These Barred Rock Chickens Will Melt Your Heart
There is another name for Barred Rock Chickens, and the name I know them under is the Plymouth Rock Chicken.
You could get dizzy if you stare at their lovely barred feathers too long, but they really are stunning to look at.
So let’s delve more into these Plymouth Rock Chickens and see how they really do melt your heart…
Yes, They Are Also Called Plymouth Rock Chickens
The Plymouth Rock is also called the barred rock chickens for obvious reason.
You only have to look at them to see why…
They have a distinct black and white striped pattern, which is a barred colouration, and they are very large birds and very heavy birds as well.
So you won’t have any problems with having escapees flying over your fence with this chicken breed.
They are in fact dual-purpose chickens meaning that they are good for both egg production laying brown eggs and the other thing… You know.
Now, these chickens are a cold hardy breed, so if you live in a cold climate these are a great option for you and they have a single comb that’s not too large.
So they won’t get frostbite as easily on their comb.
When it comes to their temperament, they are very friendly, I cannot say that it is their overall size that makes these feathered pets more friendly.
But the heavier of any breed of chicken seems to be less flighty.
So this, as with most animals, they seem to be more placid when it comes to the heavier breeds.
Barred rock chickens can tend to be on the top of the pecking order, so anytime you put treats in the chicken run.
See also Cracking the Code: Understanding the Egg Color of Your Cream Legbar Chickens
They might tend to peck the other chickens of different chicken breeds to hustle their way to the treats first.
It’s not that they are overly mean or anything like that, most probably just throwing their weight around a bit.
Compared to the smaller of chicken breeds that you might have mingled with them in your backyard chicken run.
So, they are a good option for your backyard flock because of their hardiness and their egg production.
What Does Barred Mean In Chickens?
Barred as a word, simply means stripped.
So when it comes to a chicken breed with barred feathers they can be used to create sex-linked offspring.
Let me explain what this means…
You can tell from a hatchling whether a chick is male or female apparently, as you might know.
There again if you’re a beginner, it is very hard to know what sex your chicks are when they are hatched, till they get more mature, just a ball of fluff really…
And yes, this breed of chicken do go broody, but not as broody as some chicken breeds out there.
You can also get them in bantam form…
Are Barred Rock Chickens Friendly?
If you are like me and love to pick up your feathered friends, then this chicken breed is a good one for this.
Barred rock chickens will generally be happy to have you pick them up and give them a cuddle.
So easily handled and also willing to tolerate those affections that you just can not help give them.
I know…
Can’t help it, same here…
The Barred Rock chicken breed will also earn its keep as an egg producer, as well as the best buddies.
See also Fantastic Reasons Why English Orpington Chicken Could Live With You
So its disposition and personality altogether make it a YES!
The family-friendly choice for backyard poultry fancier such as you.
Their Coloures
You can get an array of colours:
- Barred
- Blue
- black frizzle
- buff
- partridge
- Columbian
- white
- Penciled
Are Barred Rock Chickens Friendly?
I know we have gone through this, but there are some things you need to be aware of…
Humans?
No problem.
But when comes to other chickens sharing the chicken coop there is no problem unless you have a space problem…
If chickens do not have enough space in general then you are going to have problems, you really need about 10 square feet per hen.
Or if you have too many roosters, they might become aggressive towards each other, but this is general when it comes to roosters.
So if you have more than one Plymouth rock rooster, then you generally are going to have some conflict.
Unless you have enough room for the roosters to have their space and run away from another angry rooster if need be.
Are Barred Rock Chickens Noisy?
Now you’re talking…..
As expected…
These Plymouth Rock chickens are a quiet breed of chicken.
You will not find them making a noise that will keep the neighbours agitated.
The Plymouth rock hens lay large brown eggs and are in fact a favourite among farmers alike and homesteaders who live on a small to moderate amount of acreage.
Quiet, very outgoing, and friendly, this chicken breed will enjoy interacting with their human humans, meaning you.
So buying a Plymouth rock chicken is going to be a good decision if you want a chicken that is placid, lays brown eggs, a good doer, and is going to be a friend to you.