JScott,
The true RIR is rare as hen's teeth. What most folks have is what is commonly called a production red. These are great laying birds and this is what 90% of the hatcheries and feed stores sell as RIR. They are healthy, quick to grow, lay huge eggs, etc. They are very, very popular. The true RIR is so dark and glossy it almost looks black. These can only be gotten from breeders and a lot of the great breeders are on that Heritage Rhode Island Red thread link I sent you.
We've been upgrading and breeding production reds for the past year or two. We really love the birds. I have and will be breeding true, honest to goodness, 100 year old line, of Ringlet Barred Rocks. Heritage. Zebra striped barring that makes your eyes dizzy. Very, very rare and wonderful. Just be aware the raising heritage lines is a very slow process. They take forever to feather and won't begin laying until 30 -34 weeks, in most cases. They rarely lay anywhere near the eggs, per year, that a utility, production strain does. You cannot have your cake and eat it too, I guess.
Meanwhile, because we need to have eggs, (we've lots of kids in the greater family) and the as my wife has a small egg business, we need a utility line or two of great laying hens. Our production reds are one of our production lines. We're excited about them.
The true RIR is rare as hen's teeth. What most folks have is what is commonly called a production red. These are great laying birds and this is what 90% of the hatcheries and feed stores sell as RIR. They are healthy, quick to grow, lay huge eggs, etc. They are very, very popular. The true RIR is so dark and glossy it almost looks black. These can only be gotten from breeders and a lot of the great breeders are on that Heritage Rhode Island Red thread link I sent you.
We've been upgrading and breeding production reds for the past year or two. We really love the birds. I have and will be breeding true, honest to goodness, 100 year old line, of Ringlet Barred Rocks. Heritage. Zebra striped barring that makes your eyes dizzy. Very, very rare and wonderful. Just be aware the raising heritage lines is a very slow process. They take forever to feather and won't begin laying until 30 -34 weeks, in most cases. They rarely lay anywhere near the eggs, per year, that a utility, production strain does. You cannot have your cake and eat it too, I guess.
Meanwhile, because we need to have eggs, (we've lots of kids in the greater family) and the as my wife has a small egg business, we need a utility line or two of great laying hens. Our production reds are one of our production lines. We're excited about them.
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from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. 
Your posts look fine from where I'nm sitting. 
