The Plymouth Rock chicken was bred in the USA, and gets its name from the town of Plymouth. It is an old and successful breed that is dual purpose. There are many color varieties, such as barred, buff, partridge, white, silver pencilled, blue and Columbian. They have red earlobes and a single comb.

Plymouth Rocks are hardy and can tolerate colder climates. They are docile, easy to handle and can be quite tame, making them a good choice for beginner poultry keepers. They do enjoy free range set ups but can adapt to smaller enclosures as long as they get the opportunity to exercise.

The hens are good layers and can produce around 200 eggs per year. They can have a tendency to be broody, sit well on their eggs and make good mothers. The mature, standard sized males weigh around 4kg and the females 3.4 kg. There are bantam sizes available.