ISA Brown/Rhode Island

[Trevor S]

In my short time raising chickens, I have become quite fond of the ISA Brown hybrid (due in part to the fact that I purchase my chicks from Tractor Supply and they always have an abundance). I know that these birds are a hybrid of a Rhode Island Red and a Rhode Island White. That being said, I've heard a couple of people call the Rhode Island Browns. Is this nickname commonly used? Is it appropriate? I'm mostly asking because I kind of like it better than ISA Brown but I wouldn't want to use it without it being accurate!

 

[KadeSilkies21]

I have never heard of any other name but ISA Brown however it may be different from where you are from. Asking your locals will help give you an accurate answer.

 

[NorthGeogia]

I've had ISA Browns and they are incredible producers of very large eggs. They were developed for ultra egg laying production and they have no fear of predators. I drove my car over one by accident, as she had no fear of the car. I also couldn't keep them away from the dogs or cats food. They had no fear of either animal. I couldn't keep them off the porch and they left a mess.
If you want friendly, incredibly productive layers...they're the ticket!

Here's some info on the breed....

The ISA Brown is a hybrid type of Sex Link chicken. It is thought to have been the result of a complex series of crosses including but not limited to Rhode Island Reds and Rhode Island Whites, and contains genes from a wide range of breeds, the list of which is a closely guarded secret.[1] The ISA Brown is a hybrid, not a true breed, developed by breeding unrelated "dam" and "sire" lines together until the final result. It is known for its high egg production of approximately 300 eggs per hen in the first year of laying.[2]



Free range ISA Brown hens at CERES Community Environment Park. The hen in the foreground has no white in ruff or tail and may be a different breed.
History
ISA stands for Institut de Sélection Animale, the company which developed the hybrid in 1978 for egg production as a battery hen. In 1997, the ISA Group merged with Merck & Co., forming Hubbard ISA, [3] so the hybrid is sometimes called Hubbard Isa Brown. In 2005, Institut de Sélection Animale (ISA) and Hendrix Poultry Breeders (HPB) merged in ISA B.V., which also became part of the multi-species breeding company, Hendrix Genetics. In March 2005, Hubbard was purchased from Merial Ltd by Group Grimaud La Corbiere, SA.