Rhode Island Red Breed Question

[Mirindaj]

I have a question for Rhode Island Red owners. I have a good size flock but will be adding 13 Rhode Island Hens and 1 RIR rooster to the group this summer. I’m looking for any experience/advice on the breed as it’s our first time having them. I’ve been reading conflicting messages from sites from aggressive to sweethearts so I thought I’d ask experienced owners on their opinions rather than just research. Thanks so much in advance!

 

[nuthatched]

That's because chickens are individuals and you can't say, across the board, how they're going to act.

 

[Amer]

In Rhode Island Reds it is dependent on the strain (who bred them).

 

[SE_Gardener]

I have a question for Rhode Island Red owners. I have a good size flock but will be adding 13 Rhode Island Hens and 1 RIR rooster to the group this summer. I’m looking for any experience/advice on the breed as it’s our first time having them. I’ve been reading conflicting messages from sites from aggressive to sweethearts so I thought I’d ask experienced owners on their opinions rather than just research. Thanks so much in advance!

My experience is Rhode Island Red hens can be domineering but when they are the ones being added, there may be some scuffles over pecking order, these hens will settle in close to the top. However future additions to your flock may be met with those Rhode Island Hens getting a little rough with the newbies. If you already have a rooster in your flock, adding a Rhode Island Red potentially could lead to a dual to the death. That's my experience.

 

[SE_Gardener]

In Rhode Island Reds it is dependent on the strain (who bred them).

Production vs. utility strains. The lighter colored production strains are the problem children in my experience. I stick with the dark, dark red mahogany and find them to be more docile, but Rhode Island Reds are not shrinking violets.

 

[mapel walnut]

i have 2 and used to have 3 all from the same place all 3 years old
-SUNFLOWER sweet' shy and cuddly from start to finish
-ELINORE strong willed and fiery but willing to like you
-DO-HICKY curious always the first to try anything new she won a show for best behavior

in my experience they will love you if you will put in the time and effort they can be very affectionate. I highly suggest them.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

I have a question for Rhode Island Red owners. I have a good size flock but will be adding 13 Rhode Island Hens and 1 RIR rooster to the group this summer. I’m looking for any experience/advice on the breed as it’s our first time having them. I’ve been reading conflicting messages from sites from aggressive to sweethearts so I thought I’d ask experienced owners on their opinions rather than just research. Thanks so much in advance!

It depends on the breeding and the handling of the birds. I once got into trouble on here for comparing their demeanor to that of a particular breed of dog. I will say that, while I haven’t had any that are truly docile, and they never come to you unless you have food, they are alright birds. Here are some useful observations and anecdotes:

My first flock of Rhode Island Red were attacked by a raccoon, resulting in multiple deaths, whilst they were still relatively young.

That first flock was housed in a coop surrounded by a run, with another run for solitary confinement when needed.

The run was small, and chickens kept finding ways to escape. One notable escape artist was Angel, a bird who survived a fight with a dog, and became the head hen, despite being rather small. She tried to eat my toes once, almost gouged out my eyes with her beak, and frightened my older brother so much he didn’t go out to the coop anymore. She also lived with a rather nasty looking exposed shoulder joint, due to the aforementioned dog attack.

The first flock had no roosters.

The first flock was culled entirely when I moved, due to rehoming issues, and the fact that the Rhode Island Red hens displayed cannibalistic tendencies. (They tried to eat the broiler birds that they were housed with, and are suspected of killing an Americana)

My current flock has many Rhode Island Reds, as well as some mixes.

In my current flock, I have 2 hens that can be picked up, although they do not seek humans, and seem mildly annoyed upon being petted.

Some of the barn mixes are nice, and some (particularly the two half Maran boys) may bite and/ or squawk loudly and recoil when touched.

The hatchery standard Rhode Island Red rooster is very rough with the females, pulling more feathers than my Plymouth Barred Rock. This Rhode Island Red is also less likely to call his hens to food, and seems more interested in other rooster’s hens than his own, overall seeming very possessive and power hungry. But that’s what roosters are like sometimes. (I ordered pullets, but some got eaten by a wild animal, and Rainbow was the one in ten chance that they were labeled wrong at the hatchery )