The RE-Build of Les Farms

[Fred's Hens]

I post these two photos a lot, so I hope folks don't mind, but to me, it shows what true Barred Rocks should look like versa what typical, hatchery type Barred Rocks often look like. The difference is night and day.

All the birds shown are/were my own birds. Love them all, so this isn't a judgement of worth, just a description of difference.












Can you see the true bred Barred Rocks? Can you see the typical hatchery quality stock? LOL

 

[IndigoChicken12]

Yay! Almost done!

 

[aoxa]

The ringlet type Barred Rock, which we also own, is the great example of what a Barred Rock should be, according to the standard. This is the aspiration or the goal of Rock breeding. What passes for a Barred Rock in most cases is a bird that is so far from true type that it would be disqualified if judged. In most cases, it isn't even within a country mile of the standard.

The reality is that just because a bird is 40% Barred Rock, just enough to sort of, kind of, look Rockish, (to coin a word) doesn't make them a true Barred Rock. Most BR shown here on the forums (what you called "a typical Barred Rock") is merely a partial Barred Rock. But, this could be said of most of the birds shown and said to be this or that breed.

Are they chickens? Of course. Maybe even great and wonderful egg laying chickens, but hardly an honest representation of the breed, just kinda, sorta a poser of the breed. Doesn't make them useless as utility birds, meat or egg sources. It takes awhile, sometimes, to wrap one's mind around what a "Breed" is. A breed is a chicken that mankind developed. They were often blends of different foundational birds, worked on by many people faithfully for many years, and when 100 of such birds could be successfully shown to the poultry world and bred true, an application was made to the American Poultry Association. An artistic impressional drawing was made of the ideal bird and a standard was written, specifying, with great detail, the physical features of the bird. Then, and only then is it declared an accepted breed.

The standard for the Barred Rock calls for such barring as you see in those famous drawings. In a perfect world, all Barred Rocks would be as crisp. That's why it is called the Standard of Perfection.

I post these two photos a lot, so I hope folks don't mind, but to me, it shows what true Barred Rocks should look like versa what typical, hatchery type Barred Rocks often look like. The difference is night and day.

All the birds shown are/were my own birds. Love them all, so this isn't a judgement of worth, just a description of difference.












Can you see the true bred Barred Rocks? Can you see the typical hatchery quality stock? LOL

I think the last one is pretty much worse case scenario for hatchery rocks. My hatchery rocks looked much better than that female, but I concur, those heritage rocks are breathtaking. Are those the GSPR line? Do you have a picture of your adult line from Maine? You sent me a picture of them as juveniles, via PM.


Here is more of what I'm used to seeing for hatchery barred rocks. Found this online. I keep it tucked away for when I go to answer sexing questions about the breed. With hatchery stock, the difference is so clear in the colour of the chicks alone.

guess I need to get used to the fact that it may not be so easy to sex early on with this line. How do you find them in that regards Fred?

 

[Fred's Hens]

I find the GSBR very difficult to sex at a young age, but since I've sexed so many BR chicks over the years, my eyes are dialed in quicker than the average bear, most likely.

Since the Maine line had a White Rock out cross, I do indeed find a bit easier to sex, but that's right now. Two more generations of breeding them back to the males with double barring genes and nope. They'll be just as hard, I suspect, to sex at an early age as the GSBR. But? I honestly do not care about super early sexing when it come to (H) birds anyhow. They are gonna be what they are either way. LOL Since we actually need good cockerels in these birds to look at, we don't rejoice when the hatch is 80% female like maybe a city person would. I dunno.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Funny thing about this little pullet with horrid feathering, for her age. She did real well for herself as she aged. Here she is as an adult. Is she hatchery stock all the way? Oh sure. Look at that high tail!!!! LOL. Was she a good bird? Absolutely, just way, way off true type.

 

[aart]

Thanks for the info on the Barred Rocks.

 

[lavender pekins]

OMG I just found this thread Im so sorry for your loss!

Love the barn i was thinking about putting up a barn on my own for chickens and cows so this has given me loads of ideas!
btw will you be getting geese and turkeys again?
Again so sorry
James

P.S just read your fire safety tips lucky i did i read about the brooder clamps and thought im sorting that now good job i did i found it on the floor setting the wood shavings alite I grabbed i fire exstinguisher and managed to put it out so thanks to you saved at least one person from going through what you went through so hugs to you!

 

[aart]

.......


My favourite room - the heated brooder room. I need better pictures once electricity is turned on. That will take a week or so.. No running water either. We filled the garbage bins up and took them down so we can refill waterers. I have heavy duty extension cords running from the temporary power they put in to run the eco glows and a light for the chicks to see (as the brooders are quite dark.)

.....

I keep thinking about this sentence....and cringing....tho I'm sure you are being super careful, I hope you get safer power in soon!

 

[aoxa]

OMG I just found this thread Im so sorry for your loss!

Love the barn i was thinking about putting up a barn on my own for chickens and cows so this has given me loads of ideas!
btw will you be getting geese and turkeys again?
Again so sorry
James

P.S just read your fire safety tips lucky i did i read about the brooder clamps and thought im sorting that now good job i did i found it on the floor setting the wood shavings alite I grabbed i fire exstinguisher and managed to put it out so thanks to you saved at least one person from going through what you went through so hugs to you!

Glad I could help you out with ideas, heat lamps scare the crap out of me!

Getting geese again this week, but not turkeys. At least not right away. My neighbours were really bothered by the turkeys harassing them.

I keep thinking about this sentence....and cringing....tho I'm sure you are being super careful, I hope you get safer power in soon!

I am with you aart. I hate having those extension cords, but I have no other option until they finally come out and do it. Thankfully I am not running ANY heat lamps. Just 18 watt eco-glows.

 

[IndigoChicken12]

What's wrong with extension cords?