The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[mkathleen]

Barred Plymouth Rocks in Austraila came from the US, of course, 100 years ago.  Some birds were even brought back here, from OZ a few decades ago to refresh our bloodlines, as I understand it.

In any case, The American Standard and the Standard in Australia are similar, but not identical.  Either way, your female is a very nice looking bird. Her over all "gravy boat" shape is quite nice.  Barring is fair. Feather quality looks a bit soft and loose, but again, she's quite nice.

Thank you

 

[Fred's Hens]

Jill, the whole AI deal, plus our state does NOT test AI as part of NPIP. They want $65 a bird for independent, veterinarian AI testing and it's only good for 30 days, if I understand the state vet's postings correctly. It simply isn't workable nor feasible.

Knoxville was all over my radar and my grandson was geeked to go on another road trip with papa. Sadly, that all got washed away when TN said it had to have an AI free certificate to show this year. Very sad year.

Anyhow, My intention is to breed the hen (blue25) to one of the cockerels hatched out now in the brooder barn. No choice. We're simply done with the heavy GS influence as our fertility and vigor was fading into oblivion. I don't believe a single GS male among the partners will survive the autumn months. I don't see anyone wanting to carry GS based or high GS percentage males through the winter. Just the truth of the matter.

Jill, I can't wait to mate her in late spring when one of the little K's is old enough to do the job. Not expecting that to be any earlier than first of May, since they were August hatched. Sound about right to you? What do you think?

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'm a three tub bird washer. Other folks have their own ways and that's just fine. I dip the birds in a tub of soapy water. All tubs are body temperature, ie 100F. I like to use bit of Tide with non-clorine bleach whitner. A good dip and lots of swishing and washing. Go very easy on the feathers, however. Easy does it. Gentle is best. Next tub is clear water with the permithrin disolved into it. A healthy dose. Some folks prefer Sevin. I'm not one of those people. Any bird at a show with a spec of mites or lice is GONE and DQ'd and removed from the building. Can't have that. Final tub is rinse water with a cup of white vinegar to swish the bird one last time and get all the soap and stuff out of the feathers. Again, slow, gentle and easy, easy does it on everything. Then, I wrap in a towel and hold 'em a bit.

If you blow dry (I normally do not) please be sure your setting is not hot. That'll curl the feathers, dry out the feathers, and fluff the bird into obvilion. No good. I wash them 5 days before the show, giving the bird time to re-oil itself. They are now off the ground for the duration. They are in spotless clean wood chips and nice large cages or condtioning hutches, kinda like a rabbit hutch, but no poultry wire. That'd tear up the feathers.

There are a couple of good websites with dedicated pages on conditioning and prepping a bird for the show. Some of these gals are experts at conditioning, including trimming the beak and toenails, which is a must. I'll see if I can dig up a link or two, or maybe Wynette or somebody will chime in links and info too. Some birds condition easily to being handled and caged. Others go nutzo. You never know how they're gonna react once you get them to big poultry barn or show hall with all those bright lights and noise of hundreds of people.

 

[uphilljill]

I'm waiting to see what the requirements are before I decide if the birds are going to the NEPC. Like you, our state didn't require AI as part of NPIP this year. I will go even if they don't, to look around and hopefully steward again.

 

[uphilljill]

May sounds about right for the k's. I wouldn't want to go any younger than that (9 mos), although they seem willing and eager at about 3 months. Lol

Right now I'm looking at 8 females and 5-6 males (out of 45ish) staying a few more months to develop more. The rest will be culled at the end of the month.

I've noticed that our nice females look lovely from start to finish, but the cockerels go thru all sorts of awkward growth spurts. Really gotta give em a chance to fully mature before making final decisions. Still narrow/pinched bodies or DQs at this point gotta go.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I don't enjoy using cockerels for mating purposes. They're just too…. well…. young. I'll leave it at that.

But I see no choice for 2016. K over H's and let the P's grow up. That's the thinking at this point. Such a long way off, at this point.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I've posted these links before, but just in case folks need a place to start? Laura Haggerty's stuff is very well done. Here's a couple of links about prepping for a show, what to expect, how to fill out registrations, and lots of other really good stuff.


http://pathfindersfarm.com/Showing.html
http://pathfindersfarm.com/Prepping.html

 

[Fred's Hens]

May sounds about right for the k's. I wouldn't want to go any younger than that (9 mos), although they seem willing and eager at about 3 months. Lol

That BR hen (blue#25) I'm holding over? Any cockerel coming after her when he's only 9 months of age better bring his "A" game or she's gonna whip his behind and hand it back to him. No way I'm penning her with a cockerel until he's got his act together. Just sayin'

 

[uphilljill]

Ha. Must be a family trait. The females here also rule the roost. Feisty girls

 

[chicken pickin]

Ha. Must be a family trait. The females here also rule the roost. Feisty girls

My females are under my feet always, curious about anything Im doing and peck at anything they can reach on me lol. The males are very similar but gentler, they don't peck nearly as much and spend more time just observing. I can see in the future how the females might hold the reigns.

This breed has a fantastic personality quality about them. Even being the youngest group out of all my chickens, you would never know it. They walk around with such confidence and a sense of maturity about them. They walk right through the other chickens and the others step out of their way. Even older chickens are hesitant to eat near them. Its quite amazing to watch.