One of America’s oldest chicken breeds is the Blue Plymouth Rock. The hen was seen from coast to coast before the end of War. It became the country’s main source of chicken meat and eggs.
The only other hen that could compete with it was the Rhode Island Red, which was a dual-purpose hen that was great at both making meat and eggs.
Many people used to keep them because the government told them to, and the troops needed food to fight at sea and at home.
During this time, thousands of people supported and cheered them on. Sadly, after the war, the chicken business became very automated. The Blue Plymouth Rock was thrown out because it wasn’t tough enough, like many other breeds.
Everything you need to know about Blue Plymouth chickens is in this guide. It covers the different kinds, how to take care of them, and whether they lay eggs.
Blue Plymouth Rock History and Background
In 1849, we saw Blue Plymouth Rock for the first time in Massachusetts. The first birds were not seen for about 20 years, so no one is sure what happened to them.
Around 1869, when Mr. Upham of Worcester, Massachusetts, was breeding barred males and Java hens, the trail got hot again. People say he was trying to breed birds that would only have striped feathers and clean legs.
These birds are now popular as the relatives of the Blue Rock of today. Some people got the rose comb and single comb birds mixed up when we talked about the Dominique breed. At the time, both were called Dominique’s.
It was important to the New York Poultry Society that Dominique be raised to a certain level. After 1870, any bird with a single comb turned into a Blue or Red Plymouth Rock.
The appearance of Blue Plymouth Rock Chickens
The feathers of a Blue Rock hen are mostly described as having “black and white bars,” which is mostly true.
The bars between men and women are a little different. When it comes to guys, each feather ends in a dark spot. The bars are equal amounts of black and white.
The black bars on females are a little bigger than the white bars, which can sometimes make them look a little grayer than the boys. The Blue Plymouth Rock family has a lot of different kinds. The largest and most well-known Plymouth Rock is the Barred Plymouth Rock.
We will talk about the barred Blue Plymouth Rock in this piece because it is likely an important part of American culture. Its body is big and strong, shaped like a triangle. It has a full breast and a long, wide back.
When you look at the belly, the feathers are full, open, and very soft. The Dominique is much “fuzzier” and leans toward grey, while the barring design should be clear black and white. Their skin and legs are yellow, and each foot has four toes. The lips, earlobes, comb, and wattles should all be read.
The beak is the color of a horn, and the eyes are a bay red. Lastly, they should have a single comb with five points. A hen of average size will weigh about 7½ pounds, and a rooster can weigh up to 9½ pounds. They are a kind of chicken. Girls weigh about 2.5 pounds and boys about 3 pounds.
Egg Laying and Temperament
Plymouth Rocks are good hens that lay big brown eggs. Each year, they lay about 200 eggs, which is about 4 eggs every week.
They lay well for the first two years, but around the third year, their output starts to go down slowly. But hens have been known to lay eggs until they were 10 years old!
Even though they’re not popular for being broody, you can support it in this breed because the hens are usually good moms and sitters. The chicks quickly get feathers and grow up. If you want, you can consider them broilers at 8 to 12 weeks old.
Barred Rocks are calm birds. It is not famous that they are mean or pick on other birds in the group, and they seem to get along with everyone. The people who own them say that they are sweet, calm, and obedient even to the roosters!
They are always checking out what’s going on around them and will follow you around to see what you’re doing or if there are treats close.
Rocks would much rather roam freely and find tasty treats in the yard, but they can handle being confined well if they are given enough room. This hen is very friendly once you get to know her, and she gets along great with kids and family.
Health Issues
The Blue Plymouth Rock is a strong and healthy breed of chicken. Aside from the usual bugs, they don’t have any other health problems.
Since the roosters have big heads and wattles, those spots might need some extra care when it’s really cold outside.
if you took good care of them than they usually live 10 to 12 years because their genes are strong
There are birds that can live up to 20 years!
Is the Blue Plymouth Rock Chicken Right For You?
This could be the right bird for you if you want a family-friendly breed. Barred Rocks are popular for being nice to both kids and adults. They like being petted and rubbed, and many of them end up becoming lap chickens!
Since they can’t fly, you don’t need a big fence around their pen to keep them inside. They probably won’t go check out the neighbour’s yard if they can’t walk there.
When we talk about friends, the Barred Rock is a quiet chicken that likes to talk.
The Barred Rock does have the standard chicken words, like the egg song, but it tends to “whisper” across the yard instead of “shout.” The neighbourhood should be happy with that.
They are calm and easy to care for, so people who have never had chickens before should get them. New Plymouth
Even though it’s best not to have to, rocks are very accepting of bad management. They can raise themselves if you take good care of them.
Because they are calm, they are also good for 4 H projects and the exhibition ring, where they usually do very well.
Summary
The Barred Rock has a long and important past, though it’s not clear how it got its start. The Barred Rock became less famous after the Second World War. The breed is also present in the list by the American Livestock Breed Conservancy. The ALBC still has it listed as improving right now.
The rebound is likely due to more people wanting to keep chickens in their yards, especially breeds that can do two things well and do them well in most situations.
They do well as garden birds because they don’t need any special care and are chatty and friendly. They can live in a cage or outside. Rock Chicken lay good eggs, and when they’re ready for meat, they look good and reach a good weight. What else could you ask your chickens?