White Rocks

[MrsRobinson]

Not liking my White Rocks very much right now. 1 or 2 out of the 3 starting laying an egg every other day or so. We live in MD. Weather started changing. We increased their light to 12 hours a day. They haven't laid an egg for 1 1/2 weeks. My Americana lays an egg 6 out of 7 days. And 1 of my 2 Black Sexlinks lays an egg everyday. If they don't start laying by the beginning of spring, we might move on to another breed. (I do realize these were just hatchery stock, but still...Dang!)

 

[gg706]

Hatchery stock most of the time from what I have heard lay better than most breeder birds. As breeder breed to the SOP and more for looks than egg laying. I have BLRW from a "breeder" and they started laying at approx. 61/2 months, stopped laying a few months later and started molting this winter. I have not gotten even one egg in almost 2 months

 

[chicken farmer]

I got 2 beautiful white hens from a family friend a week ago and they are doing good and I love them,they lay a brown egg....are they white rocks??

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Fred mine normally free range all day. They do return to the coop to lay. Never had one laid away from coop. Have had one time they HID them IN the coop Under the nest box overhang from the baby coop.

Always have returned to coop... funny to watch them actually run to the coop like a little kid that is about to wet their pants.... sometimes squealing all the way.

 

[donnadoodledo]

I think I have 2 white rocks but I'm beginning to wonder because they lay white eggs. I've read leghorns lay white and WR lay brown. I was getting an egg a day from each of my girls until 4 days ago. Now I get no white eggs at all and one of the brown eggs is missing too. They free range. I have found one egg under a tree that was brown probably from one of my other girls. I know they will slow down but why all of a sudden?My Barred Rocks, Orpingtons, RIRs all lay one egg a day. the Easter Eggers laid once a day until 4 days ago and now it's every other day. One of my Easter Eggers has never laid an egg to my knowledge. Her comb is barely starting to turn red and she is the same age as the other. They go out around 7:30 in the morning and the light stays on in their coop until 10 pm.

 

[mrs1885]

I have a White Rock question.

We've got a few of them that we bought with Black Aust last year. This year I only bought more White Rock. When I was doing their check the other day I realized their legs are half yellow / half green. They're on hay for a substrate in their brooder. I don't remember the WR from last year having different colored legs like that. Is that normal?

 

[jla0499]

These are a nice young pair of white rocks. Roo will go 15lbs plus. He makes my other standard hens look like bantams. That is a 5 gallon bucket in the picture for comparison.

 

[Poulet des Bois]

Hubby read to ad the light in the a.m. Rather than the p.m..
When we changed the light to a.m. It worked for better laying.

Also how does one know if ones WR are heritage?

I have 3 poulets, would sell 1-2, downsizing chick inventory.

At what age would a Roo start mating them?

I know mine are at least 11 wks. Roo got 1 today. Could they be older than I think?
Thanks.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I have a White Rock question.

We've got a few of them that we bought with Black Aust last year. This year I only bought more White Rock. When I was doing their check the other day I realized their legs are half yellow / half green. They're on hay for a substrate in their brooder. I don't remember the WR from last year having different colored legs like that. Is that normal?

No, the White, like all Rocks, must have yellow legs.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hubby read to ad the light in the a.m. Rather than the p.m..
When we changed the light to a.m. It worked for better laying.

Also how does one know if ones WR are heritage?

I have 3 poulets, would sell 1-2, downsizing chick inventory.

At what age would a Roo start mating them?

I know mine are at least 11 wks. Roo got 1 today. Could they be older than I think?
Thanks.

The term "heritage" is basically a marketing term that has often created more confusion than the good it was hoped. Heritage fowl must be bred to the Standard for the breed as established by the American Poultry Association. Hatcheries and feed stores do not have such fowl, as their focus is mainly mass produced, readily available, healthy, inexpensive birds.

To get a true bred bird, you have to buy them from a quality breeder. There are a few good sources right here on BYC. Drop me a private message if you wish.

A cockerel normally becomes sexually active at around 24-26 weeks. He's pretty clumsy at first, but he keeps trying. It would almost unthinkable for an 11 week old cockerel to be sexual active or functional.