Plymouth Rock

Probably a little early for a review, but I'm enjoying these girls so much, had to put in a plug for them. I bought 6, 1 week old chicks, 4 months ago - 2 Australorps, 2 Buff Orpingtons, and 2 Barred Plymouth Rocks. I brooded them in my bathroom for 6 weeks and handled all daily. I really love all of them, but if I were to pick a favorite breed of the 3 so far judging on personality (as they haven't started laying yet), it would be the Rocks. They are the most social, sweet and comical of the 3 breeds so far. One is named Hatty as she loves to climb up on my shoulders, then sometimes on my head. The other is Ruckus, as she'll be standing stock still, and suddenly runs in every which direction just for fun, stirring up the rest of the pullets. Of the Orpingtons - one is extremely sweet while the other is very shy and timid and avoids me like the plague. The Australorps are a close second to the Rocks, but just a little more "serious" in personality, and not quite as social - but still fabulous birds.

I purchased 2 barred Plymouth rock chicks as part of a mixed flock in April 2011. At the end of the first year, I had to cull one BPR as it was bullying its flock members. The worst bullying was at night; it would relentlessly peck any bird that attempted to roost next to it. The whole flock abandoned one coop in favor of an alternate coop to get away from the bully. The other BPR, however, has been a GREAT bird, reliably producing 5 eggs per week (current age 27 months). (purchased from Healthy Chicks and More)

I have two white Rocks and two partridge Rocks. They're actually quite different, but that may have more to do with breeding than anything else.

The white rocks were the first to lay, at about 20 weeks of age. I get 6 eggs a week per bird and they lay double yolkers quite frequently. Mine are clearly bred for production, not quality. Their combs and feet are a bit mangled looking and they're quite light for their size, but they're very sweet birds and do not mind being handled. I currently have a broody white Rock, my first broody of my flock! Quite the surprise to me. She's been broody for several weeks, and I did not manage to break her, so she has gotten a clutch of eggs to hatch. They're due in about a week and a half. I will update on how well of a mother she is. The white color is definately a con to me, one actually got attacked by a hawk due to it.

The partridge rocks I have are likely closer to standard. They have nice combs and feet and are heavy for their size. They're very good at free-ranging and seem more aware of their surroundings. They're not very personable and are hard to catch, compared to my other birds (Australorp, Jersey giant, RIR). They're rather stubborn, and insist on laying their eggs in the litter in the coop, rather than the egg boxes. The partridge coloration is great for free-ranging, as they blend in with fallen leaf and other yard litter. I find these birds a little more prone to intestinal upset, but other than that they've been very hardy in the Alabama heat.

EDIT:
The broody abandonned her eggs on day 19. I managed to hatch two under a heat lamp. She did not want the chicks, at all.... so I had to raise them. They're doing well and have joined the adults in the coop.

The hawk attacked white rock recovered fully and is laying an egg a day again.

The broody went through an explosive molt, but regrew all her feathers.

Currently one of the partridge rocks is molting. I have noticed that the partridge rocks are the LEAST accepting of the two juveniles I hatched. They're also a bit too heavy for their size and this gives them some issues with bumblefoot. I jokingly call them my turkeys. Very heavy birds... I have actually considered eating them, as they are not the nicest birds.. but they're quite pretty.

BR Roo's make good chicken and dumplings and that's about all their good for...they do service their hen's (every chance they get)
I have yet to find one that won't flog you when given the chance.
...and they crow non-stop.

Can't say enough good about the hens...sweet, friendly, egg laying machines.

These birds are nice and happy all the time. They're one of the most interesting birds I've ever seen. These birds are very curious about their surroundings. I do have one though that is sorta mean, but considering she's still growing she may grow out of it. Anyway, good bird! I highly recommend this!

