White and black chicken breeds, means we talk about rock!
The American breed known as Barred Rock mainly a variety of the Plymouth Rocks family, characterized by their stunning black-and-white monochrome feathers with distinctive stripes.
These magnificent birds with their sharply styled stripey breed appearance have truly earned their stripes among backyard chickens enthusiasts. After raising them alongside Dominiques and Amrocks (another striped variety), I’ve unscrambled the confusion that many beginners face when identifying these similar-looking birds.
After my experience, I find out two areas when we are going to raise this white and black breed:
First one is how these striped breeds are separated. I break down the key differences between Barred Rocks, Plymouth Rocks, Dominiques, and Amrocks for you.
Second one is that real chicken keepers disagree with enthusiasts about them? Maybe you also are!
Here’s what we discussed today!
STRIPY CHICKENS – SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
What’s The Difference Between Barred Rocks & Plymouth Rocks?
What’s The Difference between Barred Rocks & Dominiques?
Are Amrock Chickens the Same as Barred Rock Chickens?
The History of Barred Rock Chickens
What Are Barred Rock Chickens Like?
Why Barred Rocks Make Perfect Backyard Companions
Is The Barred Rock the Right Chicken for Me?
What Varieties of Plymouth Rock Chicken Are There?
How To Tell Barred Rock Roosters from Hens
How Big are Barred Rock Chickens?
Can You Get Barred Rock Bantams?
What Do Barred Rock Chicks Look Like?
Barred Rock Characteristics
Why Barred Rocks Are a Flock Favorite
Are Barred Rock Chickens Suitable for Beginners?
Do Barred Rocks Make Good Backyard Chickens?
Are Barred Rock Chickens Noisy?
Can Barred Rock Chickens Fly?
Barred Rock Chicken Eggs
How Much Space Do Barred Rock Chickens Need?
Are Barred Rock Chickens Cold Hardy?
How Long Do Barred Rock Chickens Live For?
Plymouth Barred Rock Temperaments?
Barred Rock Lifespan
STRIPY CHICKENS – SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
What’s The Difference Between Barred Rocks & Plymouth Rocks?
Somewhere you must hear the two names barred rock or plymouth rock chickens breed, but these are the same.
Plymouth rock is actually a breed name while barred name specifically the colour variety of breed. Plymouth has a variety of other colors like White, Buff, Blue, Black,Colombian and others.
Barred is the most common variety of Plymouth rock chicken breed. This variety comes in the colour of black and white.
What’s The Difference between Barred Rocks & Dominiques?
Barred rock comes with only a single comb with white and black straight bars, while Dominiques has a rose comb with a v shaped pattern. This is verified by experts.
“The Barred Rock has a single comb (straight comb) and more of a straight pattern in the barred feathers. The Dominique chicken has a rose comb and a slight v pattern in the barring of the feathers. Both make for good chickens in the winter and good pet chickens.”(Cackle Hatchery)
Dominiques might look like the barred rock. So, it is considered the same breed as sometime but poultry experts show they are separate.
Are Amrock Chickens the Same as Barred Rock Chickens?
When I started raising backyard poultry, I’ve often been asked about Amrock and Barred Rock chickens. Amrock chickens are the European type of the Barred Rock, characteristics similar to the Plymouth Rock breed. The Amrock displays classic black-and-white barred color patterns but appears slightly larger and paler than its American counterpart.
In the time of World War 2 when this breed moved from the US to Germany dealt with food challenges. Their hardy nature and dual-purpose qualities helped them spread throughout Europe. These strains were specifically bred for meat production and bone capacity rather than fancy feathering.
With the passage of time, birds had been cultivated in Europe, they had differed enough from the actual American birds that they were listed as Amrocks in 1982. The Amrock essentially originates from the same foundation stock but developed along a different path to meet European agricultural needs.
The History of Barred Rock Chickens
The Plymouth Rock chicken is one of America’s chicken breeds which existed in the past. His barred rock variety makes it popular. Introduced in Boston, these chickens made their first appearance in 1829 at America’s first poultry show, but did a bizarre disappearing act until 1869 when they resurfaced in Massachusetts.
Mr. Upham dedicated himself to breeding Java hens with barred roosters to create a clean-legged, barred chicken that would become the Barred Rocks we know today. This Heritage Breed from New England in the early 1800s combined Dominiques and Black Javas, resulting in those iconic black-and-white barred feathers that chicken enthusiasts like myself find so distinctive.
The New York Poultry Society ended a silly situation in 1870 by enforcing a standard: rose comb for Dominiques and single comb for Barred Rocks, preventing owners from entering birds in both show categories to win twice. I’ve judged several heritage poultry competitions, and clear standards prevent such madness!
