Plymutrok chicken breed is highly productive, birds do not need special conditions. But despite this, the number of chickens of this breed on the territory of Russia has greatly decreased in recent years.
Origin story
Breeder - W. Worcester, homeland - USA, period - 60s of the 19th century. Birds owe their name to the small city in America - Plymouth, and the prefix “rock” was also added to it, which is translated from English as the strong and large body of the chicken.
The ancestors of Plymouth Rock are Dominican, Langshan chickens, also Brama and Cochin. Birds came to the territory of Russia in 1911, today domestic breeders often use chickens as breeding breeds. Plymouthrock is in great demand in many countries of the world.
Features and description of the Plymouth Rock breed
This breed is of incredible beauty with a wayward, but calm disposition. The birds can boast of not exactingness to the conditions of detention. We will analyze a number of features of the breed.
Appearance and physique
Main characteristics:
- small head;
- comb red with teeth;
- red earrings;
- yellow-gray beak;
- the neck is straight, small, covered with feathers;
- the back is wide;
- chest deep;
- wings are small;
- tail of medium size, dense;
- tail plumage is the same as body;
- hips are developed.
Invalid characteristics:
- non-standard slightly long head;
- closely spaced paws;
- dark colored paws;
- narrow small back.
Character
The Plymouth Rock breed has a calm disposition. Chickens and roosters look impressive, they are large in size, but despite this, the birds have a good character and sincere peacefulness.
Chickens are moderately active, they love to walk and have fun in the courtyard, but they do not want to fly away from it. Birds do not fly because they have too much weight. The Plymouth Rock breed does not attack other birds - there is no malice in them. Females are often brutalized by other birds; they themselves cannot protect themselves.
The hens are very shy, they are afraid of every rustle and people, including. For 10 pairs, you should get 1 male, he will give them confidence and calmness.
Color
Feathered ones are often found with some kind of pattern; roosters do not have it. Males always have feathers of a light shade, so they differ from layers not only in size, but also in color.
The breed differs in the color of the feathers, in nature there are such color options:
- white
- fawn;
- striped;
- black
- blue;
- partridge.
“Plymutrok” white
"Plymouthrock" fawn
"Plymouth Rock" striped
Plymouthrock black
"Plymouth Rock" blue
Plymutrok partridge
Instinct of incubation
Not every breed of chickens boasts of a maternal instinct. Often such a characteristic is preserved only in thoroughbred birds. Crosses and hybrids lose this ability in whole or in part.
American Plymouth Rocks are very good and responsible brood hens, they hatch their offspring patiently and do not leave their nest for any reason. In addition, after the birth of chickens, mother-hens reverently raise them. They warm, protect, teach the rules of life in the chicken coop.
Productivity indicators
Consider the main indicators of the productivity of the breed. Not only due to its interesting appearance, but also due to its productivity, the described species is in demand.
Egg laying and when they start to rush
Plymouthrocks do not dream of overtaking all representatives of poultry in productivity. Not very many eggs are brought, but in a year you can get about 200 small pieces.
The mass of one egg is 60 g. With the quality of care and maintenance, the number of eggs becomes more. The first eggs are brought at the age of six months. But do not forget that everything depends not only on the characteristics of the breed, but also on the care of it.
It takes about 3 days to form one egg, therefore, due to physiology, chickens often cannot lay.
Early maturity and taste of meat
The greatest weight of the male is 4.5 kg, the female is about 3 kg. After six months, weight gain is completely stopped or significantly reduced. The meat is quite tasty and tender, so the birds are brought not for collecting eggs, but for meat.
Poultry farmers are sure that the most delicious meat is brought by chickens with light plumage.
Birds live long, but they do not need to be kept longer than 3 years. With the onset of this age, egg production decreases, and the taste characteristics of meat become worse. For 3 years, you can grow a new generation of Plymouthrock several times.
Types of Plymouth Rock chickens
Chickens of this breed belong to the meat and egg group, although in appearance it seems that they are purely meat. This opinion is justified, because large-sized breeds participated in the creation of the breed.
