Greathorse I know what saying..
"The thing with the Rhode Island Red that alot of people dont know is that the breed is a Red and not Rhode Island. I think is was best said by Underwood...
The R I Red may be the only breed of poultry that has it's color as part of it's name. In most poultry breeds various colors or color patterns existing within a body type account for the several varieties
found in the breed. Other breeds are generically referred to by their type name such as Rocks, Leghorns, Cochins, Cornish, etc. and then the variety moniker is stuck in front much like a first name is used to identify various members of a human family. But, when we refer to our American breed we use their "family name", we call them Reds; their color not their type distinction.
They are Rhode Island REDS, not red Rhode Islands. They are RED chickens that were developed in the state of Rhode Island, not Rhode Island chickens that happen to be red."
Chris