The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[DMRippy]

Quote: PM her/him on BYC...Tiffany/Steve share this account.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/122442/tnbearchick

 

[Wynette]

Scott I was looking for a opinion from someone that has a long breeding record on the same variety of the Plymouth Rock that I do. I think you have a personal agenda that would better be discuss somewhere other than here.

Clayton Grace

Clayton, if Scott has any "agenda" it is to breed the best fowl possible, and he's well on his way. He is one that any of us here on this thread can learn oodles from. Scott's right : A Rock is a Rock. Type is the same, sans color/pattern issues. NO ONE out there (I have searched very high and very low and I will be my 401(k) on it) is to the point with the Silver Penciled variety that color decisions are high on the list of what ought to be culled.

Personally, I take very strong heed of a few folks' feedback, and Scott is one of them....Just sayin'.

Now - back to ROCK TALK!

 

[BGMatt]

Scott I was looking for a opinion from someone that has a long breeding record on the same variety of the Plymouth Rock that I do. I think you have a personal agenda that would better be discuss somewhere other than here.

Clayton Grace

A common misconception that is held up as an excuse by many, variety does not matter one bit. Especially when discussing type. I see this in other breeds too "well I have X variety so that means Y doesn't apply", wrong.

I guess I'm really repeating Wynette here but that's fine, it's obviously something that needs to be said more, a Rock is a Rock is a Rock. Color pattern and variety do not change that one bit.

 

[Silver Rock]

There are not many long time breeders of the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks and I have talked to Danny Padgett in person and massage Dick Horstman & Robert Murphy on their opinion/advice on breeding & what to look for in moving forward with the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks. I thought I would get Wynette's opinion also as she has been breeding this variety for awhile now.

ps: it is hard for me to take advice from someone that thinks I have just threw two flocks together without any thinking & planning behind it but I guess Scott is intitled to his opinion on my breeding plans.

Clayton Grace

 

[BGMatt]

There are not many long time breeders of the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks and I have talked to Danny Padgett in person and massage Dick Horstman & Robert Murphy on their opinion/advice on breeding & what to look for in moving forward with the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks. I thought I would get Wynette's opinion also as she has been breeding this variety for awhile now.

ps: it is hard for me to take advice from someone that thinks I have just threw two flocks together without any thinking & planning behind it but I guess Scott is intitled to his opinion on my breeding plans.

Clayton Grace

You're right there's not a lot of long time silver pencilled rock breeders, but there are a lot of longtime and very knowledgeable Plymouth Rock breeders. Which is what I was trying to say and others have said too...variety does not matter, a Plymouth Rock is a Plymouth Rock. I have bred White, Partridge and Barred in large fowl and Black and Blue in bantam, they are all Plymouth Rocks.

 

[dreamofglory]

You're right there's not a lot of long time silver pencilled rock breeders, but there are a lot of longtime and very knowledgeable Plymouth Rock breeders. Which is what I was trying to say and others have said too...variety does not matter, a Plymouth Rock is a Plymouth Rock. I have bred White, Partridge and Barred in large fowl and Black and Blue in bantam, they are all Plymouth Rocks.

I completely agree. Too many breeders compromise on there breeding stock or fail the understand the very basic rule of type over colour.

 

[Silver Rock]

You're right there's not a lot of long time silver pencilled rock breeders, but there are a lot of longtime and very knowledgeable Plymouth Rock breeders. Which is what I was trying to say and others have said too...variety does not matter, a Plymouth Rock is a Plymouth Rock. I have bred White, Partridge and Barred in large fowl and Black and Blue in bantam, they are all Plymouth Rocks.

Hi BGMatt, I agree that breeding the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks to the correct Type should be the same as the rest of the Plymouth Rock varieties as all the Plymouth Rock breeders should be breeding their birds to the Standard. That is not what I am talking about, what I am trying to say is in my opinion there are many different Type traits in the Rock varieties. For me to get the best understanding on how to move forward in my Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock breeding plans I want to learn as much as I can "the GOOD & the BAD" from the breeders that have been breeding to improve this variety for years and hear from them like what worked for them and what didn't.

With that being said I am definitely not saying that I won't take advice from others that don't breed the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks.