In the time of World War 2, all these dual-purpose birds served as a sustainable food breed across the U.S. Their hardy nature allows them to live in colder climates, making them first priority for farmers. In early 20’s, his nickname was “America’s favorite breed” and “Hereford of the poultry world.”
The American Poultry Association listed them as a standard breed in 1874. As one of eight variations of Plymouth Rocks, these beginner-friendly birds fulfill their purpose as a dual-purpose bird – being both a productive egg layer and a large enough bird to produce meat.
What Are Barred Rock Chickens Like?
If you want some feathered friends to your backyard flock, the Barred Rock chicken are best. These beautiful birds have won my heart with their appearance and personalities.
The hen of this variety is calm-natured and loving. I’ve found them to be small creatures who love to follow me around the garden. They’re all about the simple things in life – there’s no drama with these birds! They won’t like a fight with other chickens, are not noisy, and not demanding of your attention.
My Barred Rocks love to cuddle with their chicken pals and even approach their human helpers without fear. I’ve never seen them ruffling feathers over small issues – they’re just not bothered by much. Even in the cold, this breed takes care of itself and is rarely poorly. They will enjoy it with their flock and family.
Plymouth barred rock can be produced between 200-280 eggs per year, whatever the weather. While raising a family is not top priority for them, they can still hatch a clutch of eggs if given the chance. Their reliability and easy-going nature made my chickens a perfect match for my first hatch experience.
Is The Barred Rock the Right Chicken for Me?
They might be a fantastic choice if you are adding chickens in your backyard. I’ve kept them in my own flock for years, and their gentle personality never disappoints me.
Barred Rock hens are mostly known for their docile temperament and black and white stripes. They’re remarkably easy-going birds that adapt well to both colder climates and hot climates, though they truly excel with their cold hardiness.
Perfect for backyards or barnyards, these birds thrive when free-ranging but do fine in a fair-sized coop. In my experience, they’re quite friendly compared to other chicken breeds, though not quite “lap chickens” by my personal reference.
When I surveyed 255 keepers, roughly 80% would recommend them without hesitation. Most chicken keepers report no issues with these birds. They’re truly a well-rounded chicken with good heat tolerance and a calm nature.
Their dual purpose is a key factor in their popularity. Once matured, they’re a strong egg producer laying about 5-6 eggs per week – lovely medium brown eggs with an abundance of rich, dark meat when harvested.
What Varieties of Plymouth Rock Chicken Are There?
The American Poultry Association lists seven varieties of plymouth rock chickens.
These seven varieties introduced in the US are barred, blue, buff, Columbian, partridge, silver penciled, and white.
How To Tell Barred Rock Roosters from hens:
Roosters are slightly larger than hen and have loose, soft tails with feathers. These might be interesting.
Roosters have the same range of black and white striped spots on feathers while hens have wider black than white spots.
How Big are Barred Rock Chickens?
They are slightly large, heavy birds that fit in the coop. Most hens weigh around 7.5 pounds, while roosters can reach 8.5-9.5 lbs.Mainly, as dual-purpose chickens, they were designed to provide both eggs and dinner for families.
In my opinion, these pretty birds actually seem bigger than they are due to their fluffy feathers that make them look larger than their actual weight. While the average rooster might get closer to 9.5 pounds, most are average sized compared to other larger breed chickens where a typical rooster weighs about 6 pounds and a hen around 5.7 pounds.
Can You Get Barred Rock Bantams?
If you love small chickens, in my opinion consider Barred Rock bantams! They’re easier to get your mitts on nowadays and typically weigh just 2.5 to 3 lbs.
These miniatures retain the same lovely temperament and attributes as their bigger brothers and sisters, though they lay smaller eggs. From my experience raising both sizes, these bantams bring the same charm in a more manageable package.
What Do Barred Rock Chicks Look Like?
Chicks are not born strikky while they come in the dark grey with white patches on their top of head.
Barred Rock Characteristics
Why Barred Rocks Are a Flock Favorite
This type of chicken is my favourite for these reasons. Here is the list of some characteristics.
Beautiful Appearance:
Their visually striking appearance, especially their unique plumage featuring alternating black and white stripes that give them a traditional, farmyard charm. This visually appealing design serves as natural camouflage for free-ranging birds, offering natural protection from predators – something I’ve witnessed firsthand when hawks struggle to spot my flock.
Friendly and Gentle Nature:
From my experience, Barred Rocks are remarkably calm with a friendly temperament, great with humans and excellent flock mates that get along well with other chickens. They’re a good choice for a mixed flock whether you’re a first-time chicken keeper or seasoned pro. You’ll appreciate their gentle, easygoing nature – mine are curious birds that love interacting with people and follow me around the yard.
