The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Silver Rock]

"The Mating and Breeding of Poultry", Harry M. Lamon abd Rob R. Slocum  ... 1920....
there's a reason it's still in print


Have a great one

I highly recommend this book, best Barred Rock section out there. Good Columbian and Silver Penciled section too.

I agree rc50 & Tom, of all the poultry books I have acquired over the years this book has to be at the top of the list for the very detailed information within it's pages.

A Bible, 2010 edition of the APA Standard & a copy of this book is on a table beside my recliner that I enjoy studying over often.

 

[Fentress]

Looks to me like it belongs in this thread. I'd love to see this years Duckworth line.

Even if they were dressed (w/out feathers), with weights provided and management methods discussed. I may not have been real clear in my first post, after rereading it. I would certainly post pictures ranking the cockerels prior to selection. Just making sure that posting pictures of dressed poultry is OK.

 

[racertomtom]

I agree rc50 & Tom, of all the poultry books I have acquired over the years this book has to be at the top of the list for the very detailed information within it's pages.

A Bible, 2010 edition of the APA Standard & a copy of this book is on a table beside my recliner that I enjoy studying over often.

Your copy is almost as worn as mine. My early mentor gave me some good advice when I was starting out. I thought it a bit odd considering he was an APA Hall of Famer at that time, I learned to understand. Every single time I set up breeding pens, I read the SOP, then I’ll read the appropriate section of the above book, only then will I pick out birds for the breeding pens. That’s something I still do every time.

It’s a bit embarrassing when your poultry buddies come over and see your breeding pens and ask, doesn’t a Plymouth Rock have red bay eyes? DOOH! Forgot to look at the eyes.

I make a check list to remind myself to look at everything. I know all that stuff, but will I remember all of it while there’s a bird in my hands?

 

[Silver Rock]

Your copy is almost as worn as mine. My early mentor gave me some good advice when I was starting out. I thought it a bit odd considering he was an APA Hall of Famer at that time, I learned to understand. Every single time I set up breeding pens, I read the SOP, then I’ll read the appropriate section of the above book, only then will I pick out birds for the breeding pens. That’s something I still do every time.

It’s a bit embarrassing when your poultry buddies come over and see your breeding pens and ask, doesn’t a Plymouth Rock have red bay eyes? DOOH! Forgot to look at the eyes.   I make a check list to remind myself to look at everything. I know all that stuff, but will I remember all of it while there’s a bird in my hands?

Hi Tom, I can never find anything on tv worth watching so yes my books are in bad shape.
This year unfortunately I didn't have the room to do any single matings but I am very much looking forward to next Spring as I have been planning to use the same method as you have done in having these two books in hand to choose what two birds goes into a breeding pen. I'm already trying to practice using this method as i look at my birds this year and try to decide what bird would be the best match for this bird in hopes of producing a better bird in the next generation. With the chicks I'm hatching out now I hope to have a nice selection for a few Single Mating Breeding pens come next Spring.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Well, folks it looks like you got a little excited over the past few days. Just got back from a long driving weekend. I honestly too tired to engage much, if any, of the conversation traded.

I can assure you that as the OP of this thread, my only interest is the passion for high quality Plymouth Rocks. We've ALWAYS been focused on what I would call, a relaxed thread, but we've also always assumed that this thread is not for everyone. It is for the committed breeder, thus, The Rock Breeders thread. Somewhere on BYC there's a thread for feedback on BYC's functioning or whatever, but not here.

Take a deep breath everyone. The focus of this thread isn't going to change. The "sticky" at the top of this forum states the rules. They are what they are. I've got 4H and FFA kids who'd have no issue with them, so golly, let's move on.

If you really, really, really NEED to say "roo" this thread probably isn't ever going to make you do handsprings anyhow. If you really need us here to tell you if you've a male or female chick at 3 days old, we're not likely any better at "guessing" than those on those other threads, to be honest.

If you say male or female? I can say male or female too. But then, I grew up on a farm when everyone knew the difference between a steer, bull calf or deacon, heifer, cow, bull, and the difference between a boar, sow, barrow, gilt, etc. Jeepers, to me it's not that hard really. You'll find we're pretty tolerant here and good hearted.


Now we're done with all that.

Let's get back to our favorite breed, the Plymouth Rock, all varieties.

 

[LindaB220]

Well, folks it looks like you got a little excited over the past few days. Just got back from a long driving weekend. I honestly too tired to engage much, if any, of the conversation traded.

I can assure you that as the OP of this thread, my only interest is the passion for high quality Plymouth Rocks. We've ALWAYS been focused on what I would call, a relaxed thread, but we've also always assumed that this thread is not for everyone. It is for the committed breeder, thus, The Rock Breeders thread. Somewhere on BYC there's a thread for feedback on BYC's functioning or whatever, but not here.

Take a deep breath everyone. The focus of this thread isn't going to change. The "sticky" at the top of this forum states the rules. They are what they are. I've got 4H and FFA kids who'd have no issue with them, so golly, let's move on.

If you really, really, really NEED to say "roo" this thread probably isn't ever going to make you do handsprings anyhow. If you really need us here to tell you if you've a male or female chick at 3 days old, we're not likely any better at "guessing" than those on those other threads, to be honest.

If you say male or female? I can say male or female too. But then, I grew up on a farm when everyone knew the difference between a steer, bull calf or deacon, heifer, cow, bull, and the difference between a boar, sow, barrow, gilt, etc. Jeepers, to me it's not that hard really. You'll find we're pretty tolerant here and good hearted.


Now we're done with all that.

Let's get back to our favorite breed, the Plymouth Rock, all varieties.

Very well stated.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Know what's better than an internet thread of breeding Rocks? Breeding Rocks in real life.

Especially when you rush home, from two states away, as we did today, to find 3 chicks already out and drying in the hatcher. Woot Woot

I'm positively geeked over this next generations of our line. Go chicks go. We need a bunch more tonight! Photos tomorrow, I promise.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I love it when progress is seen. It encourages you through the years. Long time readers know when this thread started, I was pretty open about the lack of hatching vigor I was seeing in my old line of Barred Rocks. This years hatch is a culmination of 3 years of work to try to improve the hatching vigor. Our so-called F2's (B1A) chicks hatching are 3/4 Good Shepherd based birds and 1/4 the so-called Maine line birds.

This batch is flat jumping out of the shells. Best vigor I've seen in this program yet. Very, very pleased. Got a few more pips and chicks to go.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

 

[Matt1616]

I can't remember if I have ever posted these pictures here and people that frequent the Plymouth Rock FB page are familiar with them but for those that haven't seen them...this is a breeding pair that I am hatching off of this year.

Matt