The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Beekissed]

I'm practicing my incubating skills...

I'm doing everything wrong so that when I get to the real, quality eggs, I'll know how to do it right. At least...I think that's how it goes.

Seeing some signs of life in my mutt eggs, I think.....time will tell.

 

[beausonge]

The Rock has a standard for a purpose. Not all "dual purpose" birds have the same standard. The Rock standard calls for a specific top line, head, tail etc because it is this composite that makes them a Rock. If I wanted a Wyandotte, or other breed, I'd keep them instead. I want a Rock. I'm a Rock head. The rainy day line defeats the purpose of the bird and the intents of it's creators. The Rock needs to have a gravy bowl shape. This is a meat bird that lays eggs. Not an egg layer that barely produces any meat. To accomplish the breed's purpose, the type is essential. That wide tail and beautiful backline isn't just art, although I find it extremely artful and pleasing to my eye, it forms the very nature of the bird. Forget, if you can, the pattern. Look at this bird. These are rock females. This engraving is 100 years old. I have birds in my pens who look exactly, precisely after these bird's image. This is a Rock female.

Thank you Fred for this old photo. These are the kind of reference images that help me formulate what I will be looking for in my own birds some day. Vickie

 

[Fred's Hens]

Dropped off a good cockerel and select pullet @normanack on the way home today. I hope she and her daughter are pleased with them.

Got home and unpacked the birds. Settling them into their barn pens now. What a blessing to have the sun shining and the temps in the low 40's. Sweet.

Oh, and I fired up my incubator. Tomorrow morning, I start setting eggs. It's breeding season, incubating season and hatching season. Even if spring is mirage on a distant horizon, it is high time to get started. Yup, that's me, smilin'.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Dropped off a good cockerel and select pullet @normanack on the way home today. I hope she and her daughter are pleased with them.

Got home and unpacked the birds. Settling them into their barn pens now. What a blessing to have the sun shining and the temps in the low 40's. Sweet.

Oh, and I fired up my incubator. Tomorrow morning, I start setting eggs. It's breeding season, incubating season and hatching season. Even if spring is mirage on a distant horizon, it is high time to get started. Yup, that's me, smilin'.

Great news Fred

Glad you and the wife are home safely!!

My 3rd hatch comes off tomorrow. Already have about 1/2 dzn pipped. Some in this group are the F3s in my project to fix the brassiness issue....looking forward to seeing those!

 

[Ducktang]

There seems to be much conversation about a few of my males. I thought I would post some thoughts here. The first we will call Orange 4. I gave him the name Warchief.
The second rooster is Orange 3. I gave him the name Gladiator.

Warchief 2011


Gladiator 2011






Warchief 2014


Notice how slow and shorter the tails get with age. Also notice how they get lighter. They do get better fleshed and gain some more weight.
Gladiator 2014


These guys are three years old now, being hatched in 2011.
It is important to keep your birds for years so you can observe them. I believe too many folks judge the breed on juveniles.

 

[normanack]

Dropped off a good cockerel and select pullet @normanack
 on the way home today.  I hope she and her daughter are pleased with them.  

Got home and unpacked the birds.  Settling them into their barn pens now.  What a blessing to have the sun shining and the temps in the low 40's.  Sweet.   

Oh, and I fired up my incubator.  Tomorrow morning, I start setting eggs.  It's breeding season, incubating season and hatching season.  Even if spring is mirage on a distant horizon, it is high time to get started.  Yup, that's me, smilin'.

Over the moon with happiness, Fred. Over the moon.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hey, Jamie. Glad you stopped by. Even the hens get prettier with age, to me anyhow.

Love the way the combs on those 2011 males fit the head. Of course, we've all bragged about the tails on your males.

 

[Silver Rock]

Today I worked on adding a 10' x 16' covered run for my Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock breeding pen. Next weekend I plan to get the three doors up, put the metal top on and get it wrapped in wire.

 

[uphilljill]

I stuck two eggs from my BR pair in the incubator this weekend to test for fertility. My rooster decided breeding season would be a good time to molt , so I want to make sure he's got the stuff while the hen's still ramping up production. Looks like my plan for early hatching Feb/March is out the window. Lol Aiming for April/May now.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I stuck two eggs from my BR pair in the incubator this weekend to test for fertility. My rooster decided breeding season would be a good time to molt

, so I want to make sure he's got the stuff while the hen's still ramping up production. Looks like my plan for early hatching Feb/March is out the window. Lol Aiming for April/May now.

I would suspect he is "just fine"....while my females will normally slow or quit laying, I've personally not experienced any fertility issues from a molting male
GOOD LUCK