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Plymouth Rock

The Plymouth Rock originated in New England in the 19th Century & were created by using breeds such as Dominique, Dorkings Cochins, etc.
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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
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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.

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Plymouth Rock juvenile
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Plymouth rock chicks

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Plymouth Rock hen

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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/
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Comments

cmf12230
I have a Barred Rock and she is the favorite for sure of the flock. She doesn't want to be held but she follows you around the yard and is so funny! The other day she chased a bird in the same manner shed chase a butterfly it was hilarious. (So maybe she isn't as bright as I give her credit for ) Now I have a Dominique Roo who is as dumb as a box of rocks. When I first started letting them free range the poor chicken could not figure out how to get himself back in the coop. He managed to get under it on top of the roof and anywhere except in it. Finally at nine I chase him around for an hour to get him back in. He is the least likely to let you pick him up as well. He's definitely low man on the totem pole in the coop!!
 
hellbender
It's a shame that based upon your experience, most Plymouth Rock cocks are mean, or is it just the White Rocks? That seems to be a very broad brush stroke for such a popular breed.
 
HnkyDnkyZZFarm
They are outgoing. Even the girls. Of our bunch they are the first in line every time, BUT they are also the most friendly. They will take the food right out of your pocket and flap you in the face to boot, but then stand in your lap five minutes later. They are not shy in any way shape or form. I don't think of it as meanness so much as strong leadership skills. They hang well with ducks because they don't let the ducks push them around. It takes a special kind of poultry to keep a summer kind of attitude all winter long. They are hardy. Being hardy kind of necessitates a bit of tenacity of will. It's their ability to survive asserting itself.
 
HappyClucker7
Ok so, this has nothing to do with your review, but how do you make a review? I keep trying to figure it out but I just can't make sense of it.
 
2eggsfried
To the right of the type chicken you want to review, is written write a review. once you've chosen that. It goes to form and just submit at the end. hope this helps
 
S
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.
 
rdfields68
Love my Barred Rocks. They are generally the pretty quiet ones but I love to hear them talk while foraging around. So sweet! My cockerel is a good boy too! Eats out of my hand and looks after all his girls. ❤️
 
featherhead007
my "Roxie" is the best chicken in the world. was love at first sight from her egg hatch until she started laying her own eggs! always by my side.
 

Item information

Category
Chicken Breeds
Added by
Super Admin
Views
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Watchers
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Comments
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Reviews
285
Last update
Rating
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