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

 

[Oliver Douglas]

I posted this photo elsewhere, but since this is a BR thread, thought it was appropriate....

I have officially gone to the birds.

 

[dutchlion]

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? I wanted to start raising a heritage breeds to help with conservation as well as keeping the breed true to standard. It is also a great learning experience because you meet others who have the same interest in breed preservation and the knowledge that is passed along is incredible!
· Do you own them for fun? Definitely!! Breeding? Yes Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed? How sweet they are... My roo is so affectionate and doting! They are also so curious and want to help with everything!
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!


I am hoping to add a couple more hens in the next few weeks. My BPRs are three years old.

 

[Mamaganoush]

Here is my old lady barred rock, about five years old and still laying several eggs a week! She is a sweet girl.

 

[N F C]

We have 4 BR's in our mixed flock, they are 1 year old now. They seem to handle the Florida heat & humidity well and get along beautifully with the other chickens. I like their classic chicken look and they are mellow birds (at least ours are).


Baby pictures


Posing


Checking out the squash


Resting after a hard day of scratching & pecking



Awesome at dust bathing!

 

[N F C]

I have one more baby photo to share. This one makes me laugh every time I see it...talk about attitude!

 

[Akrnaf2]

My favorite breed, very docile,good layer, a very good flock member, hot hardy, excellent breed.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Plymouth Rock is the breed, Barred is a color within the breed (they come in many colors) ... Barred is probably the most popular color for Plymouth Rocks in backyard flocks so people commonly just call them Barred Rocks for short instead of Barred Plymouth Rocks. Same shorthand is often used with the other colors, Partridge Rock = Partridge Plymouth Rock, Buff Rock = Buff Plymouth Rock etc etc you just don't see/hear about them as often.