The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Plymouth Rock chicken
one of the most popular early breeds of poultry. The Barred Plymouth Rock was a favorite farm chicken since it was both a good egg producer and also developed a large quantity of meat. As the demand for white eggs increased, the breed lost popularity. It is still retained for breeding purposes, a popular cross being that of a Barred Plymouth Rock female and a Rhode Island Red male. See Red Rock chicken.