The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[Robert Blosl]

When it comes to pictures of Rose Combs all lined up to look at like looking at chickens at a show I don't know of any. I even with the hundreds of pictures of reds in my computer do not has this ability. I do have them in my head. If you can get some chicks either from Gary Underwood or Aaron or eggs or something they are about as good as I can think of to start with.

Now if you do get ten chicks say from each person raise them up on your farm and then compare to see what strain you like best. Get rid of the other strain and move foreword.

Do not cross the two lines or you will spend five years cleaning up the mess you caused yourself. If you want to do this then do so. You will join the famous here today gone tomorrow club of red fancier's.

Contact Gary or Aaron and try to get something if you can. If you don't live to far from make a road trip to their home. I drove 300 miles to Gary's house stayed over night and came home with five dozen eggs 22 years ago. Learned a lot with him as every awake moment was talking reds.

Aaron has a good line of reds as far as I can see. They came from Radamaher from Minn.

So jump in and just try to get you some.

 

[flowerchild59]

Where did Gary Underwood get his start of his reds, and his rosecomb reds?

 

[NYREDS]

Where did Gary Underwood get his start of his reds?

From is father-it's a very old line.

 

[melroseladi]

Where did Gary Underwood get his start of his reds, and his rosecomb reds?

George Underwood got his Reds as chicks in the spring of 1914, so next spring it will be 100 years. There is an article in the Chronicle July 2002 page 15 that has Gary's biography that you may find interesting.

Penny

 

[catdaddyfro]

Here are chicks from Dick Horstman...I have 9, They are so friendly I have one that loves to be held and tries to hop out of the brooder to get to me and will come running when he sees my hand enter the brooder. Sorry these aren't the best pictures, They are just a little bigger now and will post more as they grow for people to see. I find it very interested to see chicks and adults from carious lines/breeders at different ages.

You will like them, mine are very nice RIRs don't know how they measure up to the show type reds(never had and or seen any real RIRs till these) but utility and farm use wise they are good to go and so docile/laid back you will be amazed for sure.

Jeff

 

[Robert Blosl]

Quote: His father was a great breeder from Custer Park Illinois Google that one and see how big it is. His father when he got up in his mid eighties or so said to Gary I think I screwed up and got them inbreed. Cant get them to hatch like I use to must of screwed up my punches and so then Gary took over them and said to improve fertility and hatchability he crossed of all things production reds on to them. That did it they started to hatch then he had the job of getting them back to dark color and type. I don't know how long that took but when I came along about 22 years ago and saw his flock they where dark and brick shape. These are single combs.

When it came to Rose Combs he told me he crossed some Rose Comb bantams onto his large fowl and got the comb started. He then breed them up to size and again I have no idea how long that took as he weaved back and forth into his large fowl single combs to do this.

I had a Rose Comb ckl that I hatched from his eggs he gave me that had breast feathers that where so tight that they would not lay down on a three by five card when I saved the feathers for samples. This was a common thing back in the sixty's as old breeders would send you feather samples of their birds. George had the color and more than anything he had solid green tails not only on the outside but when you turned them up side down they where green to the quill. He also had correct ticking on his females no lacing or stripes just a little tiny bit of green on the tip of the female hackle feathers.

So there you have it. That's what I remember.

I think if I had fertility problems I would crossed my dads old strain onto the top line of large fowl reds and at that time it was E W Reese Jr., in Georgia the old Donaldson line. It was pure never crossed with anything and I think it would have saved a lot of time and money.

If you get a chance to talk to Gary he is Mr. Color in R I Reds. He taught Biology in school and was a genetic wizard with colors.

Talking to him as a rookie was tough as you sometimes did not understand what he was telling you as it went over your head. I just tried to gather all I could and apply it with my breeding. He was installed into the Rhode Island Red Club Hall of Fame about ten years ago. You should enjoy his strain of Reds as I would get some in a heart beat.

 

[immyjay54]

Where did Gary Underwood get his start of his reds, and his rosecomb reds?

Anyone wanting to know about the Underwood line of birds can go to my site, http://jimspetsandpoultry.weebly.com , when you get to my site click on Underwood birds page and you will find out all you need. It is a very interesting read. I love it and have read it over and over.
Jim

 

[peachdawg78]

Now that is some very interesting information on some of the most prominent RIR lines. It is awesome that you are able to give such detailed empirical data on such a nice sampling of lines. Thank you for the link and the info.

 

[immyjay54]

Now that is some very interesting information on some of the most prominent RIR lines. It is awesome that you are able to give such detailed empirical data on such a nice sampling of lines. Thank you for the link and the info.

Thank you so much for your kind comment.
Jim

 

[cmom]

Still looking for a Rose Comb cockerel for my girls.