Question Calling Rhodebar breeders...

[MuskokaMaiden]

Sooo, I introduced Rhodebars this year & really like them but, of course, the time to choose breeding stock is here. I am hoping one of you experts can advise. I am in contact with the breeder & have the SOP but am fishing for personal experience too.

[WLLady]

If you have photos...i have been breeding rhidebars from the parent breeds to establish new blood and can maybe lend some help/advice/whatever...?

[MuskokaMaiden]

Oh well crap, you'd think I'd have already done that but noooo, makes way too much sense. I'll work on pics. To be honest, I find that I tell them apart more by size & personality esp as free-rangers.

[Robbie]

When I've asked to have my chickens evaluated, to help them judge the breed experts have asked for a top view that shows the width of the head and back and tail area, a level chest view, a level sideways view, and a level back view and a good close up head shot.

[WLLady]

With the rhodebars in ontario too they need work on colour....and size some of them...

[MuskokaMaiden]

I thought I'd uploaded pics...here it goes again:

Pics 1 & 2 - contender A

Pic 3 - contender B

It's between these two fellas...they are very close in size (the others were diminutive).

[WLLady]

You cant keep them both?
Contender b has the better tail colour. Contender a has the better barring....and the more even colour i think. Both are double barred which is great, but both are going to be quite light in the red department (but i am biased to the european rhodebar with lots of mahogany as opposed to the american rhodebar built off production RIRs). B has the better shape while A has better legs i think...of course they are still young....if you have room to keep them both i would, reassess at 8 months old and then put girls with best form with A and best colour with B....

[MuskokaMaiden]

QR_BBPOST You cant keep them both?
Contender b has the better tail colour. Contender a has the better barring....and the more even colour i think. Both are double barred which is great, but both are going to be quite light in the red department (but i am biased to the european rhodebar with lots of mahogany as opposed to the american rhodebar built off production RIRs). B has the better shape while A has better legs i think...of course they are still young....if you have room to keep them both i would, reassess at 8 months old and then put girls with best form with A and best colour with B....

Ya, I pulled my cull choices last night in prep for my friend & handy-dandy dispatcher. Surprisingly enough I was such a good girl that there's room for both (& an extra bantam choc orp too).
Thank you so much for you observations & time. I was leaning towards B myself. Unfortunately the pics are in different light (& quality?) making a comparison more tricky but, based on what you've said, I'm not far off. Your insight is much appreciated

[Robbie]

From what others have told me, after 8 weeks, the leaders in size will tend to remain the leaders, so it's fairly safe to cull the smallest at 8 weeks. But the longer you can wait to cull the better, there's a big difference between a 6 month and an 8 month old cockerel, you'll be amazed. Don't forget to select for temperament too.

[MuskokaMaiden]

QR_BBPOST From what others have told me, after 8 weeks, the leaders in size will tend to remain the leaders, so it's fairly safe to cull the smallest at 8 weeks. But the longer you can wait to cull the better, there's a big difference between a 6 month and an 8 month old cockerel, you'll be amazed. Don't forget to select for temperament too.

Oh for sure...they'll be 12 weeks tomorrow & so far everything you say is true. Ya know, they are a new favourite partly because they are so dang sweet...kinda remind me of speckled Sussex in the temperament department. I'm really diggin them & can't wait to see what kinda layers they are.