c20d1f42_IMAG0303.jpeg
c20d1f42_IMAG0303.jpeg

Plymouth Rock

The Plymouth Rock originated in New England in the 19th Century & were created by using breeds such as Dominique, Dorkings Cochins, etc.
Overview Reviews (285) Gallery
Leave a rating

General Information

Breed Purpose
Dual Purpose
Comb
Single
Broodiness
Seldom
Climate Tolerance
All Climates
Egg Productivity
High
Egg Size
Large
Egg Color
Light Brown
Breed Temperament
Friendly, Easily handled, Bears confinement well, Docile
Breed Colors/Varieties
White, Partridge, Buff, Barred, Blue, Columbian, Silver Penciled, Black. RED
Breed Size
Large Fowl
APA/ABA Class
American
c900ee42_1.jpeg

The Plymouth 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.

24329349_100_5358.jpeg
Plymouth Rock juvenile
9b8acc7b_br1.jpeg
Plymouth rock chicks

7de3cd0b_Xena.jpeg
Plymouth Rock hen

ddf962f9_columbia.jpeg
Plymouth Rock rooster

For more information on Plymouth Rocks and their owners' and breeders' experiences with them, see our breed discussion here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-plymouth-rock.982643/
  • Like
Reactions: Grandma The Chicken, Jumpyrules, Raven1981 and 18 others

Latest reviews

JewelsJj
Love my Babies
Pros: Sweet and very friendly
Cons: None
I have gotten 3 Barred Rocks, they’re 9 weeks old and the sweetest, friendliest birds. All 3 will sit on my lap or arm and snuggle in for pets. We have one girl Mabel, who’s so curious and funny. When transitioning to the coop from brooder ( brooder was inside ) we’d take them to the coop in a tub for a few hours, then gather them up to bring back in. Mabel jumped on top of the tub to “supervise” until all girls were inside the tub then she’d jump into the tub herself. She’d repeat the process when going back into their brooder as well. Just love her. Love this breed. We also have Gold Lace Wyandottes and those girls are the fighters seems to be. We have 3 Black Jersey Giants and equally sweet as Barred rocks but are very shy and quiet.
  • Like
Reactions: Jenbirdee
Grandma The Chicken
Pros: Really friendly and come in many colors.
I also have this breed of chicken. One of my chickens, Grandma is a brown Plymouth Rock (which can be mistaken as a Barnevelder). Unlike other Plymouth Rocks, Tony seems to be more anxious.
  • Like
Reactions: Jenbirdee and featherhead007
Addicted To Chickens
Pros: Social
Friendly
Cons: Can get picked on easily
I have some of these sweeties of my own and they are super sweet.I think they are nautrally social and loving to their humans.
  • Like
Reactions: Jenbirdee
Read more…

Comments

PlymouthRockExpert
I have barred and partridge rox. But the barred are by far the best chickens I've ever seen. The partridge ones tend to be quite skittish and believe it or not pretty aggressive. Some of them are pretty sweet though! the barred are the most friendly though. GREAT EGGS TOO!!! The best cold weather breed by far as well
 
PlymouthRockExpert
SYLVIA STEVENSON said:
Can anyone tell me if they've ordered from Cackle Hatchery, especially any Rhode Island Reds or Golden Comets, Buff Orpingtons, White Rocks, Barred Rocks, Wyandottes, or Easter Eggers? I got a batch of Black Australorps from Chickens from Backyards (which has great service) that are extremely skidish and unfriendly. Also, if I get any new breeds again, I want to try to make sure that are somewhat friendly, fairly docile and/or at least will fit well in a mixed flock without much aggression (allowing for a normal pecking order of course) and be easy to handle.
Click to expand...
Definitely go with barred rocks or partridge rocks
 
A
I have 14 barred rocks. They are all sweethearts, though one or two can get a little bossy. Every few weeks I have a broodie gal -- not the same one ever. I only had one I had to "break" the broodies. They are "heavy" birds and needed large nest boxes to be comfy. Many of them also have some trouble with high roosts so we lowered things (roost bars and nest boxes). About 4 of them fly like the wind and have no problem jumping straight to my shoulder. The others get a foot off the ground at best, but can go laterally a long way like that.

I live in northern Alabama and experienced frostbite on the combs of several of my girls last winter. So, they are cold hardy but need to be watched when it is cold and wet. This winter we are keeping them in their coop when it is wet and the wind-chill is below freezing. They were born July 2016, and have produced an average of 12 - 14 eggs per day once they all started laying -- until winter set in. Now it is 9 - 12 eggs per day. Someone forgot to tell them not to lay so much. Their eggs are all shades of brown from very light to very dark, but generally are a nice medium brown egg and generally large.

Great birds!
 
featherhead007
SYLVIA STEVENSON said:
Can anyone tell me if they've ordered from Cackle Hatchery, especially any Rhode Island Reds or Golden Comets, Buff Orpingtons, White Rocks, Barred Rocks, Wyandottes, or Easter Eggers? I got a batch of Black Australorps from Chickens from Backyards (which has great service) that are extremely skidish and unfriendly. Also, if I get any new breeds again, I want to try to make sure that are somewhat friendly, fairly docile and/or at least will fit well in a mixed flock without much aggression (allowing for a normal pecking order of course) and be easy to handle.
Click to expand...
Just add some cannabis seed to their feed and they will be docile, or they won't care either way.... Just kidding, I'd never poison my chickens
 
Storybook Farm
I raise Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks. The hens are really beautiful, and the roosters are stunning. Their eggs are medium sized, creamy tan, and prolific. These birds are steady layers in the cold, especially if you give them a little light (we use Christmas lights on a timer... they’re safe, and they work great!)

