Ideal's production reds

[Picco]

Ideal advertises that this variety is prone to canibalism. I'm looking for a good laying red breed that will be calm and get along with the others. I prefer New Hampshires, but my father insists on ordering this production strain that seems like a RI/NH cross. Does anyone have any experience with them? Pictures would be great!

 

[scgamecock]

Excellent layers and a beautiful chicken.Very similar to the RIR I can't hardly tell them apart.Although not quite as friendly,they are wonderful layers and are not very noisy. I have a couple of production red roosters that are very tame and lovable.If large brown eggs is what you want then you will be satisfied.I will order more when I need to replace some.

 

[greyfields]

All the "production reds", "red stars", "red commets", etc. are just Red Sex Links. Each hatchery will have slightly different parent strains for the crosses, but in generally they're all the same thing.

As far as 'prone to canibalism', realize that production birds are kept in egg batteries where canibalism is common due to boredom. If you are raising your birds extensively, I wouldn't worry a bit about that.

 

[scgamecock]

Ideal's production reds are not a sexlink chickens.Both the rooster and hen are red just like a RIR.I have some 6 weeks old chicks that I hatched that are RIR and PR mixed and they look just like my pure bred chicks.

 

[Picco]

Production Reds are a brown egg layer that was developed for efficient production of large brown eggs. Crosses utilizing Rhode Island Reds and New Hampshire Reds were used in the development of this breed, which is Ideal's most efficient producer of large brown eggs. Since they have brittle feathers and because their body size is relatively small for the size eggs that they produce, they are more susceptible to cannibalism and are not recommended for high-density wire laying facilities.

I realize that confinement leads to all sorts of problems, but personalities can too. I'm just wondering if this variety is more aggressive than others. I can't free range but I have plenty of space with a large coop and run. I am also in the process of builing a pasture fence. I just don't want to add some crank birds to the flock. Does anyone have any pictures? Thanks for the imput.​

 

[scgamecock]

I keep mine in a pen all the time.They are great layers and chickens.Production reds are not mean and will get along with any other chickens and never have a problem.The hens are just not the most cuddly things but the roosters are very affectionate if you spend any time with them.The only picture I have at the moment is the pullet in the very bottom of this picture.She looks like a RIR.

 

[Picco]

Thanks. I would like RIRs but since the productions look just like them but lay more I guess I'll stick with them.

 

[chickenranchwife]

Not from Ideal, but from Hoover. They are great egg layers!

 

[scgamecock]

You can't go wrong with PR or RIR. I have them both and there's not much difference in them.They are half RIR and half New Hampshire red.Most people will think you have RIR and they will breed true.You won't be sorry with either one's egg production.

 

[menkot]

I have two and I love mine. One is very very friendly. In fact, I have to shove her out of the way to get the eggs. She will climb up and get as close as she can to me until I pet her. They are not aggressive at all. They are about middle of the pecking order, I think. None of mine ever really fuss so I am not real sure who is where though. They are pretty too. I love the coloring. They are excellent layers.