Plymouth Rock Chicken

Current Uses: Meat and egg laying. They lay about 3 - 4 large cream to brown colored eggs a week.

Appearance: The Plymouth Rock standard chicken is a large and commanding breed weighing 7 1/2 to 9 1/2 pounds. They have a thick well rounded chest and back line that is nearly horizontal. Their beak, legs, and feet are yellow. They have a bright red single comb, wattle, ear lobes, and face. The legs are unfeathered. Some of the many colors they can be found in are barred, black, buff, and white. The Plymouth Rock bantam weighs only 2 - 2 1/4 pounds.

Average weight: 2 - 9.5 lbs.

Lifespan: 10 - 20 years

Grooming: N/A

Diet: Chickens are omnivores and will eat anything they can catch and swallow. They will also eat small pebbles and gravel to aid in digestion. Their natural diet makes them relatively easy to feed a healthy diet as a pet. Free range chickens will find most of their food on their own, scratching up insects and snails and devouring sprouts and small plants. For chickens that are confined to smaller spaces do best on a commercial feed supplemented with fresh fruits and veggies. They will also happily eat any slugs and snails that you offer. You may want to offer ground oysters shells for added calcium if your hen is laying eggs. Otherwise grit is not needed with a commercial feed based diet. Fresh and clean water must be available at all times.

Housing: When envisioning the pet chicken most see a small flock roaming the yard or enjoying the sun from a perch in the coop. However, there is another option for your pet chicken; the house. Yes, many owners have included their chicken as a family house pet. Allowing your chicken to join the family inside will give you the best opportunity to enjoy their charm, intelligence, and individual personalities. Plymouth Rock chickens can make excellent house pets. Some needs of the house chicken are cages where they can stay when they can’t be supervised around the house. A nest box will be needed or your hen will find a suitable one. She won’t be picky if she’s left to find one for herself; a toy bin, cupboard, chair, or bed will do. Although easily trainable, most chickens will not potty train as they have a fast metabolism. Many owners choose to outfit their house chickens with diapers but this will require regular cleaning of any messy feathers. House chickens will still need some outdoor time for sunshine and dust bathing. Of course you can always take them for a walk on a leash for regular outdoor exercise.

Health issues: Although chickens are considered an easy pet they do require the expert care of an avian veterinarian and regular check ups. There are several diseases that they can receive vaccines for such as Newcastles, Avian Flu, Avian Pox, Infectious Laryngotracheitis, and Marek’s Disease. Your vet may also recommend regular worming. Your vet can also be a valuable resource on aspects of good care that will prevent the spread of disease within your flock.

Behavior / Temperament / Activity level: These good-natured chickens are friendly and smart. They make a great choice if you are looking for a house chicken where they can show off their charming personalities.