Some of these will follow me around, but some are kind of stand-offish. We are breeding them to improve the breed and keep the variety alive... most people don’t even know they exist. I think they are lovely, especially for those who want something different and want a pretty hen (because maybe they can’t keep roosters in their neighborhoods).
 
Cluckingham palace capers
Storybook Farm said:
I raise Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks. The hens are really beautiful, and the roosters are stunning. Their eggs are medium sized, creamy tan, and prolific. These birds are steady layers in the cold, especially if you give them a little light (we use Christmas lights on a timer... they’re safe, and they work great!)

Some of these will follow me around, but some are kind of stand-offish. We are breeding them to improve the breed and keep the variety alive... most people don’t even know they exist. I think they are lovely, especially for those who want something different and want a pretty hen (because maybe they can’t keep roosters in their neighborhoods).
Click to expand...
Do you have photos please?
 
Storybook Farm
Storybook Farm said:
I raise Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks. The hens are really beautiful, and the roosters are stunning. Their eggs are medium sized, creamy tan, and prolific. These birds are steady layers in the cold, especially if you give them a little light (we use Christmas lights on a timer... they’re safe, and they work great!)

Some of these will follow me around, but some are kind of stand-offish. We are breeding them to improve the breed and keep the variety alive... most people don’t even know they exist. I think they are lovely, especially for those who want something different and want a pretty hen (because maybe they can’t keep roosters in their neighborhoods).
Click to expand...
Sorry: just saw this! Yes: go to http://www.marciasomerville.com/farm. I can’t seem to upload pictures here.
 
A
SYLVIA STEVENSON said:
Can anyone tell me if they've ordered from Cackle Hatchery, especially any Rhode Island Reds or Golden Comets, Buff Orpingtons, White Rocks, Barred Rocks, Wyandottes, or Easter Eggers? I got a batch of Black Australorps from Chickens from Backyards (which has great service) that are extremely skidish and unfriendly. Also, if I get any new breeds again, I want to try to make sure that are somewhat friendly, fairly docile and/or at least will fit well in a mixed flock without much aggression (allowing for a normal pecking order of course) and be easy to handle.
Click to expand...
I have ordered Easter Eggers from Cackle Hatchery and they are the mosty hardy birds I have. I only lost one and they gave me 4 extra out of the 50 I ordered. Any chicks we hatched from them never died either.
 
QueenOscotts
We are pretty much starting from scratch with a new flock. We have one hen left from our original flock. My daughter and I picked out four different breeds; 3 Barred Rocks, 3 Buff Orpingtons, 3 Salmon Faverolles and 3 Blue Laced Red Wynadottes. All have been put in the run except the Wynadottes. The Barred Rocks are very aggressive to the other chickens. The Orpingtons are like puppies, very sweet, but somewhat aggressive to the Faverolles. It seems like a trickle down affect. The Rocks were put in the run first with our older gal (she put them in their place), then the Orpingtons and then the Faverolles. I'm not sure how to correct the problem.
 
midnoight
canalcolt said:
I have a Plymouth Rock rooster and he is mean. He will stalk everyone around the yard. I can't wait till his testosterone level goes down.
Click to expand...
Our first batch of chicks was 5 barred rock hens and 1 rooster. The rooster chased my brother onto the bus, attacked my mother countless times, and even chased my friend around the yard- twice. Safe to say we had to give him away. That just might be how barred rock roosters are. The hens on the other hand were my favorite, actually my favorite chicken we'd ever owned was a barred rock named Big Mama!
 
canalcolt
canalcolt said:
I have a Plymouth Rock rooster and he is mean. He will stalk everyone around the yard. I can't wait till his testosterone level goes down.
Click to expand...
I don't know if that is a trait of the Plymouth rock or not… We have Rhode Island rooster who is very sweet… But so many people say that Rhode Island roosters are mean and aggressive… But we've had other Rhode Island roosters in the past that were all so nice
 
Bettyboop7499
Bettyboop7499 said:
So are Plymouth Rock the same as Barred Rock? They look exactly the same...
Click to expand...
After asking I came across this on BYC
https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/

It has them listed as two different breeds? My chickens look exactly like yours and I bought them as Barred Rocks. What color eggs do yours lay? Mine range from a creamy tan to medium brown and I would not say they are large eggs at least not yet..they've only been laying for about six weeks and they've gradually gotten bigger. For me my bantam eggs were perfect sizeI miss them.
 

Item information

Category
Chicken Breeds
Added by
Super Admin
Views
107,790
Watchers
51
Comments
217
Reviews
285
Last update
Rating
4.48 star(s) 293 ratings

More in Chicken Breeds

  • talkinboutchickens
    White plymouth rock
    With a super kind temperament and 4-6 eggs per week, you really can't go wrong with this breed!
  • Fluffy_Moth_With_Silkies
    Showgirl Silkies
    A showgirl silkie is a silkie with no feathers on their neck.
  • shelbyw
    Olandsk Dwarf
    Bright, social birds. Beautiful Plumage with speckles covering the body. Roosters rarely fight...
  • ChickenWhisperer101
    Wyandottes
    These birds are usually overall friendly, are good layers, and are very pretty.
  • Capto Veritas
    Australorp
    The Australorp is a docile, friendly, and easy going chicken. Several people find them great for...

More from Super Admin

Share this item

Back
Top Bottom