Plymouth rock chickens are some of my favorites. It might be because my son fell in love with two barred rocks a few years ago. He called them his “love chickens” because they were so sweet and loving.
These sweet girls have been a consistent part of our flock for years. They are some of our best layers, as well as being cuddly, loving birds.
White Rocks are beautiful birds with pure white feathers and a bright comb. They lay wholesome, homey brown eggs, and they’re gentle, pleasant birds.
White Plymouth Rock Basics
Plymouth rocks come in a variety of colors, and those color types have been specialized for so long that they’ve developed into different sub-breeds with different characteristics. So, here I’ll be focusing on white Plymouth rocks, the bright classic of the farmhouse chicken.
White Plymouth rock chickens share many characteristics with other Plymouth rocks. They’re easy to care for, cold hardy, and adaptable. They can handle a variety of temperatures and climates.
These are mild-mannered, large, placid birds. They lay well even in the winter and make excellent homestead birds, as they’re equally useful in the laying house or in the broiler.
Coloration
White Plymouth rock chickens are as white as their name. The chicks are a creamy, yellowish-white. They grow quickly into bright white birds with fluffy, snow-colored feathers and contrasting legs and comb.
There should not be any color variation in your white rocks. A flock of these pretty birds foraging across a hay field or amid an established garden is stunning. No wonder so many cultural images of chickens are based on this bird.
White rocks have a moderate, single comb, and a wattle. Both are bright red. Roosters will have a larger comb and wattle than the hens. They have sturdy yellow legs.
Before they reach maturity, white rocks have a yellow comb, about the same color as their legs. But around the time they start laying, that yellow comb will turn bright red.
White Plymouth rock chickens are larger birds, with hens growing to about 6-7 lbs. Males can reach up to 9 lbs at maturity. Both do provide a nice, meaty roaster. Even older birds retain enough tenderness to do well on the dinner table.
Auto-Sexing
White Plymouth rock chickens are not an auto-sexing breed. If you want to be sure of getting primarily pullets, order from a reputable hatchery.
Both sexes of this breed are creamy white at birth. Some even show a little trace of smokey gray before whitening out as they feather.
Egg Production
As a production breed, white Plymouth rock chickens are designed to lay a lot. These birds can produce around 300 eggs yearly, though they usually average somewhere between 230 and 250.
They’re good, consistent winter layers too. Even if stress or trauma is stopping the other breeds in your flock, Plymouth rocks will often persevere.
White Plymouth eggs are large, medium-brown eggs. The hens will sometimes go broody. When they do, they are excellent mothers.
A broody Plymouth is one of the best foster mothers in the flock. If she isn’t gathering all the eggs under herself, you can tuck them under her yourself.
What About Meat?
White Plymouth rock chickens are a great dual-purpose bird. They produce a medium-large roaster with clean, yellow skin. The meat is tender and flavorful.
Young birds are great options for a home-grown roast chicken. Older birds can do well in coq au vin, stew, or other slow-cooked, flavorful options. Ideally, butcher your meat rocks before 20 weeks for a tender, delicious meal.
Personality
I love rocks. It may be because I’ve rarely seen a chicken so willing to cuddle with a small child than my son’s Plymouth rocks.
Or, it may be because these placid birds can recover from almost any shock. From being snatched up by a fox to being pounced on by an overlarge puppy, nothing unsettles these birds for long.
They are sweet-tempered birds who can hold their own peacefully in a flock of rougher hens. White rocks don’t mind ruffling a few feathers if they have to, but they don’t go looking for fights.
Unlike some other production breeds, white rocks are focused on the task at hand and don’t get caught up in coop-drama.
Even the roosters are easy to handle and mild-mannered. A stunning, White Plymouth rooster will look over his flock with care and gentleness. He’s not a bully, but he can stand up to neighborhood cats, geese, and pushy children.
Foraging
Plymouth rock chickens are active birds. They do well foraging, and they tend to stay close to home. If you have a suburban coop, pretty white rocks could be a great fit. They don’t like to wander far and are quiet birds.
Your neighbors won’t have to listen to a lot of chickens squabbling in your yard with these birds. Instead, they’ll hear a lot of gentle clucking as your hens scratch around the yard.
They can thrive for much of the year on a primarily foraged diet, with some additional kitchen scraps. But, if you want your hens to lay at a production level, you should supplement with some layer feed as well.
But if you allow your white rocks to forage freely, remember that they show up clearly to predators – especially hawks, eagles, and owls. Birds of prey have much easier time spotting these bright, white birds.
Foxes are also drawn to them, and white rocks have a harder time hiding than their buff or dark brown sisters.
Be extra cautious when it comes to predators, lock your birds up well at night, and try introducing a livestock guardian breed of dog.
Even if you don’t train him as a full-time guardian, his scent will help keep predators away. Livestock guardian breeds have a lower prey drive than many other breeds. They’re less likely to want to attack your birds themselves.
Hardiness
White rocks, like all Plymouth rocks, are very winter-hardy. They’re able to withstand some pretty harsh winter temperatures and often continue laying throughout the cold months.
Most white rock owners say that their birds lay at a much slower rate in the winter, but usually continue to produce every other day or every few days.
Depending on how harsh your winters are, you may need to provide some supplemental light or heat to keep your birds laying in the winter. Your birds will also need plenty of quality food to keep their bodies warm and productive.
I’ve found that offering pieces of pumpkin and cracked corn in the evenings helps keep my birds warmer and allows them to focus on laying in the winter instead of just surviving.
White rocks don’t have any breed-specific health issues, but like all chickens, they can fall victim to mites, bumblefoot, and respiratory ailments. Make sure your birds have a clean, warm coop and access to quality food and clean water.
As a heavy layer, it’s essential to make sure your white rocks get plenty of nutrients. Nutrient-deficient birds can struggle to maintain their health while laying.
White Plymouth Rock Chickens Pros and Cons
This productive layer is all about going about their business while being friendly and looking good. They lay a lot without losing the sweetness of a family hen.
Lovely, bright white feathers and a stunning, cherry-red comb make white rocks really stand out from the crowd.
White rocks are great for chicken owners who want a family-friendly, heavy-laying chicken that will make a great roaster or a meaty stew bird when she’s done laying.
Positives
White Plymouth rock chickens can lay around 250-300 brown eggs each year. They’re some of the sweetest, most productive layers available. They can even lay throughout the winter with the proper care.
White rocks are healthy, hardy birds that are low maintenance and easy to keep. They’re active foragers with a friendly personality and plenty of interest in the world around them.
These quiet birds won’t wake the neighbors early in the morning. They’re also so pretty and such a perfect image of what a chicken should be that your neighbors will love looking out at your white rocks foraging in the green grass.
Negatives
White rocks have few drawbacks. But, if you live in an area with a lot of predators, be cautious. Their bright, white feathering does make them an easy pick for hunting animals in day or nighttime.
Don’t leave your birds out overnight, and do what you can to keep predators out of your yard. Fortunately, white Plymouth rock chickens do tend to be aware of the world around them, so they won’t wander carelessly into the mouth of a local fox or hawk.
That pretty, single combs of the white Plymouth rock chickens are at risk of frostbite in severe winter weather. Though they’re thickly feathered birds, the comb is their winter weak spot. If your temperatures are especially low, or your coop isn’t well-insulated, try coating the comb in petroleum during freezing nights to keep your white rocks safe.