Description
Barred Rock Chicken
Recognized by the American Standard of Perfection in 1874, the Barred Plymouth Rock Chicken—commonly called the Barred Rock—is one of America’s oldest and most cherished heritage breeds. Often remembered as the kind of chicken “Grandma used to raise,” this breed is famous for being dependable, gentle, and excellent for both egg and meat production.
As part of the Plymouth Rock chicken family, the Barred Rock belongs to the American Class of poultry. It was developed in the United States as a true dual-purpose breed, valued for its consistent laying and table quality. Hens typically weigh about 7½ pounds, while roosters reach around 9½ pounds. Pullets average 6 pounds and cockerels about 8 pounds. Barred Rocks are reliable large brown egg layers, producing an estimated 200 to 220 eggs per year (see FAQ for details).
These chickens are known for their active but calm temperament, making them one of the most kid-friendly breeds for backyard flocks. They are naturally hardy and adaptable to all climates—excellent winter and summer brown egg layers—and prefer a roost height between two and four feet. Barred Rocks have a tendency to set and brood their own chicks, and their fertility rates generally range from 65–80%, with gender accuracy between 85–90%. The ideal mating ratio is ten females per one male, ensuring strong hatch results and balanced flock behavior.
Visually, Barred Rocks are stunning. Their black-and-white barred feathers create a neat, even pattern that distinguishes them from the similar Dominique chicken, which has a rose comb and a softer, v-shaped barring. The Barred Rock, by contrast, has a single straight comb and a crisp, uniform barring pattern across its plumage.
Cackle Hatchery® has been developing its pure Barred Plymouth Rock bloodline since 1936, maintaining the breed’s true heritage qualities and steady production type. Non-industrial strains like ours are bred for vigor, productivity, and traditional appearance rather than commercial hybrid traits.
At Cackle Hatchery®, we offer Barred Rock baby chicks for sale online along with a variety of other breeds. We also provide the Barred Rock Bantam Chicken for those who love a smaller version of this classic bird, the Barred Plymouth Rock Exhibition Type for show breeders, Barred Rock Started Pullets for those who prefer ready-to-lay hens, and Barred Rock Fertile Hatching Eggs at select times of the year.
To learn more about how to tell the difference between a Barred Rock and a Dominique Chicken, please check out our blog here.
Barred Rock Chicken FAQs
What is a Barred Rock Chicken?
The Barred Rock, or Barred Plymouth Rock, is a heritage American chicken breed recognized by the APA in 1874. It’s a dual-purpose bird used for both egg and meat production and is known for its striking barred black-and-white plumage, gentle nature, and steady brown egg laying.
How do you pronounce Barred Rock Chicken?
“Barred Rock” is pronounced just as it looks: bärd rock (rhymes with “hard rock”). It refers to the barred pattern of its feathers and its name as part of the Plymouth Rock breed family.
How long do Barred Rock Chickens live?
With proper care, Barred Rocks can live between 6 to 8 years, and sometimes longer in well-managed backyard environments. Their strong constitution and friendly nature make them one of the most enduring and dependable breeds to keep over time.
How big are Barred Rock Chicken eggs?
Barred Rocks lay large brown eggs, known for their size and quality. A healthy hen will typically produce between 200 and 220 eggs per year, depending on nutrition, environment, and seasonal conditions.
Availability
Available Low Availability Unavailable
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mesquitevalleyfarm –
Just wow! These Barred Rocks are amazing. Great body capacity, fantastic temperament. I’m very glad we received an oopsie rooster because I’m definitely going to make more. He, by the way, is stunning gorgeous and the friendliest to humans rooster on our property! Thanks for some awesome birds!
Crazy Chicken Girl –
I ordered 5 three years ago and still have one. A couple died when they were chicks, one died last year, and one died yesterday. The one I have now is the sweetest little girl, her name is Turkey! She has a malformed back, making her back arch and her tail go up. She still lays four-ish eggs a week.
Thank you for my awesome girls, Cackle!
audra oldham –
Both the Barred and White Rocks we ordered from Cackle this year are turning out to be the friendliest little hens. I’ve raised rocks many times in the past and they are not normally this personable. So it has to be something in this breeding program that makes these that way. Both breeds of rock hens we ordered from Cackle are just the cutest little cookies. So nosey and friendly. Rock roos are fierce though, so order those for eating or if you plan on putting your flock in an area where they may face danger as those fierce instincts really come in handy in the back pasture.
