Chicks for sale

Featured Breed/Variety of the month for January 2012

The Barred Rock 

The Barred Rock is one of the all time popular favorites in this country. Developed in New England in the early 1800's by crossing Dominiques and Black Javas, it has spread to every part of the U.S. and is an ideal American chicken. Prolific layers of brown eggs, the hens are not discouraged by cold weather. Their solid plumpness and yellow skin make a beautiful heavy roasting fowl. Their bodies are long, broad, and deep with bred-in strength and vitality. These chickens are often called Plymouth Rocks, but this title correctly belongs to the entire breed, not just the Barred variety. Whatever you call them, you can't beat them for steady, reliable chickens. Baby chicks are dark gray to black with some white patches on head and body.The face of a Plymouth Rock is red with red ear lobes, a bright yellow beak, bay-colored eyes, and a single comb of moderate size. Their feathers are fairly loosely held but not so long as to easily tangle. The chicken's bottom feathers are soft and downy, like baby chicks feathers.
In terms of temperament, both roosters and hens are calm and will get along well with people and other animals such as pets. The hens often will go broody if in the right environment, and are good mothers. To read more about these magnificient birds and to view more pictures click here.

  

Update

My Barred Rock pullet "Baby" won Best of Variety, Best of Breed and Reserve American Class Champion at Bluebonnet Classic 2012.

Baby in the photo-shoot box at Bluebonnet Classic 2012

Featured Breed/Variety of the month for December

Silver Laced Wyandottes

  

 The Silver Laced Wyandotte has white feathers with black edges to every feather, an effect called lacing. The tail is black and the standard of perfection states they should have yellow legs. The silver laced was developed in New York state in the early 1870s and was admitted to the standard in 1883. The silver laced wyandotte was the base for all other colors. Wyandottes lay good-sized light brown eggs and at maturity they weigh in at 8 1/2 pounds for the males and 7 pounds for the the females. Wyandottes are good dual purpose birds, especially the White and Silver Laced varieties which have been bred for utility, as well as for show. All pics are of my birds below.

All material © 2011 Wyandottes and Rocks (WAR's).  All rights reserved.

one of my 5 month old cockerals spreading his wings (bird belongs to WAR'S)

cockeral and hen (birds belong to WAR'S)

5 months old and still has a long ways to go to reach full size (bird belongs to WAR'S)

1 year old hen looking for bugs (bird belongs to WAR'S)

Girls looking for things (bird belongs to WAR'S)

To see more pics of these lovely birds click here

Breed of the month

Featured Breed/Variety  of the month for November 2011 - Partridge Rocks

My PR rooster "Romney" with one of his daughters (bird belongs to WAR'S)

What literature says about these birds-
 Partridge Plymouth Rocks are a very rare variety of the Plymouth Rock family. The males possess one of the most beautiful plumage patterns, which makes them an excellent exhibition bird. They have most of the common characteristics of the Barred and White Rocks and are considered a popular and efficient dual purpose breed. The hens are great layers of large brown eggs and are also known to make excellent setters. Males weigh in around 9 to 10 pounds and females weigh in from 7 to 8 pounds. Partridge Rocks handle temperature extremes with relative ease with the right accommodations.

All material © 2011 Wyandottes and Rocks (WAR's).  All rights reserved.

Lovely PR Rock pullet (bird belongs to WAR'S)

My own personal opinion of these birds-

The most important factor in breeding Plymouth Rocks or any other breed is shape or also known as type. "Type makes the breed, followed by color the variety." These Partridge rocks have correct type which can be readily observed.

Next I have to say that they are egg laying machines and the eggs have great fertility with my healthy virile males.  If I set 25 eggs 23 will always hatch. The males are a beautiful addition to the farm yard and the females look lovely next to them with their contrasting plumage. They love to free range and tend to adapt well to climate change and stress of living in Texas out in the wilderness.
I am breeding the father Romney whose type and color pleases me back to his daughters this year. This type of breeding style assures me that the offspring with be the same. Line breeding involves breeding a strain back to itself to promote and perpetuate the good qualities that the line possesses and not bring in unknown lines which may produce a bad outcome. In my opinion line breeding is a valuable breeding tool when you stay in its perimeters.

Romney eyeing someone else's girls look at his Rock body (type) (bird belongs to WAR'S)

Black Australorps invade Farmer in the Martindale

This cockeral "Socrates" is very friendly and huge

My friend Jeffrey has the most beautiful black chickens that have a world record for laying quite a few eggs and I decided I had to get me some, so I was able to convince him to help me out. These birds are descendents of a very good strain that does very well at shows. You know me I am convinced that it costs just as much to raise a good chicken as it does a bad one so of course they had to be quality birds. The Australorp was developed in Australia. It is frequently described in comparison to the Orpingtons, because the Australorp is based on Black Orpington breed stock, which was imported into Australia in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.The name says it all Austra (from Australia) and lorp (Orpington). The Black Orpington was created usingRhode Island Reds and a few other breeds including the Langshan, and the Minorca to create an “egg laying machine.”
The Australorp is a black bird whose feathers show flashes of metallic green and purple in the sun. They have a single comb, and are very weather-hardy.
Being descended from Orpingtons, the Australorp has retained the Orpington’s calm and friendly nature. The Australorp is slightly smaller than the Orpington with Roosters weighing in at about 8.5 pounds, and hens at 6.5 pounds. If you would like to get show quality Black Australorps contact Jeffrey Thornton click here to view his website.

