Plymouth Rock Chicken Characteristics, Origin, Uses

Plymouth Rock chicken is a dual purpose breed suitable for both meat and eggs production. Plymouth Rock chicken originated in the United States. This breed is also known as some other name such as Rocks or Barred Rocks.

It comes with a variety of colors and the birds are cold hardy and a great breed for small farm or for raising in backyard. The Plymouth Rock was developed in New England in the middle of the 19th century and was first exhibited as a breed in 1849.

Most of the farmers raise them as a dual purpose breed and they are valued for both of their meat and egg laying ability.

The first Plymouth Rock chicken was barred and other varieties were developed later. This breed is very popular in the United States and some other countries. The main reason of it’s popularity is it’s qualities.

Plymouth Rock chicken is an outstanding farm breed which is popular for their hardiness, broodiness, docility and excellent production of both meat and eggs. Most of the varieties of Plymouth Rock chicken were developed from crosses containing some of the same ancestral background as the barred variety.

Early in the development of this breed, the name Plymouth Rock implied a barred bird. But as more varieties were developed, it become the designation for the breed. During the 1920s, the Barred Plymouth Rock was one of the foundation breeds for the broiler industry.

The Barred Plymouth Rock is also raised for genetic hackle used extensively as a material in artificial fly construction.

Plymouth Rock Chicken Full Breed Information

Review full breed information of Plymouth Rock chicken.

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Physical Characteristics

Plymouth Rock chickens are hardy, long-lived and larger sized breed. Some of the varieties of this breed are mainly raised for meat and some of the varieties are good layers.

Plymouth Rock chickens have a moderately deep full breast and they possess a long broad back. Their legs and skin color is yellow. No feathers in their legs. The hens have a deep, full abdomen and it is a sign of good layer.

Plymouth Rock chickens have bay-colored eyes, their face is red with red ear lobes and have a bright yellow beak. They have single comb and the size of the comb is moderate.

Their feathers are short and fairly loosely held but not so long as to easily tangle. Like the baby chick’s feathers, Plymouth Rock chicken’s bottom feathers are soft and downy.

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This chicken breed comes with a variety of colors. Such as barred, buff, blue, black, columbian, partridge, silver penciled, white, light barred, dark barred etc.

On an average, a mature male Plymouth Rock chicken weight up to 8 lbs and a hen weight about 7.5 lbs. Egg production vary depending on the strains of the bird. But on an average, hens lay about 4 eggs per week.

Behavior/Temperament

Both Plymouth Rock roosters and hens are calm and they will live happily with people and other animals such as pets. They are docile and friendly in nature and usually do well even when confined.

But they will be happier if they can roam freely on pasture or in a garden. Plymouth Rock hens will seldom go broody in the right environment and they are good mothers.

Breed NamePlymouth Rock
Other NameRocks, Barred Rocks
Breed PurposeDual Purpose
Breed TemperamentBears Confinement Well, Calm, Docile, Easily Handled, Friendly
Breed SizeHeavy (7-8 lbs)
BroodinessSeldom
CombSingle Comb
Climate ToleranceAll Climates (very cold hardy)
Egg ColorLight Brown
Egg SizeLarge
Egg ProductivityDepends on the strains of the birds (on an average, about 4 eggs per week)
Feathered LegsNo
RarityBarred Rocks and White Rocks are common. All other varieties are rare.
VarietiesBarred, buff, blue, black, columbian, partridge, silver penciled, white, light barred, dark barred etc.

The Good

  • Beautiful
  • Friendly
  • Hardy (very cold tolerant)
  • Good layer
  • Good for meat production
  • Do well confined
  • Protective (generally cautious of predators)
  • Curious
  • Great as pets
  • Hens seldom go broody and are good mothers

The Bad

  • Can be bullies sometimes
  • Some have trouble with very hot weather
  • Can be stubborn sometimes

Is Plymouth Rock Chicken Good For You?

Plymouth Rock chicken will be good for you if you…….