Ruby Anne Heie-Rubley –
I absolutely love my Barred Rocks. We ordered 3 BR pullets and 1 cockerel a year ago. They were all sexed 100% correctly with 100% survival.
The hens are curious, notably smarter than many of the other breeds we currently have, and of the 25 chickens we have one of those BR, Dottie, is by far my favorite chicken. She is curious, very docile, loves to be handled, and yet stays at the top of the pecking order. The BR also tended to develop just a bit faster than the rest of the chicks. Maybe a fluke, but it was impossible to miss. All handled our cold winter (zone 5) perfectly. None have had any health issues. They open range here on our farm and these chickens do very well. Savvy enough to avoid predators, but sweet natured enough to run right up to familiar people. I will say that we tend to find these girls in odd places now and then. Honestly, they are quite the characters.
The only chick we had any issues with was the roo. When he matured, he had some major attitude problems with humans. That may be my own fault as an noob to dealing with cockerels. Regardless, he had to be rehomed. That said, he developed into a gorgeous male who took good care of his hens, and wasn’t rough with them at all. I won’t hesitate to order male or female BR from cackle hatchery in the future.
Janey Welch –
I received my five girls plus one free extra the morning after they were shipped ( along with 8 leghorns and 6 cochins). All are very lively, healthy, thriving and what I call gifted and talented. At only three days of age some of them are already roosting on a low dowl rod. This is my first mail order experience and I’ll never buy from anyone but Cackle Hatchery. No more feed store chickens for me!
April Hodson –
Amazing experience with Cackle Hatchery, I recommend them to all my friends! Great customer service and the barred rock chicks I ordered a few months ago arrived fast, and have been perfect, healthy birds. The sexing was 100% accurate and they sent a free chick. Thank you so much!!!
Martha Dugan –
Ordered from the May 17th hatch. Received all my chicks in great shape and immediately started eating and drinking. Ordered 5 hens and received 7. All 7 now laying an egg a day. The rooster is doing his job well and is very handsome and friendly (for a rooster).
Alberto Escalante Alvarez –
Love the Barred Rock!!
The order came as promised and the chicks were healthy and well! Thank you so much!!!
Lindsay Warren –
I ordered 3 hens along with 3 buff orphingtons. I received 8 healthy chickens. They were friendly sweet birds and I enjoyed them. I’ve rehomed them now because I love silkies and switched to bantams, but they’re doing well and new owners reported one barred rock is sitting on a nest.
RC –
Love my girls
I Love my BR girls I ordered 8 got 9 and every single one was a hen. In my shipment I got 26 birds (3 more then ordered) of Jubilee, sussex and Bared Rock chickens. And every single one lived with only one “guaranteed” hen, out of 12 being a rooster. But he is my favorite so I don’t mind. I have 1 year old twins and they go out and feed the chickens with me and they let them pet them and are very sweet. Will definitely be looking to order from Cackle again for any of my birds. These are some of the healthiest, tamest birds I have ever had the enjoyment of having.
goatface –
Couldn’t be happier
We ordered 3 barred rocks, 6 golden comets and 6 white leghorns (sexed female). They sent us an extra leghorn and comet. All turned out to be healthy females. I waited awhile to write this until I saw results. We started seeing eggs about 5 months later. So far, so good.
Thig9649 –
Happy healthy chicks
I ordered 15 barred rock chicks i got 17 healthy happy little chicks didnt take any time for them to run to the feeder and start eatting and drinking will be ordering from cackle hatchery from now on for my poultry needs
Angus –
Very Hardy
Barred Rocks are my favorite hardy bird. They seem to survive the best of all breeds and their camouflage keeps them safer from predators than others. Good cold weather layers. The only roosters I use is barred rocks. They are tough and live long. Cackle’s birds seem very healthy and hardy.
Holly –
All is well!
My girls ordered some of these for their 2020 fair pens. We live in Michigan and of course they shipped in a middle of a snow storm! We recieved them two days later and all is well so far. Thank you for a good experience.
Roger –
Awesome chickens
I ordered 30 Barred Rock hens and 3 roosters in July and they arrived safe and sound with and extra chick. It’s December and so far they are all doing well and growing big and fat. They are great foragers and free range on my farm. I have been getting 14 eggs a day for about 2 weeks now so when they all come on line I’ll definitely have a lot to sell or trade. The roosters have been crowing for over a month and they all have a different tune they sing. I never noticed that about roosters before and don’t know if that’s normal. Cackle has been my hatchery of choice for the last 6 years and they have always been great folks to deal with.