As for the species of Plymouth Rock, the most popular are English and American birds. They are pretty massive birds. To date, breeders have been able to breed a dwarf variety.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
Like any other breed, Plymouth Rock has its pros and cons. Given these qualities, you can understand how successful and promising breeding of birds will be.
Advantages of the Plymouthrock breed:
- average egg production;
- early puberty;
- strong immunity;
- fast weight gain and rapid development of chickens;
- calm character;
- active, but do not need frequent walking;
- beautiful appearance.
The disadvantages of the breed Plymouthrock:
- too long plumage of the chicks;
- high cost of chickens;
- demanding diet.
Care and maintenance of the Plymouthrock breed
Birds are not demanding on the conditions of keeping, however, food should be of high quality and regular, only in this case the poultry farmer will be able to raise healthy and strong birds.
Nutrition
Consider the diet of chickens and adult chickens. For the first 7 days after birth, chickens are fed small portions every two hours. Thus, young animals develop a habit and increase their appetite. Leftover food must be removed immediately, otherwise pathogenic bacteria will begin to multiply. Empty food plates are taken out of the room so that they do not get dirty after cleaning them.
For the first time, chicks should be fed no later than 12 hours after birth.
Experienced poultry farmers have come up with two standard options for raising chickens:
- Grated boiled yolk.
- Boiled corn grits.
It is better to opt for the second option, because the yolk contains a large amount of fats that harm the body of chickens. On day 8, you can add a mixture of semolina and egg yolk to the diet. This option of feeding babies will not be able to harm. Boiled potatoes and carrots are considered an excellent addition to the menu.
At the age of 1 month, the birds are given fresh grass, and additional minerals and vitamins. At 1.5 months, birds are transferred to grain crops or special feed is bought.
If some birds are weak, they are given fish oil and dairy products.
The adult chicken menu consists of:
- wet mash (cereals, herbs, low-fat broth) - once a day;
- grains - in sufficient quantity;
- herbs;
- combined feed - as an additive.
In winter, the amount of food should be increased by 20%.
Molt
Seasonal molting is a common thing, you should not be afraid or try to avoid this phenomenon. By the end of November, birds renew their feathers, so old feathers fall out and new ones appear.
If the laying hen does not begin to change feathers, then you should contact your veterinarian, he will tell you what to do. More often than not, the poultry farmer himself helps such birds to lose their old plumage.
During this period, special attention should be paid to the diet, it is also necessary to reduce the duration of daylight hours. During the moulting period, laying hens stop laying eggs, after the formation of new feathers on the birds, egg production is restored.
Room requirements
Plymouthrock chickens love to be in a large room, it is also necessary to remove any obstacles that birds can hit and injure.
In the chicken coop, there should be no high perches, since the birds can not fly, and additional partitions. If the flooring is covered with wood, then it should still be covered with hay or straw from above. Peat is a good option.
Litter on the floor in the room is a source of the emergence of pathogenic bacteria that infect birds. To prevent it from getting wet, it is regularly dried or changed.
Particular attention is paid to the ventilation of the chicken coop and correct lighting. Ventilation controls humidity. Chicken manure releases a small proportion of chemicals that harm the respiratory system of birds, it also significantly reduces the immunity of chickens.
Small lamps are installed in the room, which do not give a cold light of a yellow hue. In winter, daylight hours should last about 11 hours.
This breed of chickens does not need heating the premises. Even in winter, it is enough to insulate the chicken coop with simple measures: to close up all the cracks and holes in order to avoid wind and draft. It should be remembered that the birds of this breed do not like too high air temperature.
If you need advice on how to make a chicken coop yourself, then this article is here.
Walking yard
Birds need fresh air all year round. In the summer season, Plymouthrock not only absorbs sunlight, but also positively charges its immunity. The walking yard must be fenced with such material that will not harm the birds. If predatory animals or birds live near your site, then the walking yard is covered with a net or other translucent material.
Predators will not only destroy domestic birds, but also infect them with some kind of bacterial or viral disease.
If the poultry farmer decides to cement the yard, then put the bedding on top. Pay attention to the fact that during the walk the birds not only rejoice and frolic, but also pinch the grass, so in the summer time the cost of the diet is significantly reduced. The main thing is to provide a sufficient amount of greenery. If it is not possible to provide it, then it is possible to lay freshly cut land on the ground in the courtyard.
How to tolerate winter cold
Plymouth rock have strong immunity, but birds cannot be released into the cold. Thanks to their own physique, birds safely survive the cold, and all this thanks to the presence of a large number of feathers. But the scallop and earrings are naked, respectively, they freeze very much. Chickens get sick already at a temperature of -5 degrees Celsius.
In the winter season, you do not need to take birds outside. In addition, birds can tolerate cold due to their general state of health, therefore, it should be improved from October.
Features of keeping chickens
The first 10 days after the birth of chickens, the young must be kept in conditions of complete sterility. The room should be cleaned daily, ventilated and disinfected.
Interestingly, a chicken at the age of 1 day shows all the skills inherent in a person at the age of 3 years.
The room temperature should not drop below +30 degrees Celsius. It is lowered when the chick is 1 month old. The decrease is carried out gradually. Every 7 days, the temperature is reduced by a couple of degrees.
Air humidity plays a special role. Its rate should vary around 55%. If the humidity is higher, then there is a risk of fungal diseases, if lower, the mucous membrane of the young will begin to dry out and the amount of water will have to be increased.
Breeding
The maternal instinct is well developed, especially in white females. The hatchability of young animals of this breed of chickens is about 80%.
Chicks at the age of 1 day have significant differences:
- Chickens - there is a clear and bright spot on the head.
- Roosters are a blurry and dim spot.
One of the features of the Plymouth Rock breed is its slow plumage. Only after 1.5 months do the chickens fully acquire feathers. Hypothermia of young animals should not be allowed. To heat the chicken coop, an infrared lamp should be installed.
Grown chicks can be kept on a home farm, and birds are also bred on an industrial scale. Birds gain weight very quickly, their meat is famous for its excellent taste characteristics. A well-balanced diet, compliance with all conditions will provide an opportunity to grow a healthy and strong poultry.
Diseases of the breed
The Plymouthrock chicken breed has strong immunity, so you should not worry about diseases. The main thing is to adhere to all the rules of prevention, properly feed the offspring, regularly maintain cleanliness. Diseases can occur due to parasites, and they should be disposed of.
Reviews of poultry farmers
Tatiana, 52 years old, economist, St. Petersburg.I keep the Plymouthrock chicken breed on my site for only 1 year, the birds conquered me. Although at first I was a little disappointed because of the low weight and poor egg production, over time everything worked out - the weight increased. From 30 layers, I get about 25 eggs per day, there were cases and 10 pieces, but they are rare. As for fertility and hatchability, then everything is fine with that. I sell adult chickens, and leave new chicks. I left several adult layers, it is interesting to see how their egg production will change over the years.
Oleg, 33 years old, engineer, Rostov-on-Don.The first bird eggs brought about 40 g. Now they have become much larger. I lay for about a month, so I think that the eggs will become even larger over time. Dense yolk, when you beat the egg, the yolk does not break right away. The hens are very large, so I think that they will be carried well. I plan to increase the livestock. By nature they are calm, they do not fight like phlegmatic people. They move slowly. They talk to me, they are not afraid. My daughter is 3 years old, she calmly strokes chickens, and brings them snails, so they go after her and beg for a treat.
Alexandra Labisk
I want to buy these chickens
Hide
Add your review
Plymouthrock chickens are an excellent unpretentious breed, they do not need to create special conditions. The birds withstand any climate, do not differ in their aggressive disposition or pugnaciousness. Suitable for breeding in small farms.