Difference in RIR chickens

[BUMPKIN]

I have noticed that a couple of the hatcheries are offering dark or single comb RIR. They are a little more expensive. Are these apurer breed? Are the lighter ones not as pure?

 

[tadkerson]

The show quality rhode island red are much darker than utility RIR. Rhode Island red can be single or rose combed.

Tim

 

[BUMPKIN]

Thank you. That's what I had decided. Welp's and Stromburgs both offer the dark red and the "red". The dark ones are not available till spring, tho.

 

[speckledhen]

I would suggest getting the RIRs from a breeder. Here are mine, hatched from eggs from Bama Chicken. Not much more beautiful than a rich, mahogany red RIR. They appear lighter than they are in the second pic due to the bright sunshine.

 

[ginasmarans]

Beautiful!Just beautiful!

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you, Gina. I love looking at them! They are just so richly colored.

 

[mikarod]

*sighs* I do LOVE RIRs...such personalities...love them!

 

[BUMPKIN]

OOH, OOH, I want, Iwant. Speckledhen they are gorgeous! Do you think Bamachicken has some now or will it be spring?

 

[yoker]

My Hatchery RIR's look like Speckledhens.
Does that mean that they are good for breeding?

 

[speckledhen]

If you got some from a hatchery who are almost black like those, you are very lucky! Certainly, use them for breeding. Here are a couple of my hatchery RIRs:

Contrast that with this girl I also hatched from Bama Chicken's stock a couple years ago, now owned by rooster-red: