Black Rock

[muckman]

Hi all Just wondreing if anyone has got this bread of chook, and how they are getting on with them? What size eggs you are getting.

[milliebecks]

Yes - i have a black rock. Now my oldest hen and definitely head girl! She is having a break from laying at the moment, but has been excellent. She has also (touch wood) been very resistant to scaley leg, lice and anything else that some of my others have picked up at various stages. She's laid back, friendly and chatty and I would def recommend black rocks for a good all-round layer.
HOWEVER - our original gang was 2 BR and 2 Bluebells. When we introduced 2 warrens the other BR turned into Freddy Kruger and nearly pecked the Bluebelles to pieces. Fortunately we manged to nurse them back to health, but 'Freddy' (or Alma as she was called) had to go.
I believe she was just a rogue and it could happen to any breed. Claudia (other BR) is now 5 and the last of the originals remaining. We have introduced others, including pekin bantams, and apart from the inevitable 'pecking order' dust-ups at first - we have had no repeat of the battle of Alma!

[serenity]

i bought a trio a few weeks ago now. i put them in with a mixed flock of existing birds. they have been a complete nightmare and have pecked 2 of the others to bleeding point so have had to make them a separate house and run. they havent started laying yet as are only young girls but are supposed to be very good layers of a large brown egg.

[Birdie Wife]

Hi muckman,
I'd say this was an excellent choice as a laying hen. They are a hybrid between utility strains of two pure breeds (Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock) and so have excellent hybrid vigour. Everyone I know that has had them says they are extremely hardy, lay well and avoid most pests and diseases. I can't vouch for their behaviour but as milliebecks says, you can get peckers in any breed (although some breeds are supposed to be much more docile).

[Janco]

Hi Muckman,
I bought 7 black rock point of lay pullets 2 years ago last spring. I have 6 left now and they lay fantastically well! I even average 2-3 eggs from them in the winter (4-5 all through this summer). I am not a novice chicken keeper and over the years have had many different breeds and these are the best ever.

[muckman]

Black Rock Thanks.

Thank you all for the replys, Hopefully the run iv built is a little play pen to keep them all happy with perches and other bits and bobs, so il keep me fingers crossed and stick to the same feeding pattern, and maybe il have eggs for the new year..
The little minorca cockrell seems to keep the girls in check, but hes only on loan.