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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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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

weaversfarm
I have had Plymouth Rocks and they were excellent layers. We never had problems with the PR roosters, but the RIR roosters were mean and would even attack me and my husband when we went in to feed and collect eggs. Hubby and I aren't very smart, because we just received 52 RIR pullets and 2 roosters. I am, however going to buy more Plymouth Rocks because they are such nice birds with wonderful qualities.
 
kdwag
I have 2 barred rocks and one partridge. All three of them are very friendly, my smallest barred will jump on my lap when prompted and all three love to jump on my back and shoulders to just hang out. They totally go with the flow and do well with my one rhode island red. I love the breed and will have more. They haven't begun laying yet but hoping for eggs soon.
 
Uriel
These are not a bird for throwing away. They are highly intelligent, each of mine has a wide emotional range and distinct personality. They enjoy their freedom I think more than any of my wide variety of breeds. both Laser and Beam sold first out of any of my birds for sale when people met them .My advice is to free range Plymouth Rock birds!
 
BlackPanther
Where did you get the Plymouth Rocks from? Also, what age did you get them at? How was the hen bossy?
I got a pair of blue PRs ( both turned out to be roosters :O ) about two, three months old. They were extremely flighty.
They still edge or dart away from my hands (depends on their mood) but if I pick them up, they are -unless if they feel like giving gentle nips that day- sweet as can be. If they want to get down they complain.
I always advise handling; often and gently. The younger you can start I consider to be better.
Still, if you *do* end up with a mean one that you can't do anything with, at least teach him to respect you. If a rooster is protective, territorial, puffed-up-with-his-own-importance, or just plain mean, but he respects you, I seriously doubt he will attack. Always watch him, and always be ready, of course; but don't fear him. If you jump around, scream, or run, it'll just make him think he chased you off and that he's had a triumph -- which will make him worse.
I had a rooster like that -- he respected anyone who'd proven they could send him off, but he'd fly at anyone who hadn't.
If you've just plain decided that you don't want to deal with time-consuming handling issues, you could try getting different ones. It could simply be that you got individuals with a bad temperment.
Never make a rooster feel he has to be protective around you, and don't let him get away with bad behavior. Let him know that if you feel like going in his space, his hens' space, touching them, or holding him, shrieking or scratching will not help. Your chickens should always consider you to have honorary position of "boss rooster," whether you are using it or not.
 
DavidILoveYou22
@Too Fast: No, the Barred Rock was the one is still laying great. But the two Jersey Giants were also her age and still laying about as well as her up until a few months ago when a bear took them.
@ Tough Old Bird: You're welcome. :)
 
groundstarlee
so how do I get my Rock to get comfortable in my ars. shoud I just handle them more even though they don't like it. They're skittish like you said. I don't want them to be uncomfortable but I want them to feel safe and loved.
 
australorp41
I sit with mine in the coop and I also take some of their food and hand feed them. They will yell a little when I pick them up but other then that they are fine
 
groundstarlee
Great advice thanks. Actually every morning when I clean their house and coop they are all over me. Especially My Sex Link(Sexy Lady). She'll be on my back, or shoulders but when I try to turn that into a holding session she runs away. I'll try the food thing.
 
La Casa de Pollo
Where did you get her? She is quite different than your average BR, mine have been amazing, and the best layers I have, starting at about 17-18 weeks and laying large eggs about every day. And really docile and friendly. Sounds like you got one that had some sort of defect...don't give up on them
 
snusnu95
Well my girl is a purebred, and I got her at a breeder. If your girls are laying at 17-18 weeks old then that seems to be weird as purebreds (the heritage breeds) are late layers, you sound as if you have hybrids. As for the personality I think it is because she is the bottom of the pecking order.
 
Robinsong
I have 2 Barred Rock in my flock of 8 chicks that are about 16 weeks old. One of my 'girls' turned out to be a roo, a Barred Rock rooster! He is the sweetest thing in the world, and the BR hen appears to be his favorite. When she isn't hanging with her roo she is sitting in my lap. I love my Barred Rocks! Don't give up on them, great breed!
 
snusnu95
I just prefer my tailed Araucana and Light Sussex over the Plymouth Rock. I plan to get chickens when I am older based on their egg colour. I want 4 chickens but one that lays green eggs, one with dark brown, one with white and one with light brown.
I don't know, other people seem to say that Plymouth's are flighty as well, so it's not just mine. They are an extremely attractive breed but my Golden Laced Wyandotte is better looking. Our Plymouth, well, she's just the weird, antisocial skittish one.
 

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Category
Chicken Breeds
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Reviews
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Rating
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