Features of Plymouthrock chickens
The Plymouth Rock chicken breed is a poultry and industrial bird that rightfully bears the title of "the pride of American producers". The name Plymouthrock comes from the city of Plymouth, which means "rock" in Russian. The breeders managed to create an almost ideal breed that develops quickly, is unpretentious, has good egg production and extremely high-quality and nutritious meat.
Plymouthrock chicken breed
Considering all the listed advantages, it is not at all surprising that the Plymouth Rock chicken breed soon spread not only in the United States, but also in the countries of the Eurasian continent, especially the white silk Plymouth Rock. However, the local producers were not limited to the presence of one breed: thanks to the selection work carried out, today 8 species of Plymouthrocks are distinguished, the main difference of which is in color.
Farmers also crossed chickens with Cochinchins, Spanish and Javanese species. The first time Plymouthrock chickens were shown at an exhibition in the middle of the 19th century. Further, the breed only improved, so a certain status and characteristics were entrenched in it.
General description and standard
Striped Plymouth Rock is one of the largest common varieties. At the moment, there are 2 types of chickens: American and English. The second is a larger form. The figure in adults of Plymouth Rock is very wide, tall and massive, dense plumage adjacent to the body. The upper and lower limbs are also large and muscular.
The rooster has its own peculiarities of body structure: it has an elegant, but slightly large head with a neat (uniform, regular-shaped denticles) leaf-shaped and small-sized comb.
The cock's beak is yellow. Red with orange tint eyes, earrings and lobes are red.
By its structure, the body of the Plymouthrock breed of chickens has a rectangular shape, a massive neck and a wide back, which is slightly raised in the lumbar region, a voluminous thoracic region, a short, very beautiful tail, wings tightly attached to the body, despite the fact that they are located quite high , strong long legs, yellowish metatarsus, light claws.
Chickens of the Striped Plymouth Rock breed are photographed with a round body structure. The tail of individuals is quite interesting in structure: the tail feathers are only slightly longer than the caudal integumentary feathers.
The breed has the following distinctive features, regardless of color: skin color, hock and beak. Only a deep yellow shade is allowed.
If there is minimal deviation (narrow body, irregular crest, metatarsus with feathers), then the characteristic does not correspond to the standard norms.
The main types of chickens
The most popular and widespread species are the white and striped Plymouth Rock. The first type is used most often in industrial breeding, because this breed is more resistant to various difficult conditions.Plus, the birds have good egg production and meat with the highest taste.
The second type is domestic chickens Plymouthrock breed of striped chickens are mainly acquired for beauty, although if you make a comparison, then in all characteristics they are not in the least inferior to whites.
Striped Plymouth Rock is unique in that it has a rather complex, but also unique feather structure. Each of them has narrow horizontal lines. Plus, the leading color will be black.
If the chicken is purebred, then the tips of the feathers are black, and the bluish-gray stripes go all the way to the stem. The down also has streakiness, although not to this extent.
The rooster, when compared to a chicken, looks a little lighter, all this is explained by one simple characteristic: his dark stripes are much narrower. And terry stripes have a slightly different description: the stripes of feathers are much wider. It is better to consider the Plymouthrock rooster in the photo on the Internet.
White Plymouth Rock is so named because its color does not have any additional blotches.
Other color variations:
- Plymouth rock partridge. This color is characterized by a combination of golden, black and brown. The rooster is especially beautiful in a similar color scheme.
- Black (a rich shade that has a slightly greenish tint, like a crow).
- Light blue (uniform feather color with a lighter shade on the down).
- Yellow (here the color corresponds not only to the feathers, but also to the feather shaft).
- Pale yellow.
- Silver.
The factor of how the individual grows and develops does not depend on the variety of color. But its external beauty depends on the color of the feathered, for example when the cockerel is red, and this affects the choice of farmers.
The most beautiful color is recognized as black and silver, but such individuals are extremely rare. The Plymouth Rock chickens are also very beautiful, the striped color of which is dazzling in the eyes, creating a zebra illusion.
Growing features
Striped, partridge or white Plymouth Rock does not need any special breeding and keeping conditions. Groundbaits are selected depending on age. One-day chickens can be fed with corn flour, cottage cheese, well-chopped greens, and they also give a boiled egg. If the chickens are over 14 days old, then corn, oatmeal, barley flour and curdled milk can be tried. A prerequisite for the diet should be clean and always fresh water. In addition to this farmer, in order to breed healthy offspring, it is worth making sure that the chickens have free access to fine gravel and sand.
