RIR vs production strain?

[stargazer42605]

I've seen some posts about some RIRs being not a true RIR but a production strain. What's the difference between them? I got 6 RIRs from the TSC and now I'm just curious. I love them none the less though

 

[Michael OShay]

Pure Rhode Island Reds meet the SOP requirements and are produced by reputable breeders. These RIRs have deep bodies, dark mahogany red feathers, profuse black feathering in the tail, and bright yellow legs. Hatcheries are more concerned about high egg production than they are about meeting SOP requirements so they are nearly as careful in the selective breeding of their birds. As a result, there is often little if any difference between their RIRs, NHs, and Production Reds. Technically a Production Red is the offspring of any red gene rooster (RIR, NH, and PR) and any red gene hen (RIR, NH, and PR). On occasion a little White Leghorn has even been added to the mix at some point to boost egg production. Most hatcheries sort their RIRs, NHs, and PRs based on the shade and evenness of the birds red feathers. If the feather color tends toward the darker end (mahogany) and they have some black feathers in the tail, the hatcheries will market them as RIRs. If the feather color tends toward the lighter end (chestnut), the hatcheries will market them as New Hampshires. If the shade of the red feathers is somewhere inbetween, or if the shading is very uneven, or if they lack black feathers in the tail, the hatcheries will market them as Production Reds. And there you have the difference in a nutshell.

 

[Michael OShay]

Pure Rhode Island Reds meet the SOP requirements and are produced by reputable breeders. These RIRs have deep bodies, dark mahogany red feathers, profuse black feathering in the tail, and bright yellow legs. Hatcheries are more concerned about high egg production than they are about meeting SOP requirements so they are nearly as careful in the selective breeding of their birds. As a result, there is often little if any difference between their RIRs, NHs, and Production Reds. Technically a Production Red is the offspring of any red gene rooster (RIR, NH, and PR) and any red gene hen (RIR, NH, and PR). On occasion a little White Leghorn has even been added to the mix at some point to boost egg production. Most hatcheries sort their RIRs, NHs, and PRs based on the shade and evenness of the birds red feathers. If the feather color tends toward the darker end (mahogany) and they have some black feathers in the tail, the hatcheries will market them as RIRs. If the feather color tends toward the lighter end (chestnut), the hatcheries will market them as New Hampshires. If the shade of the red feathers is somewhere inbetween, or if the shading is very uneven, or if they lack black feathers in the tail, the hatcheries will market them as Production Reds. And there you have the difference in a nutshell.

P.S. Your RIRs from TSC would be considered Production Reds by any reputable breeders of RIRs or NHs.