Chicken Breed Focus Rhode Island Red

[sumi]

Most often when one thinks of Rhode Island Red they are thinking of the Large Fowl Rhode Island Red, as it is one of the oldest known breeds of chicken and was developed mainly in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the mid 1840's. The first birds were bred in Little Compton, RI with the use of a Black Breasted Red Malay cock who was imported from England. This Rooster can actually still be seen on display in the Smithsonian Institution as the father of the breed.

The breed was accepted into the American Poultry Association in 1904.

The breed was developed to withstand the harsh New England winters and be a very hardy bird who produced hens with excellent large egg yields and who also would dress out well and look nice on the table, a true dual purpose bird. While the names and places of origin are the same, the Rhode Island White is actually a distinct breed separate from the Rhode Island Red per the American Poultry Association and will be featured in another Breed Focus thread.

The Rhode Island Red breed comes in both large fowl and bantam size and and single as well as rose comb varieties can be found readily.

Details:

Breed Purpose: Dual Purpose
Comb: Single and Rose
Broodiness: Seldom
Climate Tolerance: Cold
Egg Productivity: High
Egg size: Large
Egg Colour: Brown


Pic by @Scottiemom


Pic by @kathyinmo


Pic by @Chook-A-Holic


Pic by @Chris09

BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/rhode-island

Breed Discussion Threads:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407294/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644420/rhode-island-red-thread/0_30

Do you own Rhode Island Reds? Are you a Rhode Island Red breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

 

[Fentress]

They are a beautiful breed and have played such an important role in our country's poultry history. The third picture down is a good picture of some good looking standard bred RIR Cockerels showing off the correct color for the breed.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I own one RIR! I hatched her 12/24/14. She lost several toe tips and was ill for the first few months of 2015 because it was just so cold!

She is my pet, though at one point I'd like to hatch some X eggs from her. She lays medium oval light brown eggs with white speckles 4-6 days a week.

She follows me around, and whenever I bend over she jumps on my back. I trained her to jump on to my arm when I extend it.

Such a great breed!

 

[hensaplenty9]

We have 3 love them. Huge eggs!

 

[cmom]

Most often when one thinks of Rhode Island Red they are thinking of the Large Fowl Rhode Island Red, as it is one of the oldest known breeds of chicken and was developed mainly in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the mid 1840's. The first birds were bred in Little Compton, RI with the use of a Black Breasted Red Malay cock who was imported from England. This Rooster can actually still be seen on display in the Smithsonian Institution as the father of the breed.

The breed was accepted into the American Poultry Association in 1904.

The breed was developed to withstand the harsh New England winters and be a very hardy bird who produced hens with excellent large egg yields and who also would dress out well and look nice on the table, a true dual purpose bird. While the names and places of origin are the same, the Rhode Island White is actually a distinct breed separate from the Rhode Island Red per the American Poultry Association and will be featured in another Breed Focus thread.

The Rhode Island Red breed comes in both large fowl and bantam size and and single as well as rose comb varieties can be found readily.

Details:

Breed Purpose: Dual Purpose
Comb: Single and Rose
Broodiness: Seldom
Climate Tolerance: Cold
Egg Productivity: High
Egg size: Large
Egg Colour: Brown

BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/rhode-island

Breed Discussion Threads:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407294/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644420/rhode-island-red-thread/0_30

Do you own Rhode Island Reds? Are you a Rhode Island Red breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

I own Rhode Island Reds and Rhode Island Whites. Originally I went to a poultry show and saw some beautiful birds at the show. I had a flock of Production Reds, Red Sex-Links and ISA Browns. I bought 3 dozen eggs from a fellow that told me his birds were Heritage Rhode Island Reds. I did not see any of his birds. I took the eggs home and put them in the incubator and they hatched but they were not anywhere close to the birds I had seen at the show and they appeared to me to be nothing more than Production Reds. At another show I saw a beautiful male and sought out the person that owned him. I met a wonderful person, Matt. He told me all about his birds and the line (Reese) he had. I arranged to get a quad from him at another show coming up. From this quad I have hatched many chicks. About a year ago I got another nice cockerel from him and put him in with some of my females. I have entered some of my birds in shows and have placed very well with them including some champions.

The Rhode Island Whites I got from a person that no longer wanted them. They originally came from Sand Hill Preservation. They are not nearly as popular as the Rhode Island Reds.

 

[Jeanette01]

I don't have them yet but I have a couple RIR coming to me next month.. Cant wait!!

 

[tabary]

Here are some pics of our favorite RIR Ruby as well as some of the girls helping prep a garden

 

[becks1984]

We have a RIR called Ruby too! And another called Rose, both bantams and both by far the bravest & friendliest of all of our chickens

 

[Mmurrell]

I have 5 RIR'S chicks that are going on 7 weeks old. They still had some fluff in this photo.

 

[N F C]

We've had 2 RIR girls in our mixed flock and have really enjoyed them, they have a lot of personality and are good egg layers. One of them, Zam, became the head ring leader of our flock but sadly, we lost her earlier this year. Her sister, Taylor, is still with us and will be 2 years old in December. I wouldn't hesitate to have them again or recommend them to anyone wanting one. Some people say RIR's are aggressive but we have not had that issue with ours.

Here they are with our EE, all about 4-5 months old.


Zam


Taylor