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Barred Rock

Very tame nice breed that gives you big beautiful brown eggs. They aren't that loud and the...
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General Information

Breed Purpose
Dual Purpose
Comb
Single
Broodiness
Average
Climate Tolerance
All Climates
Egg Productivity
Medium
Egg Size
Large
Egg Color
Brown
Breed Temperament
Kind, Skittish
Breed Colors/Varieties
Barred (black and white)
Breed Size
Large Fowl
APA/ABA Class
American
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Barred Rock Rooster​

The Plymouth Rock a.k.a. Barred Rock is a very popular duel-purpose American breed, known for their excellent laying ability, general hardiness, and calm good nature which makes them a good choice for small backyard flocks and homesteaders.

Chickens called "Plymouth Rocks" were shown as early as 1849, but that flock disappeared and later strains from several different breeders combined to form the foundation of today’s Plymouth Rock breed. Mr. D.A. Upham of Worcester, MA is credited as being one of the primary influences on the breed, he first exhibited his birds at the Worcester, MA poultry exhibition in 1869. His birds are generally acknowledged to be the ancestors of the breed we know today.

A number of different breeds are reputed to have gone into the formation of the Plymouth Rock, including Dominique, Brahma, Black Java and Cochin. The breed gained a great deal of popularity quickly and the Plymouth Rock became the most popular farm chicken in the United States up until WWII.

The original color of the breed was Barred and early in the breeds history the name "Plymouth Rock" implied a barred bird. Barred varieties remain the most popular color today. As more color varieties were developed, the name Plymouth Rock became the designation for the entire breed, which can now can be found in other colors including White, Buff, Partridge, Silver Penciled, Columbian and Blue.

The Barred Plymouth Rock was one of the breeds used as the foundation for the commercial broiler industry in the united States in the 1920's and the White Rock is still often used as the female side of the Cornish Rocks or Cornish Cross type commercial broiler cross.

They are single combed, quite winter hardy, and the hens are good layers of brown eggs. They are occasionally broody and make good setters and mothers.

The Plymouth Rock breed was recognized by the APA in 1874 and is on The Livestock Conservancy's Recovering list.

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Barred Rock chicks

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Barred Rock Juvenile (pullet)

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Barred Rock hen
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Latest reviews

BarredRock412
Pros: Great with kids, friendly, aware of predators, quiet.
Cons: Eats more than our two RIRs combined, often gets pecked on by others.
I love my barred rock. We bought her off craigslist from a breeder when she was about four months old. She's great with kids, loves being picked up and has never attacked, and absolutely LOVES people. Her feathers are extremely soft and she has a lot of fluff. She is very trusting and will fall asleep in my lap. The only time she is ever loud is if she sees a predator, she will squawk loudly and hide when she sees anything in the sky- airplanes, crows, literally anything. She doesn't even trust the family dog. She is a great layer but eats so much... it's shocking how much of a foodie she is. Since she is so docile, she is at the bottom of the pecking order and gets pecked on by the others. If you're looking for a family-friendly bird and great layer, I would highly recommend the barred rock.
Purchase Date
August 2020
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kbroom
kbroom
These Barred Rocks are so beautiful. I'd love to have those. I'm still in the decision stage. So far, I think I'll start out with just two babies. I'm still working on their coop. I have the actual core, but I must fence in underneath the back upstairs deck. It will be 20X20 X10. That should give them plenty of room. I was going to let them be free range, but after watching some videos, where a man said, "If you're going to be free range, just understand that you're going to have some dead chickens," I decided to keep them in a large cage. Their coop will be inside.
DesertGrrl
Pros: - Very gentle and calm birds.
- Makes cute sounds
- People friendly
Cons: - Don't do well in hot weather/climate.
- EATS A LOT OF FEED
My Barred Rock is totally awesome!
Does well with my other chick.
Very chill and laid back and loves sitting on my shoulder nicely.
She doesn't bite and is overall an amazing bird.
She will run up to me if I'm near the coop.

The Bad:
- My Barred Rock is very intolerant to hot weather (mostly black feathers is probably why) and will pant and have wings out (I live in the desert, but my Delaware does fine in this weather).
- Eats a lot of food almost non-stop.
They have a huge appetite for food.
Purchase Price
Free. Was a gift.
Purchase Date
Sept. 26, 2020
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RosiePosey
Pros: Great layer, easy keepers, larger sized.
Cons: Aggressive
We keep free-range chickens that just go in the coop at night so it's important to us to have a fairly protective rooster. Oreo is a fantastic protector of his ladies and treats them all well. He's fought off the neighbor's cat, a fox, and a hawk so far that we've seen. The downside to that is he sometimes thinks he needs to fight us off too! Somedays he's sweet and will eat out of your hand. The next day you round a corner or get out of the car and he's flapping up at you trying to get you with his spurs. The hens are aggressive with the other girls in our mixed flock too. The leghorns can hold their own but nobody else wants to be near them. They do lie a good sized egg consistently and for our purposes, they work. I probably wouldn't recommend this Roo for a more pet-type boy nor the hens for a mixed flock that is cooped as they may beat up the other girls.
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IslandRockFarm
IslandRockFarm
Same happens with us! They are great producers but they are mean hens. We had to move a couple hens to a different coop because they would bully, feather pluck, and wouldn't allow them to eat. This happened though after a mink attack where some hens died, and may have shifted the power dynamic.
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Sealizrus19
Sealizrus19
My hens are mean bullies too. Will probably never get more again...
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Comments