"Rock is a Rock" I agree with that but not all Rock varieties were created equal as the Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks were developed by breeds other than Plymouth Rocks. So I know the road to getting Type to the Standard in this variety will be a very long one.

Clayton Grace

 

[Wynette]

ps: it is hard for me to take advice from someone that thinks I have just threw two flocks together without any thinking & planning behind it but I guess Scott is intitled to his opinion on my breeding plans.

Clayton Grace

Clay, this is precisely why I suggested several posts ago, after you posted about your breeding pens, to let us know exactly what you're hoping to accomplish in each - i.e., what do you see in each male and hence why you chose the females to pair up with them. For example, if you'd said you were hoping to improve the yellow in their legs, we may have given feedback to indicate that there may be other, more imporant, things to focus on before the leg color. I'm not saying your flock(s) do or don't have appropriately colored legs, I'm merely using it as an example.

If you knew Scott, you would know that he is very mild-mannered, extremely kind-hearted, very hard working, and is passionate about his birds, just like we all are. My mother used to say that you can learn something from anyone...sometimes, it's hard to see...sometimes, you need to really dig for it. But on occasion, those little nuggets are priceless!

Been chatting with a judge friend offline (off BYC), and he sent this comment to me, which I thought was fantastic in lieu of our conversation today. I really like this, and admittedly I'm quite wobbly, but learning!

Breeding poultry is somewhat akin to learning to ride a bicycle. You don't do it by having someone do it for you, you have to keep trying. Yes, you'll make mistakes that cause you to wobble all over the place. Heck you might you might even fall down; but if you stick with it, pretty soon it clicks and off you go...straight down the road.

 

[Silver Rock]

Clay, this is precisely why I suggested several posts ago, after you posted about your breeding pens, to let us know exactly what you're hoping to accomplish in each - i.e., what do you see in each male and hence why you chose the females to pair up with them.  For example, if you'd said you were hoping to improve the yellow in their legs, we may have given feedback to indicate that there may be other, more imporant, things to focus on before the leg color.  I'm not saying your flock(s) do or don't have appropriately colored legs, I'm merely using it as an example.

If you knew Scott, you would know that he is very mild-mannered, extremely kind-hearted, very hard working, and is passionate about his birds, just like we all are.  My mother used to say that you can learn something from anyone...sometimes, it's hard to see...sometimes, you need to really dig for it.  But on occasion, those little nuggets are priceless!

Been chatting with a judge friend offline (off BYC), and he sent this comment to me, which I thought was fantastic in lieu of our conversation today.  I really like this, and admittedly I'm quite wobbly, but learning!

Breeding poultry is somewhat akin to learning to ride a bicycle. You don't do it by having someone do it for you, you have to keep trying. Yes, you'll make mistakes that cause you to wobble all over the place. Heck you might you might even fall down; but if you stick with it, pretty soon it clicks and off you go...straight down the road.

Well Wynette honestly I though by posting that I was going to be working on Type for years to come a few days ago, that made my breeding plan self explanatory. I will start being more clear on my breeding plans as size will be worked on first as like you said a few post ago get the size up and most likely the cushion becomes no longer a problem. Working on comb and color of legs will come later. I have been around chickens all my life but last year I decided try my hand at showing poultry and I do understand that I have a lot to learn but I am very luck to have my father & brother to help me. There are many very knowledgeable Plymouth Rock breeders that are members of the Plymouth Rock Fanciers Facebook Group that help me out tremendously also.

Clayton Grace

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Anyone trying to accelerate the growth curve on your chicks? Build a larger frame?

I've experimented this year with feed I provide my chicks (all at the recommendation of a superior buff orp breeder who regularly produces some spectacular birds). I have some 3 1/2 week old chicks that are incredibly HUGE and growing like weeds. These chicks are nearly 1/2 feathered and are spending time in the outdoor area of the brooder as opposed to near the heat (and today was cold and blustery here, high around 45F). In addition to the 25% protein chick starter (animal based) I am top dressing their feed with 1/4 cup of manna pro calf manna and rolled oats each day. WOW what a difference. There are 6 chicks in this one brooder and they CLEAN UP 2 qts of feed every day!!

I am guessing these chicks will hit the "ground" no later than 5-6 weeks old, and be in their grow out pens

It will be interesting to see how fast this yrs offspring fills out