Barred Rock

In my flock of 10 I have 7 Buff Orpingtons and 3 Barred Rocks... my rocks are silly, sweet, outgoing chickens but they are beating up my very docile orpingtons.  How do I know this? well lets just say that my Orpingtons are all having issues with ratty looking feathers but my barred Rocks are in absolutely perfect feather.  While I love my rocks to bits, I am going to have to rehome them as it is just not fair to the other chickens in the flock.  I had done my research but did not realize how bossy the Barred Rocks could be.  If you have a flock with very docile girls in it, I would not recommend Rocks. 

Our Barred Rocks are the most pleasant birds to have around. They talk to us; one even imitated the tonal patterns of human speech when she saw us.

I have Barred Rock hens. 

The first is Oreo, very laid-back and Nonchalant. Loves to sit on my lap. Love attention. 

The second is Lulu, This hen is a primadonna. Dramatic. If I don't pay attention to her, she will peck me until I pick her up and pet her. 

They are both different. But they are both very great with kids.

I'd love to have more of this breed in the future!

My barred rocks had me so worried when I first had them. I was convinced they were both roosters  because they were mean, bossy, crowed, and had spurs! Turns out, they are fantastic layers. They just like to rule the roost.  Once they started molting (before my other breeds that first year) they were quite humbled and no longer dominate so aggressively. They still rule the roost, but now only the other chickens fear them (not my children).

They are tough girls, though, and since I have no roosters, I'm thankful for the role they play in the flock. They shout 'hawk' and move the other chickens to shelter when birds fly overhead (or planes!) and they peck at the cat to keep her in line. My oldest is currently five years old and still laying.

we had a barred rock named Pecky, we got her on accident at dells! we thought we were getting 3 black sex links but we ended up with 2 sex links and a barred rock, she was very nice and would almost beg you to pick her up, however she continuously  was getting a new illness every summer, she was still a good layer and very pretty to look at. i am sorry to say she died last year from mareks disease luckily it did not have time to spread to the rest of the flock. over all they are very goodhearted birds.

These birds have been the foundation of our flock. They have stood up to the arid Colorado weather here which means cold winters, hot summers and not much rain so no many plants or bugs. Very friendly, anyone can pick them up. Still some of our best layers going into their 3rd laying season. Our only broody hen is a Barred Rock and she is happy to sit a large clutch of eggs every year. Would definitely get this breed again.

I have one full grown barred rock though I have had others in the past.  Each one I have had is very bossy and very intent on proving pecking order.  I have to keep my one locked up when I first start to do integration with my younger birds because she will not just show she is the boss, but she will run from food bin to food bin to keep them from eating.  Which means, I wind up with skinny chicks and a skinny barred rock.

She does lay me about 5-6 eggs a week it seems.  And they are good eggs.  Just gave us a double yolker the other day.  She isn't the most social of birds but then again she isn't exactly antisocial either.  She just doesn't like to be picked up, though once you do pick her up she relaxes and chills out in your lap.

All in all she is a good bird, just not quite the type I would like a whole flock of.  I think they would drive me insane trying to keep enough food and water containers out.

They are the perfect chicken! Very easy going chicken's great to have around kids. Easy to mix with other breeds of chicken's also I mix them with guinea fowl the babies always turn out great. They make wonderful mom's only standing with my silkies when it come's to broodness. My hen's lay daily some times two egg's a day! Just an all around perfect breed!

My banty rooster is my baby! He is sooooooo cuuute and sweeeeeet!

We have a barred rock, a little bantam.  She is a curious lady and keeps the other three bantams in order.  She likes to watch the children, staying about 5ft away at all times.  Our barred rock has so many different noises and calls, a joy to watch and chatter with.  When 6 months old she became broody, but was easy to break. She layers 4-5 eggs each week and loves to eat slugs.