The growth and subsequent development of the bird is carefully monitored. If it is necessary that in the end only good chickens remain, then in the process, individuals are culling that are weaker than the rest and do not meet quality standards.
How to feed broilers:
- From the first days, chickens are given a trivit drink. This helps to avoid hypo- and vitamin deficiency.
- As development and age change, fishmeal is added to the feed and fish fat.
- From solid additives, you can use crushed eggshells, shells, ordinary chalk.
- It is very important that chickens from the Striped Plymouthrock breed are provided with fresh grass of various types, especially garlic, nettles and onions. Nettles can be scalded with hot water, cut and added to mash.
- You can also give sprouted wheat grains.
When Plymouth Rock is one month old, it can be released into the paddock for walks. If the territory is small, then you need to give the pets mowed grass. Reviews of professionals indicate that during this period of growing up chicks need to switch from flour to cereal. After 6-7 weeks, broilers are transferred to a regular diet, which includes grains, herbs, root vegetables and much more.
Putting wood ash with small pieces of charcoal in a deep drawer will help solve some important problems. Coal perfectly regulates the work of the gastrointestinal tract, and ash is an excellent source of additional minerals and trace elements, plus it relieves Plymouth Rock from chewing lice and other parasitic microorganisms. In order to speed up the feathering of chickens, ash can be mixed into the feed, but not simple, but from burnt bird feathers. You can watch how the little Plymouth Rock chickens in the photo on the Internet frolic in ash boxes.
What to look for when breeding birds
The breed of Plymouthrock chickens is extremely resistant to various diseases... But she is also exposed to injuries, infections and pests. In order to prevent infection and the subsequent spread of the disease, it is necessary to monitor the general condition as much as possible.
There are a number of signs that make it clear that the chicken has contracted an infection:
- drastic weight loss and poor appetite;
- loss of feathers;
- bloating;
- lethargy, desire to be near the trough;
- manifestation of anxiety, that is, a change in habitual behavior;
- under the tail, the feathers are dirty or they are not there at all.
If such signs are observed, then the individual needs to be urgently isolated and consulted with a doctor. Such a development of events will allow you to notice a dangerous situation in time and avoid all problems associated with its further development.
If the bird is left untreated, there is a risk of death. Most veterinarians insist on drinking until complete recovery.
Pros and cons of Plymouthrock breed
The disadvantages are not so pronounced. There are only a few of them:
- Demanding feed. You need to carefully choose what to give and how to do it.
- Long feathering period. Most often it is 1.5 months. To reduce it, you just need to draw up the right menu, with the help of which the bird will receive the required amount of vitamins, minerals and other trace elements.
- Still others do not like the fact that Plymouth Rock meat has a slightly yellowish tint, although this in no way affects the taste.
Positive aspects of the breed:
- High rate of egg production. In one year, an average hen gives 160-180 eggs, the weight of each of which is about 50-60 g. During the breeding period, there were cases when 250 and 300 eggs were laid during the year.
- Fast development and gaining mass... On average, a handsome Plymouthrock rooster in the photo weighs 4.5-5 kg, an adult chicken weighs from 3 to 4 kg. Two month old chicks weigh more than 1 kg. Sexual maturity occurs after the six-month mark.
- High survival rate. Plymouthrock are chickens that adapt very easily to new living conditions, but it is important for them to choose their diet carefully. Resistance to a variety of infectious and other diseases.
- Delicious meat. What is characteristic: this breed gives a lot of high-quality white meat.
- Plymouthrock are special chickens, but they can be bred in a standard way, because chickens have a well-developed hatching instinct, plus they remove many problems from the manufacturer for caring for young animals.
- Representatives of the breed do not need tall buildings: due to their weight, they will not be able to fly over the fence.
- This poultry has a balanced character, which allows it to coexist normally with other animals. Therefore, such pets can be kept in a personal subsidiary or on a large farm.
- Plymouth Rock exhibitions are very popular these days, so you can breed chickens as an exhibition material.
- Birds easily adapt to new conditions.
When breeding a new breed, Plymouthrocks convey the best characteristics. This also applies to the resistance of the breed to diseases, and to the rapid development of chicks. Plymouthrock adult rooster has all the characteristics of a thoroughbred individual.
Plymouth Rock is a productive and profitable breed of chickens, who want to learn more about it, can view photos and videos: this will help make the right decision.