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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

J
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
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
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

I have had other experiences with them, so I think the mommas are passing along their bad tempers. Did you let the mommas hatch them and raise them or did you do the brooder thing? I am getting rid of mine, not because of temperament, but because I have found a breed I like better, and much prettier.
 
C
hmmm, I don't hear a peep out of mine. But Doris is a lovey, she rides around on my shoulder if I put her up there. Lets me pet her head when she's in the nest box, none of the others do that!!
 
That's interesting! All 3 of mine are the loudest of all my chickens, especially my Gladiola. She carries on and makes quite the scene before and after every egg, maybe mine are just a bit neurotic?
 
Sorry you had a bad roo! Mine is very nice. It could be because there are a lot of humans around him constantly.. We do not coddle him, and he does not like to be picked up.

My first girl is just an average layer. Maybe 4-5 eggs a week.
 
You know, he was not a bad rooster...he was just not as friendly to us or the ladies as some roosters are. He was not very aggressive to us, but was to a silver laced wyandotte roo I had.
 
Hi, we have four barred rocks, are getting about 6 or 8 more in the spring .
Barred Rocks, australops are very friendly and inquisitive.
 
Personally, I would call around to see if someone will take them for free. Since you live in the city like I do, you don't have the opportunity to free range I would think the cost of feed may be more prohibitive than keeping them. Of the two roos I had quite by accident, my son butchered for me. When they start crowing they aren't fully filled out but not a bad size. In my area you can have roosters, but every time the neighbors complain, you have to put up with the police coming out and informing you the neighbors are complaining. It was just easier not to have a rooster. My barred rocks that I have had in the past were about the size of the Orpingtons when full grown.
 
I guess the main point I was trying to make was that they will not put on weight like the crosses. The crosses will be ready for meat in about 3-4 months.
 
Symphony ~ OK thanks I never had a roo before so I had no idea. And yes Barred Rocks are a durl purpose breed. From what I read they are good eatting... )
Patricia ~ Ya I was thinking the same thing that it would take to long to grow them up. I have 5 hens right now that I let free range on my property. I have almost 3/4 of an acer and they are fine... But the cornish's will be butchered at 8 weeks. So I am gonna try to find the Barred Rocks homes before then. Which may be hard cuz not many ppl want cockerels. AND if all else fails we will just keep them a few weeks longer them n then butcher them. Thanks so much for your help )
 
Yes i agree great layers. They're also quite calm and affectionate. My 4 come running wildly when I open the coop. All but 1 are ok with being pet or picked up too
 
I've never had a problem with the rocks combs getting frostbite, I'm in Alaska. The rocks seem to do just fine, they're not like a leghorn with the drooping comb.
 
WHAT I HAVE READ IS: MARANS, CHOCOLATE : WELSUMMER , MORE TERRACOTTA AND SOME ARE DARK SPECKLED TOO----- -MY CUCKOO MARANS ARE RATHER TERRACOTTA BROWN
 
THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO ME TO BE THE VERACITY OF THE SUPPLIER. DID YOU SUGGEST YOU WANTED CHOCOLATE BROWN EGGS ? SOMETIMES FOLKS WANT SO MUCH TO SATISFY THAT THEY STRETCH TRUTH.
 
thank you for answering, what I've seen of Marans and Welsummers online and on you tube,they are georgeos birds abeautiful additions to any flock. I will be honest with you at this time me and my husband do not have any chickens at this time.. My mother kept a mixed flock which included white rocks, leghorns and game hens. The games were excellent brooders and we got a fair amount of cream colored eggs.
 

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Category
Chicken Breeds
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