I have to admit this is not my favourite breed of chicken. We have one Plymouth and she is a weird girl. She doesn't eat a lot, doesn't make a lot of noise. However she is very, very skittish. Also she is 9 months old and has never laid a single egg in her life. I think she stopped growing at 4 months old, well at least her comb and wattles did because they are very small and very pink. I do not think I will get this breed again, as stunning as they are because our girl at least is a little....strange. Also we have our foster chickens who are near my girls and our Plymouth has become extremely aggressive. I was holding one of the fosters and the Plymouth lunged and tried to attack her. Then she put herself in the wrong place for sleep and I tried to move her, and she lashed out at me. This is extremely odd behaviour, and obviously with the arrival of the fosters she is attempting to put herself higher in the pecking order - but this has confirmed my dislike of the breed. I won't be getting this breed again. Ever.

My two white rocks are so sweet! But they can be a little skittish when you are trying to get them. One of mine will fall asleep in my arms. I love them!

Plymouth rocks are good and friendly as long as you only have hens. Roosters are really mean. I would not recommend a Barred rock rooster to anyone but breeders. In all other fields Plymouth rocks are great!

My 3 week old BPR pullet is the best chick in the bunch! Smart, curious, she jumps on my arm and lets me rub her chest and back...a must have for every chicken lover!

I have only had one plymouth rock, but she was the meanest out of all my chickens. When I added to my flock, she pecked a hole down to the bone in my new blue wyandotte. I eventually got rid of her, since the blue wyandotte went broody and I just knew the the white plymouth rock would kill her chicks when they hatched.

Like I said, I can only speak for the experience I had with the one chicken but this is the impression I got of the breed.

love my Plymouth Rocks. They are friendly, love to be petted, and lay eggs daily. Also they handle the cold weather, here in Maryland, just fine. Easy to care for. Highly recommend!

These are in my opinion the hardiest of chickens. They can live and lay eggs in the cold, wet winters and they will do alot of foraging for food on their own. They make great compost mixers too.

Love the breed. They basically never go broody. Which can be good or bad. Great for cold climates.

I have had Barred Plymouth Rocks for two years now. We raised them from day old chicks and they have been a delight since. As chicks and pullets they would sit on us (or our cat) all the time. They are very attractive hens. They look beautiful as they walk around our suburban yard, pecking and scratching. Quite often, one or two of them will come and sit with me when I am sitting in the yard reading. When I garden they love to get right in the soil with me to pick out the grubs. During normal conditions we get about 4-5 eggs per week from them, they are very good layers. In two years they have not gone broody yet. They moulted once and it lasted maybe three months. They are overall an excellent breed for a backyard flock. I will always have Plymouth Rocks.

Our first six chickens consisted of three Jersey Giants and three Barred Plymouth Rocks. These birds are very sweet. Of the first three we have one left, an old hen named Lieutentant Lou Striped. She is the sweetest hen we have, our former petsitter's favorite. She is getting into the years (4-5 now) and even though she is still recovering from a bear attack that took 9 of our 14 chickens in the fall she is already laying almost every day again. She is always very nice to the other chickens and is best friends with our guinea hen Yaffa Anabella. She is the only chicken we have had so far that even remotely tolerates new additions to our flock, and unlike all other breeds we have had she only pecks them if they invade her space, and sometimes warns them away with a nip when she is eating.
She is very curious, and always comes up to peck my boots when I am feeding them their daily treats, as if to say "Hey! I'm down here, give me more!"
I would highly suggest this bird to anyone who is a newbie to chickens, they are very easily maintained and lay a great deal of mediumish light brown/cream eggs.

Good layer thus far, good size eggs

I have 6 hens and 1 rooster of this breed. The rooster is a bit skittish and freaks out when I pick him up. The hens are friendly and pretty. The hens do attack new chickens to the point of blood.

2 great girls and 2 good boys! all grew up together and never fought. Very easy to handle and work with. Left me eggs every day. Very protective of her young as well.

My two ladies are the sweetest ever. They lay good sized brown eggs and follow me everywhere. The nibble at my pants to be picked up and for treats! Love my girls!