Rhode Island Red

There aren't enough words to describe how wonderful these chickens are. We have six hens in our flock of over 150 chickens. These were the first hens I placed in our cart earlier this year from a major hatchery in Iowa. They seem to be on the smaller size when compared to our Buff Orpingtons and Barred Plymouth Rocks, which is fine for us since we run a no-kill farm.

The Rhode Island Reds were not my favorites or even close when we first got them. They seemed a bit blank in the personality department, especially when compared to the Barred Rocks, which are ALL personality and winners. But over these last few months, the RIRs have really won me over.

They began laying at 20 weeks. Their eggs started out quite small in a friendly café au lait color. At about six months old, their eggs went from petite to grande. Always extra-large or jumbo, these eggs have firm whites that hold their shape and yolks that are bright orange and stand at attention. They are truly fabulous layers of works of art.

The hens are soft and personable, loving their cuddle time. They are independent and not beggars for food and treats but more so lovers of affection. They jump into my arms when I bend over and never try to get free. They used to be a bit skittish but not anymore. They were hatched March 26th and it's now November 4th. I'd say this growth in affectionate personality began about a month ago, at about six months of age.

We never see them pecking at other hens or having any pecking order issues. They are just perfect hens in our peaceful flock. All of our hens and roosters love them.

As far as free ranging, they range a respectable distance from the coop without worrying us. Our Buffs tend to range a bit far for our liking. They are always home in the coop safely before the threat of darkness falls upon the farm. This brings peace to our family as we can always depend on the Rhode Island Reds to be counted in full first. They're home early to reserve their nightly roost.

And their plumage...GORGEOUS! They look as though they've been to the salon to get a cellophane treatment. Their feathers shine like the sun with what looks like a liquid gloss. They're dark brown with flame red highlights. To some, they might seem boring. But to a more piercing eye, they are brilliantly shaded and designed to sheer perfection.

I honestly can't say enough good about these hens. They are certainly one of my favorite breeds and well worth the reputation they've earned.

http://dominant-cz.cz/produkt/dominant-red-d-853/?lang=en

The best strain of the breed when it comes to eggs.

My very first chicks as a kid were Rhode Island Reds and I have adored the breed ever since. Over the course of my life I have ALWAYS had Rhode Island Reds because there is so much to love about them. I have never had a poor experience with hens or roosters. Even Rhode Island Red cross-breeds are great. The only negative thing I can think of is that some strains are short lived.

I have two of them and they both have so much personality and always run to me when I go to them! They are so gentle and lay of lot of big eggs!!!!

This is my first "firsthand" experience with raising chickens. We purchased our RIRs at about 3 days old. We raised them in the house in ever expanding boxes until it was warm enough to put them in a coop. We did take them out on sunny days to play in the yard in a metal puppy pen. They love to free range and pick and scratch everything. They follow us around thinking we might scare up some vittles for them some how. If my husband is digging anything, they know that is an opportunity and flock to his side. They give us hours of entertainment. They jump on our laps for rubs and hugs. When they started squatting upon approach was the sweetest. However, if a bird was not raised with them, they are very intolerant and almost bullying. They chase them around for the fun of it. They do not hurt them, just bully them. 10 hens, 10 eggs per day - the little white egg is from my Leghorn.

After a year of owning two Rhode Island Reds, I'd have to say I won't get them again.

While good at fending for themselves, they haven't made great pets (least tame of my hens) and tend to lay small eggs. They do well within the flock, but their foraging instincts make them more destructive than any of my other hens. If you don't keep them in a run, prepare to say goodbye to your lawn and garden.

All around good birds. Very docile and easy to manage. I fell in love with chickens all over again when I got them. I also learned more about handling them and taking care of them when I got this breed. Because they’re so easy to manipulate I learned how to palpate the birds to determine breast size, girth at wings, breast bone width, and laying bone!? spacing, lol.

It’s a perfect starting out breed. If you’re not sure what breed to go with, you almost can’t go wrong with RIR’s. Even the rooster is fairly docile. Very prolific eggs layers of medium to large brown eggs. One thing they don’t like is being interrupted in the nest box, and they will actually YELL at you in sort of an angrily surprised yet comical high pitched voice, almost like you walked in on a butt naked woman in the rest room. Haha! Smallish frame for meat, but could do in a pinch, but the real bonus of these birds is how friendly and mild mannered they are. Two thumbs up. Get some!!

I love my RIR- Poppy. She has lots of personality, but can be a bit bossy.

We've had easter eggers, cuckoo marons, barred rocks, orpingtons, and wyndotts. Hands down, the rhode island red is the best chicken we've ever had. Both males and females are super friendly. They'll hang out with us all day long, sit on our laps, shoulders, even our head!! They even follow us around the yard like dogs. Can't imagine not having this breed around. Not to mention, pretty much nothing lays more eggs.

FYI - We live in upstate NY, closer to Canada than NYC. Our summers will hit the 100's with relatively high humidity, and our winters can easily hit -30. These guys do great in all of it.

Breed is much heartier than stated. They are a handful, just like any redhead

Don't know if we just lucked into a truly odd rir or if they are like this but ours is the LOUDEST hen we have ever had. Not suitable for residential situations at all. She is easily frightened, mean, and will attack if you startle her. When she lays we get about 2 a week because she pecks into them before we can get them. She has ruined up to 3 eggs a day for us by going around to different nesting boxes and pecking the eggs. Mean to bantam hens.

My birds are just lovely I plan on purchasing more Reds...

They do well in a run, pastured or free ranged with great egg laying ability all year round. Easily cared for and very undemanding though they are known to be aggressive with other flock mates. Well worth trying them out and come in two varieties, Commerical and Heritage.

Rhode Island Reds are dependable layers of large red-ish brown eggs. They make a great pet if tamed at a young age. I would not recommend raising them for meat or for sitting on eggs. They do well in cold weather if a shelter/heat source is available. On a scale of “not cold” hardy-“cold hardy” they are in the middle.
All round they are very nice birds

My Rhode Island's are very docile and sweet, Big Red even lets me hold her and pet her. Everyday I know I'm going to find big brown eggs from these girls. If you're in it for the eggs, these are your go-to girls!

We bought a large carton of unsexed Road Island Red chicks over the Summer. They turned out to be about half female, half male. The males we raised over the summer and butchered. They make great chicken soup for the winter.
The females started laying at 21 weeks. At 6 months they are laying eggs that are almost large. I get about 6 eggs per week, per hen.
They are beautiful, friendly birds. When I come in the coop, at meal times, I get a rapt audience that follows me around the yard.
When I collect the eggs I have had a few that will squawk at me and run off, but I've never had a hen peck at my hands or feet.

We have always had a few RIR hens in our mixed layer flock. They have been among our most reliable layers, even through the winter. They have proven to be hardy in all types of weather and have been resistant to any disease outbreaks we have had over the years. They are a bit noisy around the coop, especially when laying as others have noted, but that is not of concern to us, and actually it's kind of nice to be alerted to eggs in the box. It may be more of an issue in a neighborhood with ordinances. Our RIR are good garden companions, chatting and following us around, always on alert for insects and other morsels of food. They are excellent tillers, and we turn the garden and mulch beds over to them in the fall. Overall, we plan to always have some of these in our flock.