Lining up for their pics

Simply Red

5 month old RIR cockeral

this is me as a baby...wasn't I cute?

This is one of my favorite breeds and is truly an American class hero. Developed in the early part of this century in the state of Rhode Island, they have maintained their reputation as a dual purpose fowl throughout the years. Outstanding for production and show qualities, they have led the contests for brown egg layers time after time. No other heavy breed lays more or better eggs than the Rhode Island Reds. I currently have two strains and I'm keeping up the fine reputation of this old favorite. My baby chicks are a rusty red color and the mature birds are a variety of mahogany red. I have several of them in conditioning pens getting ready for some winter shows.

side view

Back view

This guy still has a lot of filling out to do in this picture but look at the type.  He has the "Brick" shaped body. He also has a nice level back.  His front, back and tail are all proportionate and his legs are centered with his back. Update Red was Reserve American Class Champion today at the La Grange, Texas Fair.

Pics dark but Judge Steve Jones really liked him

Barred Rock pullet 1st place /BV

Barred Rock cockeral/2nd place

same cockeral side view

Partridge Rock pullet/1st place

Animal Disease Traceability

On August 9, 2011, USDA issued a proposed rule to establish general regulations for improving the traceability of U.S. livestock moving interstate when animal disease events take place.

"Through the past two years, I have listened carefully to stakeholders throughout the country about how to reach effective animal disease traceability in a transparent manner without additional burden," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "We are proposing a flexible approach in which states and tribes can develop systems for tracing animals that work best for them and for producers in their jurisdiction. This approach offers great flexibility at the state and local level and addresses gaps in our disease response efforts."

Under the proposed rule, unless specifically exempted, livestock moved interstate would have to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation, such as owner-shipper statements or brand certificates. The proposed rule encourages the use of low-cost technology and specifies approved forms of official identification for each species, such as metal eartags for cattle. However, recognizing the importance and prevalence of other identifications in certain regions, shipping and receiving states or tribes are permitted to agree upon alternative forms of identification such as brands or tattoos.

"Our proposal strives to meet the diverse needs of the animal agriculture industry and our State and tribal partners, while also helping us all reach our goal of increased animal disease traceability," said chief veterinary officer for the United States, Dr. John Clifford. "We believe reaching our goals on traceability will help save the industry and American taxpayer's money in the long term."

Animal disease traceability, or knowing where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they've been, and when, is very important to make sure there can be a rapid response when animal disease events take place. An efficient and accurate animal disease traceability system helps reduce the number of animals involved in an investigation, reduces the time needed to respond, and decreases the cost to producers and the government.

Beginning August 11, 2011, USDA will be accepting comments on the proposed rule until November 9, 2011. For more info click here.
Proposed Rule on Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate
Animal Disease Traceability: A Guide to Identifying Poultry for Interstate Movement

Q. Is poultry required to be officially identified as part of the new traceability rule?

A. Poultry moved interstate will be required to be officially identified under the new traceability rule with one of the following devices or methods:
• Identification devices or methods approved for use in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP),
such as sealed and numbered leg bands
• Group/lot identification with a group/lot identification number
Additionally, other identification devices or methods may be used as agreed upon by animal
health officials of the States or Tribes involved in the interstate movement.
Q. Does poultry moving interstate need to be accompanied by documentation? If so, are there
any exceptions to the requirement?
A. An interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI) must accompany poultry moving interstate
unless the poultry is moved:
• From a flock participating in the NPIP and accompanied by the documentation required by
that program;
• Directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment;
• From the farm of origin for veterinary medical examination, treatment, or diagnostic purposes
and either returned to the farm of origin without change in ownership or euthanized and disposed
of at the veterinary facility;
• Directly from one State through another State and back to the original State; or
• Between any two States or Tribes with
documentation other than an ICVI, as agreed upon by animal health officials in those two States or
Tribes.
Q. I see that several options for traceability involve participating in the NPIP. What is the NPIP?
A. The NPIP is a cooperative Industry-State-Federal program through which new diagnostic technology can be effectively applied to improve poultry and poultry products throughout the United States. The NPIP establishes standards for the evaluation of poultry breeding stock and hatchery products with respect to freedom from egg-transmitted and hatchery disseminated diseases.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service assigns each participant an official approval number.
This number, prefaced by the numerical code of the State, may be used on each certificate, invoice,
shipping label, or other document used by the participant in the sale of his or her products.
Participants in the NPIP may buy or receive products from flocks that are neither participants nor
part of an equivalent program for use in breeding flocks or for experimental purposes. Participants
must maintain records of purchases, sales, and any products handled.
Q. Where can I find more information on poultry identification requirements for interstate
movement?
A. More information is available at http://www.aphis. usda.gov/traceability/ or from your State animal health official’s office.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status,
familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program.
(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should
contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or(202) 720–720–6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.