*POLL* Barred Rocks vs. Rhode Island Red

[Cluckcluck1215]

BR all the way.
My 9 year old girl still lays once in a blue moon

 

[BirdGirl2004]

BR all the way.
My 9 year old girl still lays once in a blue moon

WOW! 9 years old?! That's amazing!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Barred Rock

 

[AlleysChicks]

Love my Barred Rocks. They are the sweetest and most curious birds

I’ve had 2 rounds of those demon red birds. I wanted to love them because they were so pretty mixed in with my other birds, but all 4 were evil creatures. They were all right until they got close to laying age. Then they started to attack members of their flock. So off they went. I know a few people who absolutely love them and don’t have a problem, but I’m swearing them off for good.

 

[LowLady]

I love my rir as much as my barred rocks so I can’t pick !

 

[lissalischicks]

I love my rir as much as my barred rocks so I can’t pick !

X2
I'm just watching the voting and surprised how close it is right now

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Love my Barred Rocks. They are the sweetest and most curious birds

I’ve had 2 rounds of those demon red birds. I wanted to love them because they were so pretty mixed in with my other birds, but all 4 were evil creatures. They were all right until they got close to laying age. Then they started to attack members of their flock. So off they went. I know a few people who absolutely love them and don’t have a problem, but I’m swearing them off for good.

I've never had any RIR, but your description of them makes me want to stay away. I have 2 New Hampshire which are derived from RIR, but they are sweethearts and get along very well in a mixed flock - maybe the evil was bred out of them

 

[MillersFarm]

I'm going to have to say barred rocks, Out of all of the rhode islands and barred rocks i've owned I would definitely have to go with barred rocks... Barred rocks are much more friendly than my RIRs and are wonderful layers, They're also auto sex-able as soon as the fluff out after hatch which is another thing I like about them, For my RIRs they tend to be more skittish than the barreds and i've noticed their egg production slows down noticeably after their second year of laying unlike the barred rocks..

 

[lazy gardener]

I've never met a RIR who was not a mean spirited beastie. I had my first experience with BR last spring, and am enamored with them.

 

[lazy gardener]

However, if you want a nice red bird, I'd recommend Buck Eye. They are bred from RIR base, have a pea comb. Hatchery Buck Eye have a delightful dark shiny mahogany color compared to the washed out coloring of the hatchery RIR. My Buck Eye's are very mellow, well behaved birds, play well with others, and they have the pea comb that is desirable in the cold north. For that matter, if you are in the north, Dominique have a better comb than BR. But BR produces a bigger egg!