Chaoticchickens
I have tried what hellbender mentioned. In my case it honestly never worked for me. I had chickens I hatched, and handled every single day. It seems like after awhile, most roosters just, turn. The instinct to protect their flock is crazy strong. And it seems they take you as a threat,even if you raised them.. It isn't pleasant. It is rather upsetting. The worst roosters I have had were Barred Rocks and Turkens. With RIR roosters next. I have even been flogged by bantams, even bantam cochins. The only roosters I have never had a problem with are Large Fowl cochins. I think it just comes with roosters. Again this is just my experience.
 
hellbender
Chaaoticchickens...perhaps you didn't hold then tight enough. lolol Sorry...I couldn't help myself. People do have different experiences. I've always heard that RIR's were the worst but that's only hearsay, having never owned a cock of that breed. I have seen many good birds ruined by people who try to correct them with brooms and small sticks and that only makes them worse, in my opinion. It's just like poking a tied dog with a stick. Even the friendliest ones can go crazy. Oh...I will concede, some cocks need to be killed when they start their nonsense and can not easily be 'educated'. In my case, I live alone, have apx. 80 to 90 cocks/cockerels at any one time and I have the time to deal with the 'bad boys' from the get-go. I am a big man and don't fear my birds and I depend upon the good cocks to carry on the egg laying abilities and have the protective instincts keep watch over the gals. Last, I discourage 'visitors' from showing up at my farm and if I happen to have a bird that is willing to help my less-than-friendly Heelers...it's ok by me.. (tongue in cheek). lol
 
MontanaDolphin
hellbender...that is exactly what I did from the moment he started showing aggression. It did not help him. I've also tucked him under my arm and paraded him in front of his girls, made him sit in my lap, etc. Nothing worked. He was 10 months old when he went to freezer camp. I tried to correct his behavior for 3 months.
 
hellbender
Sounds like you gave him more than a fair shot...hope he made good soup! I hope I didn't lead folks to believe that I can save all of my bad boys. I try to save the ones that are well bred for my purposes. Any that are 'also-rans' don't even get a chance to mend their ways.

I caponize about 20 to 25 cockerels yearly for my freezer but the ones that get hateful are too old to make that feasible....they just get plowed back into the flock as part of their regular gruel. Waste not want not!
 
backyardbirds
Urban gal here so can only have three birds and no roos. My Barred Rock is my most friendly hen and alpha at the same time. Must be picked up first and if the others are held too long has to jump up and settle in on the shoulder or arm. My friends in the area believe their Barred Rocks to have the most personality and the easiest to handle of their flocks.
 
hellbender
Despite their rating of #17, I think they might not be getting a fair shake. As mentioned before, I've never owned one but have been around them I have friends who do own them and they are never without eggs ....winter/summer or any season in between!
 
KodiPie
I love my Barred Rock Roo! He is a sweet boy but he does test me and then I just get stern in my voice and he settles down. This is when I pick up one of his hens. I just wave my arms and say "she my hen" and he backs off. I give him special attention when I throw the hens scratch i the morning I hand feed him. He knows I am the mother of the flock!
 
KodiPie
Thank you Cheryl!
I love this rooster he is such a gentlemen with my girls!
Love my Chicks!
 
Bumblefoot Bill
Great grandma Ruby had barred rock/Grandma Esther had Leghorns. I'll choose rock anyday just for the personality!
 
hellbender
So...you carry a grudge from childhood? Chickens on the roost might be tired and not feel like being molested.
 
oldbird1
This is my first year with rocks and really go for them I hatched my present lot and they are now 23 weeks old cant keep them off my feet also let me pick them up but they are a bit spoilt in the past 50 years have kept R I Red Australorp which I recommend and Indian game plus many others but am wrapped in these rocks. oldbird1
 
hellbender
They might take off in the spring and cover you up with eggs! I'm glad you pulled off the 'rescue'!!
 
hellbender
One more thing...No promises but often the pullets that take off and lay like a B-52 bomber, will often 'blow up' early while the later starters have a much longer and more productive life. I'll take the latter any time!
 
Linnies ladies
I love my barred rocks! I have 6 hens, and they did mature at 5 months. But when the weather is cold, they stop for a while. I give them extra protein, and calcium if they were laying. It seems to help them get with it again. The eggs are wonderful.
 
Jazor
My Barred Rocks squawk quite a bit as well, but I never really considered it annoying. Then again they are all quiet compared to my Barred Rock Roo who can crow with the best of them! Great birds. Docile and friendly and very curious.
 
Chichengod
Hi I love these birds they are beautiful i have 2 of these as well as a white leghorn I was hoping you would be able to tell me if they are both female (not allowed Roos) they both have Combs and wattles one has a darker red comb and wattle and is more black than white and a small bump where spurs usually are and longish tail the other ones comb and wattle are paler and it has more white than black but it has small spurs prob 2-3 mm long and short tail also the last couple of days i have been hearing one of them (not sure which one) make a funny sound like it is trying to crow (Hopefully not) I think they are about 14 weeks old Hope you can help I will try and get a picture of them on ASAP
 
sacchick
I have 1 BR (4 five week old total) she was not my first choice as a breed. I am SO glad I got her. She is the first to try EVERYTHING, flies onto my shoulder, and is very much the leader. A very fun girl!
 

Item information

Category
Chicken Breeds
Added by
dylan729
Views
208,314
Watchers
56
Comments
403
Reviews
235
Last update
Rating
4.26 star(s) 244 ratings

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