Is this a Rhode Island Red?

Status
Not open for further replies.

lisa25

In the Brooder
7 Years
Sep 20, 2012
27
1
34
Victoria, Australia




I am wondering if anyone can identify this chook. I bought her about a month ago at an auction where I was told she was a Rhode Island Red. She seems very small and surprisingly she laid an egg today (her first since I've had her), cream coloured with tiny white dots. I'm guessing she is some type of cross breed. She's lovely and I don't care if she's RIR or not but I'd like to know what she is. Let me know if this photo isn't good enough, it's the first time I've uploaded a photo to a post here.
 
Breeds.

Chickens are chickens. They don't know or care about being a breed or not. Breeds are a human invention. A group of breeders have an idea about a chicken to look a certain way, to have certain attributes like laying or big body for meat and such fanciers work together to mix 3 or 4 foundational breeds together. Once the goal is achieved and for many, many years the "mix" breeds true, that is reproduces that same, replicated bird, these fanciers then show off their new creation at fairs, shows and other venues.

An application is then made to a poultry association, which here in the US is the American Poultry Association. A "standard" is written, that is a list describing all the features of the bird, in great detail. An idealized drawing is made of the new breed.
Once all this is voted upon, the breed is accepted. Any bird said to be that breed must match up to the Standard established. If presented at a show, and the bird does not match that standard to large enough degree, it is disqualified and is not recognized as that breed.

Thus, your bird may commonly be said to be a Rhode Island Red, but honestly? And because you asked? No. It is too far from type or too far off from the standard.

None of this matters to the bird at all. If it is healthy and lays eggs? You're probably just fine with that.
 
Thanks Fred. You confirmed what I thought. I'm pretty new to all this, so would like to learn as much as I can. And yes she is healthy and happy and gorgeous. She is laying but I don't even care about that, my chooks are my pets just like my dog and he lays no eggs at all!
 
Thanks Fred. You confirmed what I thought. I'm pretty new to all this, so would like to learn as much as I can. And yes she is healthy and happy and gorgeous. She is laying but I don't even care about that, my chooks are my pets just like my dog and he lays no eggs at all!
thumbsup.gif
 
That's a Rhode Island Red, I have 10 (from different places, all said they were RIR) and they are identical to yours
Then they are not true to the breed. They are often called Production Reds on here, because they don't meet the standard for the breed.

_MG_6211.jpg

This is a Rhode Island Red - take note of the mahogany colouring, and the type - which is 'brick shaped'

IMG_1439.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom