Rhode Island Reds OR are they?

[nuthatched]

Can you elaborate on production reds please? And are you saying the one in the pic is a rooster? If so how can you tell at 4 weeks? Thsnk you for your response.

Production reds are sexlink birds bred for high egg production, they typically die from reproduction issues by age 3, unfortunately. Sex links are created by breeding opposite color parents together, the girls look like the sire and the males will look like the dam. I.E Barred x red, white x red, since they are red sex link, the boys will be lighter than the girls, like your little cockerel there and his comb gives him away too.

 

[nuthatched]

Production reds aren't sex-links. They are birds bred down from RIRs to produce more eggs. They are often a lighter rusty/orangey red color vs the deep red of a RIR. A RIR should be almost mahogany in color, and built more solidly (dual purpose breed).

Time will tell. Unless you specifically order heritage RIRs, most hatchery stock Production Reds and RIR are extremely similar.

Ok, that's good to know, thank you!

 

[utefan47]

Production reds aren't sex-links. They are birds bred down from RIRs to produce more eggs. They are often a lighter rusty/orangey red color vs the deep red of a RIR. A RIR should be almost mahogany in color, and built more solidly (dual purpose breed).

Time will tell. Unless you specifically order heritage RIRs, most hatchery stock Production Reds and RIR are extremely similar.

Such great information. Thank you!

 

[ChickenLady66]

Hello: So I'm new to this. I picked up 14 RIR chicks at the local Wilco in March and have raised them now to laying hens. I will qualify that to say several are laying, it's a process as they are young (I've gotten appx 12 pullet eggs in the last week and all are in good shape). I love the RIR. They are docile, calm, they seem to really like each other, they are friendly to me and they are supposed to be good layers and good meat chickens. I did my homework . Three weeks ago I decide to go all in and get more because I have the space and I hear times are going to get tough. I'm building another coop. I picked up 15 more RIR. Well they have turned out to be holy terrors and they are only 4 weeks old (HA!). They are large and gangling, with long necks and they are wild, running all over the two tanks I have them in ( I separate them into groups of 7 or 8 in each 70 gallon stock tank) screeching, pecking at each other, it's like high anxiety, easily startled, unfriendly. I mean, I just did not experience this with the previous group. They do not look like they are shaping up to be the true RIR. Thoughts?View attachment 3176403

The first group of RIR I raised were wild and skidish. Never have been friendly I got them at 4 weeks old. Good he
ns but they are not pets. The next group i incubated and they are a lot sweeter and friendly. Just the chickens are different just like every thing else, different personalities. Just keep on handling them as much as possible. That is a RIR rooster in your hand. Good luck.

 

[All4Eggz]

The one in the front right corner, or the one just behind him with his beak going out of the edge of the photo? Or is it one of the other ones, that I wasn't sure about?

These two are very likely cockerels.

 

[Iluveggers]

I think you may have gotten “straight run” the second time around instead of “pullets”. I see lots of probable roos in the babies. That would definitely cause differences in behavior from the first group.

 

[utefan47]

Agreed, a total of 6 males in the 2 and 3rd pictures. And yes, your pullets are very pretty.

At this age the the cockerels will be fighting for dominance, as well as the hens. Howerever, becuase you have quite a few cockerels, this will make it worse. I would say this is the reason for their behavior. At this stage of their life it is not unusual for them to become more skitish as they are growing their first true feathers and hormones are kicking in.

Whyyyyyy. SIX??? Just kidding. Its like watermelon, it's a risk going in. Thank you for your input. I'll keep you posted. I hope you are wrong. Ha!!

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

They're all what I would call Production Reds. Some people like the idea of having Rhode Island Reds and can call them hatchery-quality Rhode Island Reds. That's personal preference as far as I'm concerned. I highly recommend heritage RIR. They're such great birds with great temperaments as well. Very calm, gentle, and quite beautiful! The rose comb variety is also quite nice to prevent frost bite!

 

[Painted Calls]

where can I get heritage RIR? I mean I know you wouldn't specifically for my area, but how does one go about it? Thank you.

I have absolutely zero experience with hatcheries, especially this one, but in their description it says they breed to the standard.
https://www.strombergschickens.com/rhode-island-red-chicks

 

[artbykarenehaley]

I agree that there are four cockerels in the first picture and two in the third. We have no way of knowing if the two in the third photo are featured in the first photo?

Your higher count of males will affect the behavior of the group.did you get these chicks at an older age than the original group? Younger chicks will imprint on you faster and tend to behave a lot more like you are their mother hen. You'll get there though with enough handling.