Mallory C –
Thanks
We ordered 25 chicks in June from Cackle hatchery. 5 Buff Orpington pullets, 5 Barred Rock pullets, 5 White Rock pullets, and 10 Splash Silkies. We received them quickly! Cackle included 1 extra Orpington and 3 extra silkies. We did not lose a single chick. All are thriving and healthy! Thanks Cackle Hatchery!!
Hope S –
Thanks
I adore cackle hatchery! All of our baby chicks arrived safely and healthy as can be, with two extra babies as well to fall in love with. We couldn’t be happier and neither can our 4 month old babies. Time flies when your loving on these awesome Barred Rock chickens. We will be ordering ducklings to add to our flock in spring. I highly recommend cackle hatchery to anyone looking for a safe delivery of very healthy chicks to start or add to their flock!
Lanette G –
Great Service!
Great service!! My chicks arrived quickly and very healthy! I ordered 16 but received 17, 5 buffs, 6 red, 5 barred rock and my special order, Easter egger rooster who is beautiful! Will definitely order from them in the future!
Cory Q –
Thanks
We ordered 8 cinnamon queen hens and 8 barred rock hens, we received 9 of each all alive on arrival and are still thriving now at 6 weeks old. I couldn’t be happier with the chicks.
Thomas –
Best Birds Ever!
I ordered 3 Barred Rock females and got 4 on July 12th, 2019, I have to say these are my favorite breed I got, I ordered a mix of layers. The BR are very intelligent and family friendly my babies are almost a month old and already come to me when I call them. It is so nice that when I enter the coop they run to the door to greet me and when I open the door they jump up onto my lap or into my hand if I hold it out for them.
E –
Very clever
Mine are nearly three months old and are very clever. They are very curious, and this leads them to figure out new things faster than my other breeds. They were in a transition pen while we finished fixing our larger coop and pen, but once they were moved into the final pen, they were the first to learn to go in at night. They also come to me when I make a finger movement to see what I’m doing. I love this breed and I highly recommended them.
McKnight Family –
First to lay eggs
This older variety is both gentle, calm and quiet. They started laying first at only 4 1/2 months. We were surprised! Great foragers. Our Barred Rock rooster protects his girls so well that last fall–he killed an owl!
Sasha –
Love them
My husband surprised me with barred rock chicks for Mother’s Day because these are the breeding recall my mother having.. Very happy very satisfied. We’ll be buying again! Thank you all!
Mason –
Excellent
I order 15 chicks and got them this morning and there was 17 of them. They are all alive and I loved that the packaging was super warm.
Commendable Service and Packing –
Hello
Over the past seven years we have ordered from over a dozen different hatcheries, including (and most often) Cackle. We have ordered from you for years and have always been impressed with the quality of the chicks, and your service which is above and beyond the average. Our most recent order, however, was even more remarkable – they shipped during extreme cold, and not only did they all arrive alive, they were boxed in the most exceptional and thoughtful packing of heat packs and straw pads we have ever seen, courtesy of your packer “Angie M”. All of the chicks from this order have continued to show the high standard of quality and good growth and health we have come to expect from your birds. Please give our regards to the packer of our order and keep up the amazing work. Thank you
Darryl –
Thanks Again
I ordered my Barred Rock chicks (13 hens/2 roosters) on September 23, 2018 with an expected hatch date of the 25th. I received a call from the post office to pick them up on Sept 28th at 0530 in the morning. Unfortunately I had one DOA (hen) but all others were alive and well (13 hens & 3 roosters). Special thanks to Cackle Hatchery for the extra 2 chicks that more than covered my shipping mortality; it was unexpected and greatly appreciated. It’s day 38 now and all 16 of them eating like horses and growing like weeds. I couldn’t be more satisfied with your service and my order. I’ve been handing out the cackle hatchery info to all my friends & neighbors along with my highest recommendation. Thanks Again, V/R Darryl
Deborah –
Thank you!
We ordered our barred rocks, and received all happy healthy babies! We have ordered from cackle hatchery before and they have never disappointed. Not only are they helpful and friendly, they provide all the information you could ever ask for