Chicken Breed Focus - Plymouth Rock

[sumi]

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.

Details:

Breed purpose: Duel Purpose
Comb Type: Single, medium sized.
Broodiness: Occasional, good mothers.
Climate Tolerance: Cold hardy.
Weight: Roosters 9.5 lbs, hens 7.5 lbs.
Egg Productivity: Good
Egg Size: Large
Egg Color: Brown



Barred Hen picture @cbnovick


Buff Rooster picture @desertmarcy


Silver Penciled chick picture @Silver Rock


Link to the BYC Breed reviews.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/plymouth-rock

Link to the General breed discussions & FAQ thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273471/plymouth-rock-thread/0_20

Link to the Exhibition, Genetics, & Breeding to the Standard of Perfection thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/811228/the-plymouth-rock-breeders-thread/0_20


Do you own Plymouth Rocks? Are you a Plymouth Rock breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

 

[deacons]

2 of my original 4 chickens were Barred Rocks. I still have one of those girls left. She's about three now. She still lays a few times a week and has a big personality. She's #2 in my 8 hen flock. She is always "talking" about something, to me or to the rest of the flock. I've never had any hens raise chicks, but she makes that "mothering" call frequently to bring the rest of the flock to her if she finds a particularly tasty thing to eat while foraging around.

I've often seen Barred Rocks on the "cold hardy" list of breeds. She does pretty well, but she does usually get a touch of frostbite on her comb tips every year.

She loves to pose for pictures:

 

[TwoCrows]

I added some Barred Rocks to my flock last year. Hatchery stock. I was surprised at how intelligent they are. An extremely curious breed too. Always getting into something they shouldn't, up on shelves and sometimes causing trouble. LOL But they are super human friendly however. They are always there to greet me, yanking on my pant legs, zippers and draw strings, untying my shoe laces or stealing things out of my pockets. LOL

 

[deacons]

^^Yes, agree on the description of them being very curious!

 

[TwoCrows]

^^Yes, agree on the description of them being very curious!

They sure are, aren't they? If I bring something new into the coop and run, my BA's are filled with terror, hiding in the corners, where as the BR's are right there inspecting it, making sure if it IS edible, they are first to eat it!! Ha! Very brave birds!

 

[deacons]

They sure are, aren't they? If I bring something new into the coop and run, my BA's are filled with terror, hiding in the corners, where as the BR's are right there inspecting it, making sure if it IS edible, they are first to eat it!! Ha! Very brave birds!

Yes, I find myself often tripping over her when I walk in the run, she is always waiting right at the door to see what I have. She also notices immediately if there is something new in the coop or run, or if something has moved around.

 

[TwoCrows]

Quote: Definitely....my girls are RIGHT there when I open the door to the coop. LOL I nearly step on them every day. My BA's can be just as friendly but the BR's tend to be "in your face" more. LOL

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:

Too beat tonight to do anything with these questions but am posting so I can come back later on and talk about my favorite breed, the Plymouth White Rock.

 

[kimc83]

My little BR roo started crowing at 4 weeks. He's my favorite of my flock!

 

[TwoCrows]

Chicks in the brooder....