Reliable Egg Layers:
Barred Rocks are reliable layers of large brown eggs, with each healthy hen able to produce 200 to 280 eggs per year. A fantastic addition to any backyard flock, their egg production remains strong as they lay consistently through colder months when other breeds slow down. This makes them extremely popular among backyard chicken keepers seeking a practical choice for a steady supply of fresh eggs year-round – my three hens haven’t missed a day in two winters!
Hardy and Adaptable:
Barred Rocks are hard skinny and can live in all type of climates. They colder temperatures better than most breeds thanks to their deeper feathers providing natural insulation. They bear slightly winters with minimal frost bite on their combs and rock, which by summer have cure to a bright red color, enhancing their striking appearance.
These birds can bear heat easily when given enough shade and fresh water, as they can find cool spots during hot summer months. This versatile breed can thrive in various environments, proving extremely cold-hardy and happy even in Northern climates. Though the rubbish red combs of roosters are big, saggy combs that can be permitting to frostbite.
Are Barred Rock Chickens Suitable for Beginners?
Barred Rock chickens rank among top beginner breeds because they’re incredibly hardy, easy to handle and easy to house. Unlike some breeds that go broody, these gals rarely play sitting momma on their eggs, making raising chickens less complicated for newcomers.
My Barred Plymouth Rocks proved a fantastic choice for my first flock – quiet, friendly with all flock mates, and truly a great starter bird for backyard chickens. They seldom fight for top spot in the pecking order, creating less drama in your coop.
Do Barred Rocks Make Good Backyard Chickens?
This breed has a variety of good temperaments which makes them a perfect breed for your backyard. They contain a calm, docile nature and are easy to handle in the backyard.
For that reason, this breed is perfect for your backyard.
Are Barred Rock Chickens Noisy?
Barred Rocks produce an above average level of noise, so if you’re concerned about disturbing neighbors, they’re not a good candidate for urban farms or populated neighborhoods. I recommend keeping these birds on rural farms instead, as each hen can create quite an abundance of sound.
Roosters will consistently crow with this breed – our rooster in densely populated areas caused complaints from several neighbors. They make noise constantly and loudly, especially when broody or walking about their run, making them more vocal than many comparable breeds.
Can Barred Rock Chickens Fly?
Yes, they can fly if they want to, even over fences.
Though they’re heavy and often seen as poor fliers, some healthy ones can clear 6-foot fences.
About half of chicken keepers rated their flight skills as average, depending on the situation.
Barred Rock Chicken Eggs
Being both winter hardy and tolerant to heat ensures their year-round egg production. Most live 6-8 years quite Happy with a solid record for delivering medium to large eggs with shell color ranging from light brown to medium brown. In my flock, they consistently outperform other birds in challenging weather conditions.
Egg production starts between 18-20 weeks on average. I’ve noticed production decreases by 10 to 15% per year as the chickens age, but they rarely stop laying completely.
While not as productive layers as hybrids like Isa Browns, these first layers in my flock are still laying after four years. As reliable layers, a healthy hen can produce 200 to 280 eggs annually, making them perfect for any backyard flock that wants birds laying consistently even through colder months. Chicken keepers are confident in picking this breed.
Plymouth Barred Rock temperaments?
This type of chickens are famous for their excellent temperament, listed in the calmest breeds. Unlike some varieties, hens are typically not aggressive and rarely behave as a bully in the coop, making excellent flock mates when kept with different varieties of breeds.
Their friendly, non-aggressive behavior helps maintain peace in your backyard, reducing stress and healthy environment, productive group. From raising alongside Golden Comets and Dominique breeds, I’ve found they create a remarkably harmonious flock compared to other chickens.
The docile, mellow nature and calm disposition of these birds makes them perfect for families with children. However, watch roosters who can assert dominance in the hardest ways, sometimes becoming aggressive towards new chickens as they chase, mount, and potentially risk hurting hens while establishing their place low on the pecking order but remaining protective of their flock.
Barred rock lifespan
Barred Rock chickens benefit from an above average lifespan of 6 to 8 years after keeping in a backyard. However, when raised from childbirth, the average bird will only live 3 to 7 years, even under special conditions. I’ve personally noted some exceptional hens reaching 10 to 12 years in my rural flock.
Unlike commercial meat birds with shorter lives of just 2 to 3 years, these heritage birds remain viable long after showing signs of decreased production with age. My oldest Barred Rock chickens laid consistently for seven seasons before retirement, far outperforming my other breeds.