What is the Breed Standard of the Barred Plymouth Rock?

[flyinghenfarm]

Does anyone know the breed/show standard of the Barred Plymouth Rock? If I post a picture will you tell me if some of my pullets are show quality?
Thanks,

 

[leirob007]

Does anyone know the breed/show standard of the Barred Plymouth Rock? If I post a picture will you tell me if some of my pullets are show quality?
Thanks,

Here ya go. you can read up on it here. http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Plymouth_Rock_standard_and_breed_boo.html?id=vLA9AAAAIAAJ

 

[leirob007]

It is hard to tell " Show Quality " from any photograph. all I can say is let your conscience be your guide and if you feel good about it and want to show them. then the best thing for you to do is exactly that. If the judges do not agree with you. then who cares. they are still your pride and joy and nothing should deter from that.
You are reminding me of someone I once knew. Was all excited over his critters and took them to a show. The judges told him they were "not of quality to be in the show" and he was ready to kill every one of them. I kept his birds for a month. fed them " right " and he took them to auction. they brought 10 dollars more then anything else at auction that night. I explained to him that 10 people thought his birds were the best things around and were willing to pay for it. the difference between the condition of the birds at " show time " and at " auction time " was nothing less then diet and conditioning. If he would have had them " conditioned " properly before the show I would have bet on taking " Best in Show "
Instead he lost heart and never owned another bird. DO NOT let a show make or break your spirit. if your the type that will be devastated by " constructive criticism " then keep your pride and stay away from showing.
This post is from the heart and I hope you take it as such. I hate to see people loose heart over something that means so little.

 

[Arielle]

My advice is: if you want to enjoy your birds then do so. I have a number of birds that I fully enjoy and they can never go to a show. I have others that could go to a show and if I did I would also like to talk to the judge for a few minutes, mindful that heis very busy, and ask for somehelp with a breif critique. I would be respectful and accept what he said, writing down as fast as I can; and go from there. Many of the birds showing up at shows are not as close to the SOP as they should be. IF you want to improve the breed, you may need other stock to improve what you have, OR to find better quality and NOT mix it with your original birds.

ANd read the SOP, the first pages which are general to ALL and the pages specific to your breed of interest. You can buy an SOP and I understand online. Or old SOP are and it is a place to start.

Judges work hard to learn and qualify for each of the breeds and learn the SOP of EVERY ONE. Most birds are not show quality and that is ok; Show and learn if yours are SQ, and go from there.

If you want to see some good ones go to the Heritage breed thread--they are honest, and expect everyone to be grown up about showing. ANd if you are serious about showing you will find tons of inside information on how to prep your birds and how to find very good show stock.

Hope this helps. Have fun with your birds.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Showing is a great hobby. Breeding to the SOP and showing is the passion of many people's lives. Not a thing wrong with that, as birds true to the breed maintain the gene pool of heritage fowl. Good for everyone.

I love the heritage breeds and enjoy the whole deal, but showing just isn't my hobby.

As for the Barred Rocks, I have lots of utility bred BR and also some show quality, heritage birds. They are really quite different and the difference is apparent to even the casual observer. If your birds look like the first two photos, they are utility birds, bred for production, quick growth and top laying. If they look like the second group below? Then, yes, you've something to work with in the very interesting hobby of showing/breeding the fancy birds. Hope that helps.








The following are bred to standard Barred Rocks from the ringlet line of Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch.

 

[Sovereigngift]

We are new to chickens and chose barred rock and single comb brown leghorns for my son's (middle school) 4H projects. Most of what I have read about the barred rock focus on them being a duel use bird and seemed to favor the heavier roosters.Yours seem leaner and more fancy. Are there different preferences for "show quality" vs local or county shows? What is the best place to find information on standards and best uses? Thanks!!!

 

[alana124]

Hmmm...this is an old thread but I wonder ...the 2 pics showing the rocks bred per the SOP; do they produce as well as the utility bred rocks? As much as I want to preserve the breed I would hope the 2 "types" will produce the same ....please say they will...I have 1 3-yr old barred rock hen and love her and her eggs... but now I ordered chicks from a reputable breeder whose lines come from the same as mentioned above but I'm not interested in showing so much as I am in its dual purpose..will show birds deliver ? Just wondering...thank you

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

We are new to chickens and chose barred rock and single comb brown leghorns for my son's (middle school) 4H projects. Most of what I have read about the barred rock focus on them being a duel use bird and seemed to favor the heavier roosters.Yours seem leaner and more fancy. Are there different preferences for "show quality" vs local or county shows? What is the best place to find information on standards and best uses? Thanks!!!

The birds pictured look young; age will fill them out.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Hmmm...this is an old thread but I wonder ...the 2 pics showing the rocks bred per the SOP; do they produce as well as the utility bred rocks? As much as I want to preserve the breed I would hope the 2 "types" will produce the same ....please say they will...I have 1 3-yr old barred rock hen and love her and her eggs... but now I ordered chicks from a reputable breeder whose lines come from the same as mentioned above but I'm not interested in showing so much as I am in its dual purpose..will show birds deliver ? Just wondering...thank you

Show birds will probably lay as well or better, are more likely to go broody and raise chicks and will be considerably larger than hatchery birds.

 

[alana124]

Show birds will probably lay as well or better, are more likely to go broody and raise chicks and will be considerably larger than hatchery birds.

Thank you Sonoran Silkies. I didn't really believe the real McCoy would disappoint--the inbred chicken in my opinion, would be the one to question however, I had to ask just in case.

I have the greatest faith that my new soon to be babies with awesome blood lines will be everything I could ask for and more.

Thank you again.