Very stoopid question

[its hilly]

Are black rocks the same thing as black plymouth rocks? Cos I got some BPR banties a bit back, and they seem just like the descriptions of black rocks. Tame, easy to handle, hardy etc. When the rain was coming across the field horizontal the other day, and everyting else was huddled shivering inside they were out in the middle of the field happily pecking around, apart from the odd swear when the wind gusted and rolled them off their feet Id never seen a chicken do a forward roll before, maybe theyre practising for 2012

[Flummery]

Don't think so. I understand that Plymouth Rock is a specific breed and BPRs are the black feathered version. Black Rock is a hybrid so it has Plymouth Rock from one parent but something else from the other. I exect one of the experienced chickenfolk will put us right.

[Birdie Wife]

No, they're not the same - for a start, you don't get bantam Black Rocks. As Flumm rightly pointed out, a Black Rock is a hybrid between two particular strains of pure breed chickens, a Plymouth Rock and a Rhode Island Red. The name is 'owned' by the breeders (Muirfield Hatchery, near Perth) and you can't just cross any old PR and RIR and call it a Black Rock.

I hadn't heard of Black Plymough Rocks until last week, when I noticed some in an auction catalogue

[its hilly]

thanks peeps. Think I was confused cos of the similarity of name.

BW..I got mine at an auction by accident They swapped numbers when I wasnt looking, thought I was bidding on some black Silver Sussex x, still these are so funny they were worth the £7 I paid for 3 pullets anyway. And one of them is laying too! Well sometimes.