The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[daxigait]

That post reads like a Greek tragedy. So sad...   

We need to... no... we have to fix that. 

x2

 

[waddles99]

Yeah, Toni's second bird was a cull sale bird.  It's common enough to just coop in stuff like that than it is to mess around on the sales floor sometimes.  LF Reds are rare in the NorthEast.  At the largest, most prestigious North East Poultry Congress, there were only 3 LF Reds this past year.  

In case folks doubt just how rare these LF Reds have become, that's about all you need to know.  In the region where the bird was first created and named after a state in that region as well.    Three, just three LF Reds in show.  Says it all pretty much.

I figured as such. We were looking at the reds before judging started and were discussing the placing of those birds. The person in charge of the show told me whenever he sees a RIR entry, he always cringes since he expects to see production reds entered. People who go to the shows always ask what breed the birds are, then when I answer, they always say they've never seen a red that dark.

So far I only have the one hen. She was somebody's cull. Toni said if I ever found a good couple of girls she would give me a cockerel.

This was the one I entered:

I was debating on going to Northeastern. I don't think my birds are good enough for the drive, lol.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Focus on learning the breed and getting into a position to breed quality birds. That's what all this MUST be about. Dozens of breeds have ceased to exist in meaningful quality and in enough numbers that one could pronounce them virtually gone. May be some breeds do need to go extinct. Maybe there is not enough interest in Large Fowl anymore. I don't know.

For certain, preservation and growing more interest in the venerable Rhode Island Red was the purpose of this thread's creation.

 

[waddles99]

Focus on learning the breed and getting into a position to breed quality birds.  That's what all this MUST be about.   Dozens of breeds have ceased to exist in meaningful quality and in enough numbers that one could pronounce them virtually gone.  May be some breeds do need to go extinct.  Maybe there is not enough interest in Large Fowl anymore.  I don't know.

For certain, preservation and growing more interest in the venerable Rhode Island Red was the purpose of this thread's creation.  

At least where I am, the interest is definetly there. So many people ask me where I got my bird and if I sell such birds. It isn't really a matter of interest for them, it's a matter of getting such birds. There are no way to get them around here. Who wants to pay $150 to ship a single bird? There are few breeders in NJ/PA area, I can only think of a couple and none of them really sell birds to the general public. There are only 2 people who bring real reds to shows. Toni and another person from central Jersey. 3 if you count me.

The big ones around here are orpingtons, Ameraucana, and a handful of bantam breeds.

If I can help it, I would breed RIRs for the rest of my life.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Here the shows are mostly Silkies.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Focus on learning the breed and getting into a position to breed quality birds. That's what all this MUST be about. Dozens of breeds have ceased to exist in meaningful quality and in enough numbers that one could pronounce them virtually gone. May be some breeds do need to go extinct. Maybe there is not enough interest in Large Fowl anymore. I don't know.

For certain, preservation and growing more interest in the venerable Rhode Island Red was the purpose of this thread's creation.

I can see where bantams would appeal to more people because smaller birds with smaller appetites can be fit in larger numbers in smaller places. Most people would rather buy their chickens already packaged rather than go through all the trouble of raising meat birds from chicks. It's just more "convenient". People who want "pretty birds" buy ornamental breeds, and people who want backyard layers buy birds focused on egg production. In other words, people are just plain lazy. Just my 2c...

 

[Fred's Hens]

At least where I am, the interest is definetly there. So many people ask me where I got my bird and if I sell such birds. It isn't really a matter of interest for them, it's a matter of getting such birds.

The question is; What kind of interest? In my experience with Standard bred poultry over the last years, this is the fine line that gets lost in such discussions. Lots of interest in buying but very little interest in committing to actually breeding to the standard. This remains something of genuine concern.

Yup. We unfortunately see that kind of interest everyday and my phone messages pile up with them, especially a month before fair time. Essentially, the request is for "show quality RIR" (sic) for their kiddos to show at the fair or 4H. Go to the generic Reds FB page. You'll see the ISO listings for yourself. Yup. So, indulgent moms or dads plunk down the bucks to mail order in a bird or two in for junior to show, lest his precious self esteem be irreparably damaged somehow. I know 4H and Junior poultry has other educational benefits, but let's not confuse those plusses with anything that substantially improves the plight of Standard bred, Large Fowl poultry.

Buy a pretty ribbon for the kiddo. In far too many cases, that's about all it amounts to, sadly. The tone of many of those callers is pretty incredible too, as it they somehow are entitled to buy a top bird, for what is essentially a dead end future. And, all they usually want is a "hen" (don't ya know that all young females are "hens" LOL) and they absolutely don't want a "roo". They envision the bird being an egglayer in their backyard after the fair I suppose. I've had those parents get all righteously indignant with me on the phone because I insist on only selling breeding pairs or they don't leave the farm. How dare I be so rude and disrupt their sense of entitlement? It sure separates out the committed folks from the "buy the kiddo a ribbon" people. LOL

Sorry to sound a bit negative, but if you had to field all these kinds of inquiries like some of us have, and you've seen those "kiddos" at the fair or junior shows, your enthusiasm level for any of it is considerably more than a quart low on our dipsticks.

As Bob used to say, "here today, gone tomorrow". The kid may get his ribbon, (which when he goes off to college he won't give hoot about anyhow), But it doesn't do a blessed thing for the breed.

BTW, while Toni showed those birds, they belong to a couple of 13 year old juniors name Heather and Laura who do all their own breeding, selecting, culling, chores, and conditioning. The week previously, the girls won HUGE at the Bath NY show. That is what I’m talking about.

OK, the old curmudgeon is gonna go crawl back into his cave now.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

I so agree with that on the "buy the kid a ribbon" bit.

I had someone ask me about that too... they got nothing. Told them if it is good enough for a fair it stays here to make more and if it isn't it is my food.

Fred how did you KNOW in the beginning I WASN'T 'one of those" anyway?? What made you choose to help me get started and know I WOULD gladly help with breeding them and stick with it?:/

 

[cmom]

I have a broody sitting on a golf ball.

 

[waddles99]

People are lazy. They don't want to put in the effort, they want to buy a fully conditioned bird and then stick it in a cage the next day. They're perfectly fine with passing off somebody's work as their own.

That's smart only selling pairs. That way you can weed out the backyard people who can't keep the "Roos". Some people even have the audacity to ask me if I would sell the birds in the cages!

Of course, I know my bird is a cull. I don't think my setup is worth having anything else. I have 2 coops. One for layers and show birds, and one for cockerels. When I graduate from high school, hopefully I can set up breeding pens and conditioning cages and get some good breeding stock.

Until that day, I'm perfectly happy losing to people who actually put the work in and breed their own birds.

My little cull is just my 4H project and just a good introduction to better quality reds.