rhode Island red or production red?

[Bejammie]

I have two red hens. I think they are production red but dont know. Maybe rir or something else? One has darker red feathers and a slightly diff builg than the other, im thinking maybe she is rir??

 

[Wynette]

The darker red one may be a purebred RIR, the other, I can't much tell from the distance of the picture. RIR will have a keel bone that angles back, making their body shape look sort of like a brick when viewed from the side, and that dark red hen certainly fits that profile.

 

[Michael OShay]

They are all Production Reds. None of them have the deep body and profuse black tail feathering of a heritage RIR. Technically speaking, there is little or no difference between hatchery quality RIRs, hatchery NHs, and Production Reds. Hatcheries are more concerned about egg production than they are about preserving SOP standards. If the hatcheries PRs turn out with a darker shade of red feathering (closer to mahogany), they typically market them as RIRs. If their feathering is a lighter shade of red (closer to chestnut), they market them as NHs (or sometimes as NH reds which is a completely incorrect name). If the feathering is somewhere down the middle or very uneven, they market them as Production Reds. Your PRs are dark enough that they might have been marketed as RIRs.

 

[Bejammie]

Thanks I am just trying to verify the breeds so I dont spread misinformation

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks

I am just trying to verify the breeds so I dont spread misinformation

You're welcome.