Breed Profile: Barred Plymouth Rock

Photo of Kassandra Smith

Kassandra Smith

Senior Editor • Backyard Chicken Coops

Last Updated: 21 July 2020

The Plymouth Rock, often called simply Rocks or Barred Rocks (after their most popular colour), is a chicken breed that originated in the United States. The Plymouth Rock is a dual-purpose, cold-hardy bird and therefore makes a great breed for the backyard flock owner. The Barred Rock is often called the Plymouth Rock, but this title correctly belongs to the entire breed, not just the Barred variety.

HISTORY

  • Class: American
  • Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
  • Size: Heavy 3-4kg
  • Rarity: Common
  • Purpose: Dual (Eggs & Meat)
  • Recognized Varieties: Barred, White, Buff, Silver Penciled, Partridge, Columbian, Blue, Black

EGG FACTS

  • Egg Laying: very good – all year round. Plymouth Rocks lay a large egg and continue laying throughout the winter but with decreased production.
  • Egg Colour: Brown but vary in colour from light to medium brown with a touch of pink.
  • Egg Size: Large

FEATURES

  • Comb Type: Single Comb
  • Feathered Legs: No
  • Appearance: yellow skin and legs

BACKYARD BEHAVIOUR

  • Hardy in Winter: Yes
  • Especially Docile: Yes
  • Setter/Broody: Yes, make good mothers
  • Personality: Smart and docile. Best described as calm! These birds are good with children and great for people who are new to keeping chickens. They are sweet and genuinely want to be around you and your pets.
  • Family Friendly Rating: 4/5
  • Other Chickens with High Family Friendly Rating: Orpington, Polish, Rhode Island Red, ISA Brown & New Hampshire 

Whether you're looking for common chooks like Rocks or a unique breed, choosing the perfect chickens for your family is an eggstremely difficult task. Before making that important decision, take a moment to consider all the other awesome breeds you could choose! From looks to traits to egg-laying talents - where should you begin?

Cluckily, our friends over at Chickenpedia have created an amazing Chicken Breeds Course. This extensive online course shares helpful guidance on choosing the top chickens for you as well as size & frequency of eggs laid. You will even learn about their distinct personalities, and be able to use their family-friendly compatibility scale through this well-structured program. It really is a great way to discover your perfect backyard buddies which is why I highly recommend them to all of my readers!  The courses are beginner-friendly and filled with essential information to help you raise a happy, healthy flock.

We all want to do an eggcellent job when caring for our feathered friends. Many keepers struggle to handle chicken health or behaviour issues, especially in the first few years of having a flock. Chickenpedia have a broad range of comprehensive online courses that cover everything you didn’t know you need to know and then some more! From healthcare to raising baby chicks to feeding and behavior, get the knowledge and confidence to successfully look after your flock. 

As a member, you will get access to ALL their fantastic courses. So, no need to wing it, become a confident chicken keeper. Click here to check out Chickenpedia today!

Sources and further reading