in the Reds too. No more, no less, just see it. Again, cull. They eat good.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Which brings me back around to the culling in breeders flock when the numbers are or are not there. Being ruthless about culling is pretty easy when you hatch 100 chicks of a line. You only need one or two good specimens to move forward, figuring you still have 3 or 4 great birds in your flock from the past.

We're very relaxed about culling and eating birds. We aren't traumatized over having 30 or more culls. They're just meat.
I understand how difficult this is when you only have 20 chicks to grow out and examine. The truth is that you simply need more hatchlings to move forward, in my view. Again, I strongly recommend a partnership with another breeder of your line. Two people working together, with two smaller flocks, can cover the same ground as a bigger breeder with the larger flock.

Just sayin'. Culling, ruthless culling is part of breeding. If you don't cull hard, progress will very difficult to come by.

 

[aoxa]

Which brings me back around to the culling in breeders flock when the numbers are or are not there. Being ruthless about culling is pretty easy when you hatch 100 chicks of a line. You only need one or two good specimens to move forward, figuring you still have 3 or 4 great birds in your flock from the past.

We're very relaxed about culling and eating birds. We aren't traumatized over having 30 or more culls. They're just meat.
I understand how difficult this is when you only have 20 chicks to grow out and examine. The truth is that you simply need more hatchlings to move forward, in my view. Again, I strongly recommend a partnership with another breeder of your line. Two people working together, with two smaller flocks, can cover the same ground as a bigger breeder with the larger flock.

Just sayin'. Culling, ruthless culling is part of breeding. If you don't cull hard, progress will very difficult to come by.

You're right on that.. I need to find someone to keep a few of my birds for backup. I know just who to trust with it.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Fred's point is right on.....can't say enough for having a partner or partners (!!!) in this hobby.

Several reason come to mind:

1. If you have limited space, and a lot of us do, to have a partner with the same line allows you access to other breeder birds/chicks/started birds, etc. Also a great place to "share" a cockerel that you really don't want to get rid of, but happens to be the #2 bird, not the #1. In addition, together you can chart progress, watch breedings that work, those that don't, ways to watch for pitfalls, etc, etc

2. Should something, God forbid, happen to your flock, you always have a means to get back started again

3. If you can establish a partner that is off some distance (different climate), you can rely on the partner for an infusion of "new blood" when its needed. Although the line will still be the same as your own, birds raised off some distance will develop just enough genetic variation that it will help your vigor when needed and have the added advantage of still being within your own strain

I've tried to spread my Columbians far and wide. They were so difficult to get to begin with, the thought of having to go that route again is not one I relish trying again.


Ok, gotta get some lunch and head to Birmingham.....have a great Monday y'all

 

[Dahlisgrams]

Fred and Aoxa, the photos of the birds you posted were very helpful. I love the look of that pullet. Funny my eye went to the same cockerel. Bet he'll be stunning once grown.

The issue of a partnership has been on my mind too. Just have no idea who!

Fred, is it possible that one of the two cockerels in the grow out pen from you is not pure XW/GSBR? He's a few weeks younger than the oldest and even taking this into consideration his barring is far muddier than the oldest one. If so, is there any value in breeding him? Also, what are you calling your line?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Fred and Aoxa, the photos of the birds you posted were very helpful. I love the look of that pullet. Funny my eye went to the same cockerel. Bet he'll be stunning once grown.

The issue of a partnership has been on my mind too. Just have no idea who!

Fred, is it possible that one of the two cockerels in the grow out pen from you is not pure XW/GSBR? He's a few weeks younger than the oldest and even taking this into consideration his barring is far muddier than the oldest one. If so, is there any value in breeding him? Also, what are you calling your line?

If you have a poor cockerel, no I wouldn't use him. We put 35+ cockerels on the ground this year and we won't even consider using more than one, maybe two. That's it. The rest will be eaten. Even in the XW/GSBR line I showed above, there are a large number of duds with faults, flaws and other things. I showed some real losers in that bunch.

We packed bonus eggs in every dozen we shipped. Sometimes these eggs were Reds, sometimes the bonus eggs were F1 of the Maine cross with XW/GSBR. He sounds to me that he'd likely an F1 cockerel. Can you show a photo?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Dahlisgram, did you get a good looking cockerel in your bunch from Jeremy?

This is a nice bird, one you posted earlier.


This is another good looking young fella.



Is this the cockerel in question? He is for sure a cross F1.



I am not personally going to use ANY of the F1 cockerels. You would have no reason to use him either.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

Quote: I'm enjoying one of those birds that hatched from the bonus eggs very much. That sweet RIR pullet is THE friendliest bird here, even more in your face than the Rocks.

The plan for tomorrow is to weigh each bird in both pens and I have a cage set up to get some photos. This cockerel in particular is impossible to get a good photo of. He never stands still! Tried to get to it today but there was no way. Ran out of daylight first. I'm fine if he's a cull, and my gut is telling me that he is. My goal is to hatch at least 100 next year and keep only the very best. The rest will be culls and I'm totally fine with that. Chicken makes a great meal. Either way, I'll do my best to get some photos of him posted tomorrow. If he's a definite cull, now's a great time to know. We're going to be processing a few other breed roosters in the next week.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'm glad you love your bonus Red. We love them too.

For sure, if I have your earlier photos right? You have absolutely GOT what you need in a couple of those cockerels. Just make sure you keep two. Murphy's law kind of thing. Feeling particularly alone, without a partner? Keep three.