The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[RoosterRod]

A very beautiful bird.

 

[dreamofglory]

Here are some of my partridge rocks I think I have good size in mine

 

[dreamofglory]

This cockerel was just 6 months in this pic

 

[Silver Rock]

Donna, I definitely see what you are saying!!

I really see 2 major differences; #1 - size, but #2 the PRs appear to be tighter feathered than the SPRs

I think both the PRs and SPRs are going to need an "injection" of size from an outcrossing to something.  There are so few in the US that they likely all come from the same "basic" lines and thus carry the same basic genetics

Hi Scott, over the last few months I have been diligently looking for the cross that could help the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks in #1-Type, #2-Size, #3-Color "silver base color". At the Knoxville show last December I ask Danny Padgett if I should cull the few SPR I got from him that had a few feathers stubs on their legs. He told me the SPR I got from him were 1/4 Dark Brahma as he just recently crossed Dark Brahmas into his line to beef up the size while keeping the penciling in tack. So I am looking forward to seeing what size the pullets will get to as they reach hens. I think this cross can help the SPR in size but won't help the SPR in type and type is something that is lacking in the Silver Penciled, Partridge, Columbian, Buff and Blue Plymouth Rocks when compared to the Barred & White Plymouth Rocks.

In my opinion there are 3 crosses that you can do to help the SPR but all three have their drawbacks.

#1- The best cross for type would be the White Plymouth Rock but it would take years of crossing back to the parent penciled stock to get the penciling back on track. So I am afraid with the amount of years you would have to cross back to the parent stock to get the penciling back on track you will be back to the type you began with.

#2- Using the Dark Brahma you get size while also keeping the penciling on track but you lose Rock type.

#3- Use Partridge Rocks you keep Rock type while also keeping the penciling on track but lose the silver base color.


The Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks has been with us for over 100 years and in this time they have changed very little. In my opinion the reason for this is there is very little one can do to get the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks to a more Standard #1-Type, #2-Size, #3-Color "silver base color" without one of the three hurting the other.

The Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks are what they are and I am very happy to be breeding them and will continue to breed them to the best of my ability.

Clayton

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Hi Scott, over the last few months I have been diligently looking for the cross that could help the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks in #1-Type, #2-Size, #3-Color "silver base color". At the Knoxville show last December I ask Danny Padgett if I should cull the few SPR I got from him that had a few feathers stubs on their legs. He told me the SPR I got from him were 1/4 Dark Brahma as he just recently crossed Dark Brahmas into his line to beef up the size while keeping the penciling in tack. So I am looking forward to seeing what size the pullets will get to as they reach hens. I think this cross will help the SPR in size but want help SPR in type and type is something that is lacking in the Silver Penciled, Partridge, Columbian, Buff and Blue Plymouth Rocks when compared to the Barred & White Plymouth Rocks.

In my opinion there are 3 crosses that you can do to help the SPR but all three have their drawbacks.

#1- The best cross for type would be the White Plymouth Rock but it would take years of crossing back to the parent penciled stock to get the penciling back on track. So I am afraid with the amount of years you would have to cross back to the parent stock to get the penciling back on track you will be back to the type you began with.

#2- Using the Dark Brahma you get size while also keeping the penciling on track but you lose Rock type.

#3- Use Partridge Rocks you keep Rock type while also keeping the penciling on track but lose the silver base color.


The Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks has been with us for over 100 years and in this time they have changed very little. In my opinion the reason for this is there is very little one can do to get the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks more to a more Standard #1-Type, #2-Size, #3-Color "silver base color" without one of the three hurting the other.

The Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks are what they are and I am very happy to be breeding this breed and continue to breed them to the best of my ability.

Clayton

I'm betting you could use a black australop, black orpington or a barred rock

SPRs are e^b/e^b and silver, the blacks and barreds are E/E and silver....I bet you could get back to pattern with some selective culling in just a few generations. Solid black birds might be the easiest

Color would definitely suffer for a while, but that can be regained

As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained

 

[kwMississippi]

I've already got around 150 chicks hatched out. Toe punched by pen. Wing banded at 2 weeks of age. I have 2 GQF cabinet incubators. I made a hatching tray out of plywood with 3 sections and covered with wire to keep then separated when they hatch. Hopefully I'll be done hatching in a few more weeks.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I've already got around 150 chicks hatched out. Toe punched by pen. Wing banded at 2 weeks of age. I have 2 GQF cabinet incubators. I made a hatching tray out of plywood with 3 sections and covered with wire to keep then separated when they hatch. Hopefully I'll be done hatching in a few more weeks.

Holy "@#*$^&" batman

 

[kwMississippi]

Holy "@#*$^&" batman

All large fowl. RIR, white, barred, and silver penciled rocks.

 

[Silver Rock]

I'm betting you could use a black australop, black orpington or a barred rock

SPRs are e^b/e^b and silver, the blacks and barreds are E/E and silver....I bet you could get back to pattern with some selective culling in just a few generations.  Solid black birds might be the easiest

Color would definitely suffer for a while, but that can be regained

As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained

As for using the Black Australorp or Black Orpington, if I was going to go that route Scott I would use the Mottled Java as the Java blood was used in the makeup of the Barred Plymouth Rocks. Using the Mottled Java would keep you closer to the type you want in a Plymouth Rock but the problem would be finding Mottled Javas of good size.

As for using the Barred Plymouth Rocks if it was that simple I think it would have already been done or at least would have been one of the breeds used in the development of the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock.

Some day I do plan to experiment with a outcross and it will most likely be the Barred Plymouth Rocks or Mottled Javas.

Clayton

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

As for using the Black Australorp or Black Orpington, if I was going to go that route Scott I would use the Mottled Java as the Java blood was used in the makeup of the Barred Plymouth Rocks. Using the Mottled Java would keep you closer to the type you want in a Plymouth Rock but the problem would be finding Mottled Javas of good size.

As for using the Barred Plymouth Rocks if it was that simple I think it would have already been done or at least would have been one of the breeds used in the development of the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock.

Some day I do plan to experiment with a outcross and it will most likely be the Barred Plymouth Rocks or Mottled Javas.

Clayton

While Javas may have been used "originally", their type is far from Rock type....I think you would be safer to select a breed whose CURRENT type is at least close to that of a Rock to avoid setting yourself back