Once a staple in American backyard , the Plymouth Rock volaille confront a significant decline in numbers , leading to its inclusion on TheLivestock Conservancy ’s Conservation Priority List . However , as of 2023 , the breed has been officially removed from this list , marking a significant conservation achiever .
The Conservation Priority List
The Livestock Conservancy ’s Conservation Priority List is a vital tool used to monitor and promote consciousness about the preservation position of heritage livestock and poultry breeds in the United States . Established to aid prevent the defunctness of historically significant breeds , the list evaluates population numbers , historic and genetic value , geographical dispersion , and alive breeding programs . It serve as a call to action at law for farmers , breeders , and conservationists to brook vulnerable animal populations that are often overshadow by commercial-grade breeds .
Note : The Livestock Conservancy hasyet to lose a breedon its Conservation Priority List to extinction .
Other Conservation Priority List Successes
A breed ’s inclusion on the Conservation Priority List is a call to action at law that can galvanise breeders , modest flock possessor and poultry fanciers to do what is necessary to bring the breed back from the brink . This is what happened with theOrpington chickenandWyandotte chickenbreeds , which , a decade ago .
Both of these strain recovered in population and graduated from the list in 2016 . Today , the Orpington and the Wyandotte are two of themost uncouth backyard chicken breedsin the United States .
Also bump off from the priority leaning in 2023 were theAustralorp , BrahmaandRhode Island Redchickens .
Read more : For this keeper , barred Plymouth Rock poulet reign the roost .
The History of the Plymouth Rock Chicken
No clear origin account exists for theBarred Plymouth Rock . Numerous poultry breeder and fanciers take to have developed the strain at some point in the mid-1800s . The hypothesis most hold to is that the strain was developed in the 1860s , whenBlack Javas were crossed with single - coxcomb Dominiques .
The resulting bird was name the Plymouth Rock . It was slightly larger than the Dominique but otherwise indistinguishable from its primogenitor .
Both had a bar , or cuckoo , pattern on their plumage , and both had both single- and rose - comb diversity . The two breed remained interchangeable until an 1870 New York poultry exhibition , at which it was decreed that the single - combing birds would be shown as Plymouth Rocks , while the rose - cushioned birds would be expose as Dominiques .
In 1874 , the Barred Plymouth Rock , or Barred Rock , was recognise by theAmerican Poultry Association .
Plymouth Rock Chicken Characteristics
In addition to the Barred Rock ( aka the original Plymouth Rock ) , several other coloring material varieties were presently develop . These include
All varieties of Plymouth Rock feature a large , bright - red exclusive cockscomb , red lappet and red earlobes . They have yellow , featherless shank — the master distinguishing feature between a Buff Rock and a Buff Orpington — and hen lay approximately 200 large brown eggs per year .
Plymouth Rock females are good sitter and mothers . Chicks reach maturity at the other geezerhood of eight to 12 week .
Because Plymouth Rock chickens feather early , they are considered cold - hardy birds , although the compass point of the single comb are susceptible to frostbite . Plymouth Rocks are serene , sweetened birds that get along with other breeds and are very affectionate with their mankind . Barred Plymouth Rocks are often prevent as pet volaille and are used as 4 - H showmanship birds due to their cuddly , friendly nature .
rock’n’roll wish to range and explore , but are tolerant of confinement . They are an excellent choice for a backyard heap .
This clause about the achiever of the Plymouth Rock chicken recuperation from the Livestock Conservancy ’s Conservation Priority list was write for Hobby Farms and Chickens magazines . chatter here to pledge .
