Please tell me about your Rhode Island Reds!!

[MamaPoult]

I have 3 Rhode Island Reds that are about 6 months old. I handled them a lot when they where chicks and have had no issues from mine. They are not like my needy Beifielders, but they let me pick them up and pet them and mess with them. They haven't really bullies in my flock either. A couple of my Easter Eggers are the bigger bullies in my flock.

Awww they sound so sweet! Interesting! They look beautiful!

 

[No Coop No Problem]

Don’t get them! They are the meanest birds I have ever owned! Very friendly to humans. Great egg layers but incredibly aggressive!

My reds are respectful to the other breeds here. They're very assertive chickens but I wouldn't call them bullies at all. Maybe it's because they're not confined

Honestly I love my mixes more than any of my chickens. They have the hardiness of the RIR and the friendliness of whatever they are mixed with. My RIR and RIR mixes are by far the smartest of my flock when it comes to predators and staying safe.

My red/game mixes are the most useful chickens here. They're almost as productive as pure reds but they're also far tougher. I've seen this half red here fly 30 feet into a tree to escape a fox. Nothing can catch a RIR game mix

 

[Themellowyellows]

I dont know about you guys my RIRs are very friendly and cuddly and make good eggs, only thing they make lots of noise.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Murderers! Just kidding. A little. It's all about flock dynamics. I have owned one RIR. Her name was Jeep cause she was always going up and over things. My flock back then had two coops and a deluxe run about 20 feet by 4 feet which they never had to stay in and almost an entire acre of wild field to range in. Back then my boss hen was a lovely Salmon Faverolle named Babs. Right around the time Jeep came into lay something started picking off my chickens. Only during the day and only when a bird was away from the flock. Never figured out for sure what it was but Jeep started picking on Babs. Which makes sense cause Faverolles are sweethearts. Had I known better I would have gotten rid of Jeep before she drove Babs away from the flock to be dispatched by the mystery predator. That being said my neighbor has a mixed flock of RIRs and Barred Rocks who are confined to a run and none have been victims of sabotage. They were raised together so maybe that helps. I personally don't do RIRs because I like heitage breeds with nice temperaments or pretty eggs. I don't go for high-volume boss bitches lol

 

[Nicci0110]

Thank you so much for sharing! He sounds like such an amazing boy. Did he have a name?

He does! His name is Henny Penny he survived and is still an amazing boy

 

[Nicci0110]

My reds are respectful to the other breeds here. They're very assertive chickens but I wouldn't call them bullies at all. Maybe it's because they're not confined

My red/game mixes are the most useful chickens here. They're almost as productive as pure reds but they're also far tougher. I've seen this half red here fly 30 feet into a tree to escape a fox. Nothing can catch a RIR game mix
View attachment 3926092

They truly are my best chickens

 

[MamaPoult]

My reds are respectful to the other breeds here. They're very assertive chickens but I wouldn't call them bullies at all. Maybe it's because they're not confined

My red/game mixes are the most useful chickens here. They're almost as productive as pure reds but they're also far tougher. I've seen this half red here fly 30 feet into a tree to escape a fox. Nothing can catch a RIR game mix
View attachment 3926092

Thanks for the reply! It appears that everyone has a different experience with the breed! Wow what a gorgeous bird, thanks for sharing!!

 

[MamaPoult]

I dont know about you guys my RIRs are very friendly and cuddly and make good eggs, only thing they make lots of noise.

Aww, that's wonderful! They sound lovely!

 

[MamaPoult]

Murderers! Just kidding. A little.

It's all about flock dynamics. I have owned one RIR. Her name was Jeep cause she was always going up and over things. My flock back then had two coops and a deluxe run about 20 feet by 4 feet which they never had to stay in and almost an entire acre of wild field to range in. Back then my boss hen was a lovely Salmon Faverolle named Babs. Right around the time Jeep came into lay something started picking off my chickens. Only during the day and only when a bird was away from the flock. Never figured out for sure what it was but Jeep started picking on Babs. Which makes sense cause Faverolles are sweethearts. Had I known better I would have gotten rid of Jeep before she drove Babs away from the flock to be dispatched by the mystery predator. That being said my neighbor has a mixed flock of RIRs and Barred Rocks who are confined to a run and none have been victims of sabotage. They were raised together so maybe that helps. I personally don't do RIRs because I like heitage breeds with nice temperaments or pretty eggs. I don't go for high-volume boss bitches lol

Wow! Definitely some flock dynamic drama going on there. Poor Babs, she sounds wonderful! That sucks that something was picking off your flock, did you ever figure out what it was? Thanks for chiming in and sharing your experience!
I didn't know RIR's aren't a heritage breed, thanks for the enlightenment!

 

[MamaPoult]

He does! His name is Henny Penny he survived and is still an amazing boy

They truly are my best chickens

He is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing!!