Barred Plymouth rock
Having lovely barring of a darkish grey on a white feather. They were first bred in America after the civil war, when farmers wanted a good hardy bird that would with stand the cold winters and also a bird that was suitable for the table.These are a relatively new to us, this being our second year to hatch from them.We have found them to be quiet birds that love to free range,producing over 280 eggs per year. They are not great broody mothers, the main reason for this being that they were created mainly for egg production . Very quiet in nature the Barred Plymouth Rocks can become family pets, fixing you way down in the pecking order. Being great at forraging they will eat relatively small amounts of food when free ranging.The Plymouth Rock was developed in New England in the middle of the 19th century and was first exhibited as a breed in 1869. Several individuals claimed its invention, using crosses of Dominiques, Black Javas, Cochins, and perhaps Malays and Dorkings.The first Plymouth Rock was barred and other varieties were developed later. The breed became popular very rapidly, and in fact, until World War II, no breed was ever kept and bred as extensively in the United States as the Barred Plymouth Rock. Its popularity came from its qualities as an outstanding farm chicken: hardiness, docility, broodiness, and excellent production of both eggs and meat.
Most of the other varieties were developed from crosses containing some of the same ancestral background as the barred variety. Early in its development, the name Plymouth Rock implied a barred bird, but as more varieties were developed, it became the designation for the breed.
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