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

Sunny Side
yes. he was mature. And with other mature roos. They were all raised together however which i've read reduces the likelihood of your roosters overtly fighting.
 
BarredRockMom
I don't know if this would help Nugget or not, but I give my Barred rocks chopped lettuce each day, in addition to their regular food. I just split the amount into two bowls & place them far apart. It seems to help everyone get enough. If she's not getting enough food and you think maybe that's stunting her growth, maybe take her aside and give her some high protein food all by herself a couple of times per week? Mine go crazy for scrambled eggs & garlic, mashed tofu & garlic, sunflower seeds, etc. Private Message me if you'd like. Hope this helps!
 
calebc311
Very different for me! Mine is skiddish and pecky to me and other chickens. Got any tips on making them friendly and laidback, b/c that's the opposite of what I;ve experienced
 
Sylvester017
The BRs were created from Doms with game bird added to make the BRs larger than the Dom. Have had both BRs and Dominiques. Personally preferred the Doms because they are a bit smaller so less feed, consistently friendly, alert, good foragers, good to humans or flockmates, brood their own young, a very established heritage breed from Colonial era, and dual purpose. Doms give 4 eggs/wk vs. BRs 5 eggs/wk but we found the Doms easier on the feed bill and a bit more reliably friendly. I think with BRs it depends on the breeder and the strain of bird you get as to what temperament they'll have. We happened to get a couple pushy BRs so of course we preferred the sweeter Dom hens. But if you're lucky you could possibly get some sweet BRs. We just happen to prefer the slightly smaller Doms for their consistently calm natures and talkative conversations with us. Doms are very active foragers. I mean ALL chickens forage but some look lazy as they graze compared to the quick moving Doms. Doms are very inquisitive outgoing and unafraid from chicks to adulthood. I don't dislike BRs (unless it's a mean one) but I just prefer the Dom for overall utility and temperament. Some birds no matter what breed can be either sweet or not. I just re-home troublemakers to farmers market egg sellers or have them processed.
 
Bean789
My BPR is only 13 weeks old and yet, she seems to be protective of the bantams in the brood. She is also the first one to come 'talk' to me when I go to the coop and start our morning routine. She does peck me, but I think mostly because of the rings on my fingers but she also pecks my arm now and again. Roxie is her name and she was the first chicken I chose in my order based on her color and markings. She is beautiful.
 
sssharon
I have a BR and of all my chickens she is my fav. She gets out of her pen and if she sees me coming outside she will come running to me and just talking up a storm. She is very amusing. I try to coax her to let me pick her up but she won't. She follows me everywhere but never let's me pick her up. Yesterday I took a salad out with me and set in the lawn chair. She just set there looking at me and all of a sudden jumped up on me begging for my salad. She must like things on her own terms. It just took food to get her to get closer to me.
 
Sylvester017
To sssharon - sounds like your particular BR strain inherited the Dom sweet genes and not the Malay or Cornish Indian Game wild bird genes. With BRs the temperaments can go either way because of their breed history background - a BR can either be really sweet or really aggressive depending on the strain they inherit.
 
N F C
Very informative & well-written review! I have 4 of these in our mixed flock and they are good looking birds. And you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned their "hunting" skills...these girls are always the quickest when it comes to bugs, treats, etc.
 
sogr8ful95
I love my Plymouths too. I'm in Michigan US. A weird thing you might have explained. I lost my Plymouths to a raccoon family under my barn last spring. The raccoons always seem to get them first. Maybe it is because they're so docile. Let me ask you something about Australorps. Mine are SUPER talkative. Constantly purring and cooing to me. Are all Australorps that way? Nice article. My friend down under calls them chooks!
 
chickincrazy
I sooo agree with you! These birds are stellar! I only have a problem with their combs getting frostbitten; we have such cold winters and petroleum jelly doesn't help.
 
Bean789
My girl Roxie is also quickest when it comes to treats, especially worms as they are handed out and she can spot and catch a roach before any of the others even see it. We just cleaned an area of our new property of years worth of tree branches, household debris, bricks, blocks, wire, you name it and it was in there. Roxie was 'chomping' at the bit when she saw the bugs come running out of the area and when I turned them loose later in that day, she ran over there and started scratching. I thought it would be midnight before I get her back in the coop that evening! LOL She is a sweetie and first at my feet every day for her chats and loves.
 

Item information

Category
Chicken Breeds
Added by
Super Admin
Views
108,160
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