Genuine Black Rocks

[Marigold]

This is the time of year to settle down with the gardening catalogues and in our case, to make our chicken wishlists (as if we ever stop!) I live near to an accredited supplier of genuine Black Rocks, and am tempted to put my name down for a couple, either as growers now, or POL later on. (See main breeders' website at http://www.blackrockhens.co.uk/
They are lovely, and very hardy and longlived etc, but I've heard they can be rather fiesty with 'ordinary' chickens - (in my case, a pair of white 1-year-old hybrids, a Sussex and Legbar, who all get on well together.) The website also emphasises their need for full free ranging. Mine have 1-2 hours a day in quite a large garden and the rest of the time are in a 12 sq. metre enclosed run.

I wondered if anybody has any experience of genuine Rocks from accredited breeders, (or indeed of Rhode Rocks, Bovans Nera and other crosses of RIR male with Plymouth Rock female, but not from pedigree Black Rock stock) and if so, whether they would recommend them in my setup. If they're going to be with us for the next decade I would like to feel their faces would fit, and my lovely girls wouldn't be terrorised!

 

[cuwiar]

Hi Marigold, we have a Black Rock type hybrid although not the genuine article (I doubt it anyway). We have only had her since end of September when we got three chickens together. Ebrill the BR/RR, was laying when we got her and two younger ones who weren't laying.

Ebrill has gone through the ranks of our opinion from 'The Bully' to 'The Favourite'. When we got her she was just asserting her dominance in the pecking order but it made me feel sorry for the other two. She now is a real character, into everything you do, practically fearless, bossy, funny, friendly, cheeky, greedy and more. They don't get out to free-range as much as I'd like but she seems to be adapting ok to living in the pen. If she doesn't know you're around she's fine but as soon as she sees you she's up at the mesh pacing around.

She's a fantastic forager and has been laying a good solid shelled, brown egg every day since she settled into her laying routine. Can't really say any more but she is feisty!

 

[chrismahon]

We had 4 genuine Black Rocks. Not particularly feisty but hated being penned. They are bred for free ranging only which they do with a passion. They laid well for 2 years then three died in quick succession of overwhelming abdominal infection and Annie (the 4th) shed her entire ovaduct as one of the others had. Think they ran out of eggs to lay as they are only designed to lay for a year. Annie (who is really sweet) keeps getting abdominal infections which she is now fighting off herself -she's had two courses of Baytril this year already!

 

[Chuck]

My experience with real BR's has always been good but I haven't had any since they changed hands in Scotland.
Although bred as a hardy free ranger, they will tolerate confinement (if the space is reasonable) and part free range. I certainly found them hardy and bold in their free ranging.

They are good reliable layers and go on for several years as they lay a sensible amount of eggs. I originally went for them as they go on laying for a long time so they don't need replacing so often. I don't think they are any more agressive than the other breeds.

My experience with Bovans Nera (just one of the names for the same cross) the first time was not good as I didn't find them to be very good layers & decided not to have any more until I was persuaded to take a batch at very low cost as the rearer needed to move them on. These were much better but I still tend to avoid them. Temperament/agression wise they were OK.

There is often a difference between batches of hens even the 'Warren' types, some laying better than others.

Real BR's are only sold through BR Agents but there is a good scatter of these around the country.. Many of the other Rhode/Rock crosses are passed off as geniune BR's.

 

[Tim]

Ours used to go off in their own little flock to the hedge the other side of the field, foraging. They were really good at this although they could run back quickly when there was food about!

 

[foxy]

My OH used to keep a large flock of them about 15 - 20 years ago, he said they were OK, hardy and good foragers (free -ranging) he found them feisty though and more aggressive than other hybrids/pure breeds.

 

[Rebelodicus]

I had two that is now one.

I must say that I find that, other than great egg production, they are probably the most boring bird in my flocks. Zero personality, like solitude from the flock and not as hardy as advertised. (Though the one I lost was due to an impacted crop)... Loveley petrol sheen to the feathers though. I crossed her with my Buff Orp and the results were fantastic though... 17