Re: Amber Stars - Now months on

Christina Websell wrote:
I've
never had them myself, I did have 10 Black Rocks some years ago as a
neighbour was moving away and couldn't take them so I said I would. I
didn't find mine had an "in yer face" attitude though. They were
rather charming birds and some of them lived a long time.

Yup - having raised, sold, and kept thousands over the past years, from our
experience and that of our customers, Black Rocks are proclaimed by so many
as being delightful characters, so easy to have, so friendly, so laid back,
easy for kids to work with, pure delight. The other important quality is
their vigour which is second to none, both in health and in weather
tolerance. They do not do our turnover any favours though - most live to 7
years old and there have been quite a few who have got well over the 10
years old. What helps this is, of course, their persistantly strong shell
quality, so you get less peritonitis. They are not as overbred as teh
commercials so there seems to be much less incidence of the cancers and such
which knock out the commercials before they are 5 so often.
But then our customers are ones who want free range birds in garden or
paddock environments, not penned up. If they are keeping them confined then
I recommend the commercial hybrids who are tolerant of space limitations.
Its good that Steve has found birds to suit his limited freedom
circumstances.

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Double Yolks
    ... As I said we have four Black Rocks, Some produce double yolks and I do ... Not surprisingly as this is a very small space for 4 birds ... I then built her a rather elaborate roost. ... Pure bred utility chickens and ducks ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Choosing a new breed - Job Done
    ... These birds were from SPR (assuming SPR bought from Peter) and they ... the way the black rocks were - a world of difference. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Black Rocks Space
    ... :>> I am looking to get some Black Rocks as I hear they are the most ... :> but as everyone else has said birds will have a favourite nestbox ... :> of the house to pull air from the birds in the house and out. ... :> If you have not finished the roof I would suggest you use Onduline ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Amber Stars - Now months on
    ... My view is that Black Rocks are good for true free range but any form ... of confinement and forget it. ... birds are cooped up then I would steer them to the commercials, ... You will likely have similar problems with any of the pure breeds, ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Bird flu news - France and Germany
    ... that the NL will concentrate on the vaccination of pet birds and ... 'back yard flocks' first, then moving into the larger commercial ... sterilisation/filtration and staff will be forbidden to handle birds ... recent years it has been the indoor commercials that have been hit and very ...
    (uk.business.agriculture)