The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Yard full o' rocks]

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.

We need a few more folks from the SOUTH.....I'd be glad to help partner with someone on Plymouth Rocks....you folks above the Mason/Dixon are a bit far from me (LOL)

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Stolen from S Gribble on the Heritage Thread

Here is a link to anyone wanting to leave a condolence to Bob Blosl's family. http://www.mackfuneral.com/obituaries/Robert-Blosl/#!/Obituary
I am sure Zora and Kelly would appreciate the thoughts and prayers.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

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.

The first two photos are of the oldest bird. I like him and his barring seems to be darkening a bit as he matures. I realize he isn't perfect but there is a lot about him that's good too. He seems to get wider between the legs every time I look at him and he has a regal presence. Everyone that sees him comments on him. The question is whether he is good enough to have his own family.
The third photo is indeed the bird in question. Thank you for confirming his cull status.

There are 11 cockerels from Jeremy in the pen and so far most of them look really good to my novice eye. Nothing stands out as something to cull for early on though I've culled several already for vigor when they were fairly young chicks. They are just starting to feather out completely and gain a little size. There are one or two that seem a bit lighter than the others, but the consistency in type overall is remarkable. No idea what I really have here yet, but I like them very much so far. I'll get some shots of them when I weigh tomorrow too. They're large enough for bands now and it will permit me to keep track of the slightly smaller, slower to feather cockerel in the bunch. They are 12 weeks old now.

I don't believe I will ever grow tired of these birds. They aren't the least bit boring to me even without a bunch of crazy colors. Their type is so beautiful and the naturally friendly, curious disposition of the Rocks have me hooked. I've already re-homed or eaten most of the other breeds I was considering just to make room to do the Barreds right. I just don't want to mess up the line and really appreciate the hand holding while I get my feet wet. lol

 

[Fred's Hens]

"our line".

Well, as I said earlier, we keep the XW/GSBR going along pure. We hatched 50 or more them this year and helped as many folks as we could get eggs. The boys in KY will now handle this line and they're doing a very good job with them.

But I had a goal in mind in the outcrossing with the Maine line. I wanted vigor, and I got it. A first year result of this cross, the F1, is that the type is excellent, but the barring smudged a bit, as was expected. Some smudged more than others, also expected.

However, I picked through the pullets for the best three. I intend to put them back under an XW/GSBR male next spring. The resultant F2 should tighten the barring alot. However, we have fingers crossed we keep the vigor we have achieved. We don't want to go backward on that front. I figured all along this would be a 4 to 5 year project but one I felt strongly about doing. Given the results so far, I'm genuinely geeked about it. Thus, this is truly my line. I don't blame anyone else for it. LOL

 

[Dahlisgrams]

Quote: LOL

I'm on Long Island but travel the east coast fairly frequently. I would love to do this with someone too.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

"our line".

Well, as I said earlier, we keep the XW/GSBR going along pure. We hatched 50 or more them this year and helped as many folks as we could get eggs. The boys in KY will now handle this line and they're doing a very good job with them.

But I had a goal in mind in the outcrossing with the Maine line. I wanted vigor, and I got it. A first year result of this cross, the F1, is that the type is excellent, but the barring smudged a bit, as was expected. Some smudged more than others, also expected.

However, I picked through the pullets for the best three. I intend to put them back under an XW/GSBR male next spring. The resultant F2 should tighten the barring alot. However, we have fingers crossed we keep the vigor we have achieved. We don't want to go backward on that front. I figured all along this would be a 4 to 5 year project but one I felt strongly about doing. Given the results so far, I'm genuinely geeked about it. Thus, this is truly my line. I don't blame anyone else for it. LOL

I'm very interested in the development of these F1 crosses, Fred. I plan to breed one of them back to a straight XW/GSBR cock next year and see what we get too. I may not have a huge amount of pen space to devote to it, but even so.

I've been calling my birds from you my "Fred Rocks" lol

 

[Dahlisgrams]

Stolen from S Gribble on the Heritage Thread

Here is a link to anyone wanting to leave a condolence to Bob Blosl's family. http://www.mackfuneral.com/obituaries/Robert-Blosl/#!/Obituary
I am sure Zora and Kelly would appreciate the thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for posting this here. I'm really glad that I wasn't the only person crying over the loss of someone I'd never met and I'm not ashamed to admit it. He gave so much. I hope to be able to breed up to his standards!

 

[Fred's Hens]

This is a cockerel you got from me?

OK, let's look at him. First his head and comb. The comb follows the skull nicely. Next his top line. It's a bit "down hill" but he's young and perhaps he's caught in a poor pose. Check that top line in real life. He still has sooooo much more time to finish, but his tail is coming in and it will be interesting to see it full adult furnished form.

I can safely predict that chest will really blossom and be something nice. You say his legs seem to get farther and farther apart. THAT is a good thing. To my taste, his wing is really nice. The legs are a nice yellow.

So, there you have it. He's quite nice. Yes, I would certainly give him a family, if you can. Unless he turns really goofy in finishing up, he'd be a keeper. He's pure XW/GSBR and it is interesting how some are darker and some are very, very light in overall appearance. Just the way it is with these birds.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Stolen from S Gribble on the Heritage Thread

Here is a link to anyone wanting to leave a condolence to Bob Blosl's family. http://www.mackfuneral.com/obituaries/Robert-Blosl/#!/Obituary
I am sure Zora and Kelly would appreciate the thoughts and prayers.

I have few words to express my sense of loss. A very good, kind, helpful and patient man has gone to his heavenly reward. God rest your soul, Robert Anthony Blosl.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

This is a cockerel you got from me?

OK, let's look at him. First his head and comb. The comb follows the skull nicely. Next his top line. It's a bit "down hill" but he's young and perhaps he's caught in a poor pose. Check that top line in real life. He still has sooooo much more time to finish, but his tail is coming in and it will be interesting to see it full adult furnished form.

I can safely predict that chest will really blossom and be something nice. You say his legs seem to get farther and farther apart. THAT is a good thing. To my taste, his wing is really nice. The legs are a nice yellow.

So, there you have it. He's quite nice. Yes, I would certainly give him a family, if you can. Unless he turns really goofy in finishing up, he'd be a keeper. He's pure XW/GSBR and it is interesting how some are darker and some are very, very light in overall appearance. Just the way it is with these birds.

Yes, he is. I agree that his back does appear to slope downward in this photo but in real life it looks more level than this. His tail has filled in some since these photos were taken. Filled out a bit too.