Mangrove Poultry

Plymouth Rock Colours-

Barred-

The Barred Plymouth Rock was the first variety of Plymouth Rock to be created, though the barring is greatly refined now from the earliest birds. The Barred Plymouth Rock is one of the most intricately marked of all varieties of poultry with each and every feather requiring a set of parallel, straight, and even bars from the base of the feather to the very tip. A good Barred Rock is the opposite marking-wise to cuckoo (as in Marans or poorly barred birds), and is extremely attractive as well as a work of art.

Buff-

Buff Plymouth Rocks were originally coloured like Rhode Island Reds, this breed being pivotal to their early development in the USA. The Buff name is most probably derived from their American creator whose surname was ‘Buffington’, though it was fortunate breeders chose to develop the buff plumage colour - a pastel or golden shade of yellow or light orange, rather than stick with red birds.

White-

Large White Plymouth Rocks are currently used as the female line in 95% of the world’s broiler breeding stocks having obvious table qualities and are one of the most successful exhibition varieties in the USA. In the UK, the bantams are more popular and can beat the other colours for Best of Breed at shows on occasion.

Partridge-

Partridge Plymouth Rocks are a beautiful variety with colourful males and intricately marked females. We brought Partridge Plymouth Rock bantams back onto the show scene in the 1990s, using a combination of the late Jim Shaw's stock and continental Silver Pencilleds, winning Best Partridge Plymouth Rock at the National Club show numerous times. They are now doing very well.

Silver Pencilled-

Silver Pencilled Plymouth Rocks are a beautiful variety with colourful males and intricately marked females, that requires double-mating to achieve perfection. We introduced the bantams into the UK in the 1990s as a pullet breeding line and used it with our Partridge bantams for initial improvement. A second line, Cockerel breeders, was imported by a nearby breeder, Ken Griffiths of Peterlee, from Robert Murphy in the USA, and we used this line to improve our exhibition Silver Pencilled and Partridge males.

Columbian-

Columbian Plymouth Rocks in Large fowl and bantam were introduced to the UK in recent years from the USA. They resemble the classic Plymouth Rock type and share their striking markings with Light Brahmas and Columbian Wyandottes.

Blue-

Blue Plymouth Rocks vary between a deep laced blue to a pastel lavender shade of pigeon blue - in all cases, the birds are very attractive. In common with many other Blue varieties, they are not frequently seen. We were pleased to bring the bantams back onto the show scene in the 1990s from stock originally from the late Jim Shaw, and distribute them to other breeders. Newbould's Rocks were the first exhibitors for many years to win Best Blue Plymouth Rock at the National Club Show.

Black-

Black Plymouth Rocks are a variety in their own right and striking in appearance, however, they also appear as sports from Barred Plymouth Rocks (these have much darker leg colour). Confusion is also added by the 'Black Rock', a commercial hybrid originating from a Rhode Island Red x Barred Plymouth Rock mating.