  • Want to raise dual purpose chickens for both meat and egg production.
  • Want to keep some cold hardy birds.
  • Want to raise some friendly and beautiful chickens as pets.
  • Are interested in large size chickens.
  • Want to produce light brown colored and large eggs.
  • Looking for fast growing chicken breeds.
  • Are willing to raise some beautiful birds in your backyard.
  • Have a small farm.
  • Have small children and want a friendly and docile breed.
  • Live somewhere with cold winters.

Frequently Asked Questions

People ask many questions about Plymouth Rock chickens. Here we are trying to list the most common questions about this chicken breed, and trying to answer them. Hope you will find your answer. Don’t hesitate to ask us if you have more questions.

How many eggs does a Plymouth Rock chicken lay?

The Plymouth Rock is not among the top egg layers. Although, they lay pretty good amount of eggs. On an average, a Plymouth Rock hen can lay around 200 eggs per year.

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What is the difference between Barred Rock and Plymouth Rock chickens?

The Plymouth Rocks are large birds. They are very strong and hardy and used as a dual-purpose breed for both eggs and meat production. The Plymouth Rocks have long been preferred for small farms and homesteads, due to their size, productivity and gentle personalities. On the other hand, the Barred Rocks are recognizable by their black and white stripes that make them stand out in the flock.

Is Plymouth Rock a good chicken?

Yes, sure. The Plymouth Rock is a very good chicken. It is a dual-purpose breed and raised for both meat and eggs. The breed is also good for beginners.

Are Plymouth Rocks good for eggs?

Yes, they are pretty good egg layers, but not among the best layer breeds. A Plymouth Rock hen generally lay around or up to 200 brown eggs per year.

How many eggs do Plymouth Rock chickens lay a day?

Like many other chicken breeds, the Plymouth Rocks also lay one egg per day, and around 5 eggs per week.

What is Plymouth Rock chicken known for?

The Plymouth Rocks are popular and known for their friendly behavior, docility, hardiness, broodiness and good production of both eggs and meat.

Are Plymouth Rock chickens aggressive?

The Plymouth Rocks are generally friendly and docile. They are not aggressive and tame quite easily.

Are Plymouth Rock chickens noisy?

No, they are not particularly noisy. Although, some chickens do like to talk, but generally not much more than other chicken breeds.

Are Plymouth Rock chickens cold hardy?

Yes, the Plymouth Rocks are cold hardy chickens.

How long do Plymouth Rocks live?

Average lifespan of the Plymouth Rock chicken is between 8 and 10 years.

Are Plymouth Rocks good layers?

Yes, the Plymouth Rocks are pretty good layers. A hen can lay around or up to 280 eggs per year.

Are Plymouth Rocks heat tolerant?

No, Plymouth Rocks are not among the heat tolerant chicken breeds. But they do very well in cold.

How much housing space do Plymouth Rock chickens need?

Each Plymouth Rock chicken require around 4 square feet housing space.

Do Plymouth Rock chicken fly?

No, they can fly high, or far.

Do Plymouth Rock roosters crow?

Yes, they do like to crow just like many other breeds.

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How do you tell if my Plymouth Rock is a rooster?

The Plymouth Rock roosters have black and white baring, with each feather ending in a dark tip. Whereas, the hens have black bars that are slightly wider than the white bars, this can sometimes give them a slightly darker grayish hue than the roosters.

How fast do Plymouth Rock chickens grow?

The Plymouth Rocks are pretty fast to mature. And they take between 8 and 12 weeks for becoming ready for the meat market.

What age do Plymouth Rock hens start laying?

The Plymouth Rock hens generally start laying eggs within their 16 to 22 weeks of age.

When can Plymouth Rock chickens go outside?

You can let your chickens go outside when they are 5-6 weeks of age.

Do Plymouth Rock hens have spurs?

Yes, the hens may develop spurs on their legs.

What are Plymouth Rock chickens good for?

The Plymouth Rock chickens are dual-purpose birds. And they are good for both meat and eggs production purposes.

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