The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[djohnsonlpc]

Geezzz I got to get this posting down. I can raise chickens better than I post, I will definitely heed you advice and read the article. That is all good information.

 

[RedRidge]

I should have several good birds available at the Knoxville ABA show in December,but I hope all but the keepers are gone by then.

It's great to know there is someone knowledgeable close to me (I'm close to Chatt).
I was hoping to find someone to help me analyze my birds this fall and have been trying to find someone to impose upon.

At the very least I thought when the time got closer I'd begin posting pics to attempt to learn what I have.
I am not new to chickens, but have never shown them (although I've shown dogs, sheep and cattle).
I have decided if I'm gutsy enough to show in Knoxville this fall, but I'll be there regardless.
My RC from Gary Underwood are 8 weeks old now... I'm beginning to think I have about 10 pullets and 10 cockerels.
My biggest goal isn't necessarily to show... although I understand that's a great way to learn.
I simply want to learn as much as I can about structure and type.

 

[Jake Levi]

An off note. Look what I found in the nesting box the other day. Had it's mouth around an egg. I grabbed it by the back of the head and squeezed. The egg slide right out.

It's like, your not eating my dang eggs stupid snake.

Other then a garter and corn snake this is about the only kind I would leave alive on my place, and we dont have the corn snakes up here that I know of. But, with these you have to have wire that they cant get through, these are great mousers. And relatively docile to handle, I amNOT a snake fan, but will live and let live with these, as long as they stay out of my pens, this one is pushing it big time.

I am looking forward to adding some HRIR to my little group, soon I hope, eggs or chicks. Do want from show quality stock.

 

[RedRidge]

Other then a garter and corn snake this is about the only kind I would leave alive on my place, and we dont have the corn snakes up here that I know of. But, with these you have to have wire that they cant get through, these are great mousers. And relatively docile to handle, I amNOT a snake fan, but will live and let live with these, as long as they stay out of my pens, this one is pushing it big time.

I am looking forward to adding some HRIR to my little group, soon I hope, eggs or chicks. Do want from show quality stock.

I agree... black snakes are supposed to be "good", but I can only tolerate them so far.
My husband has a saying... "We have 2 requirements to living here - you have to have shoulders and you have to have a job!"

 

[Robert Blosl]

http://bloslspoutlryfarm.tripod.com/id67.html

Here is the article I was talking about This would work not only with Reds but any breed you wanted to start out with.

If your birds are very small and not mature you don't have to show them you could bring them to the show and have Steve look at them for you and then put them back into your truck. In showing its pretty simple you just enter your birds as one or two pullets or ckls and put them in the cage and that is it. They are feed and watered by the show staff and after the show you take them out and take them home.

The nice thing about showing if you can afford to make the trip is to compare your birds with others. However, if you can not go Steve should have a nice exhibit of birds alone to learn what you should be looking for. He has very good all around R I Reds.

http://www.red-ridge-farm.com/red_ridge_farm_web_page8_003.htm


I went to your web site and saw your nice sheep and Dexter Cattle. I also, saw your Rhode Island Red chick.

You can see the comparison of quality in your stock. You have top of the line cattle and sheep. You sheep win well at shows. Does it not make sense folks who lurk on this thread to see the contrast in quality of animals. It cost just as much to feed a poor quality bird a production red as a Standard Breed Rhode Island Red.

That is the whole purpose in starting this thread three years ago. Glad for your interest please help populate the real Rhode Island Rds.

 

[RedRidge]

http://bloslspoutlryfarm.tripod.com/id67.html

Here is the article I was talking about This would work not only with Reds but any breed you wanted to start out with.

If your birds are very small and not mature you don't have to show them you could bring them to the show and have Steve look at them for you and then put them back into your truck. In showing its pretty simple you just enter your birds as one or two pullets or ckls and put them in the cage and that is it. They are feed and watered by the show staff and after the show you take them out and take them home.

The nice thing about showing if you can afford to make the trip is to compare your birds with others. However, if you can not go Steve should have a nice exhibit of birds alone to learn what you should be looking for. He has very good all around R I Reds.

Thanks oodles... yes I have read that article of yours many times and have it printed out. Thank you.

I am a member of the club putting the show on... I have never been to a show though. I will see if I can get in touch with Steve and see what I can learn this fall.
I have my eye on a few birds who "at this point" stand out to me... but I lack the confidence to make those decisions alone.
This thread has been invaluable to me... I really appreciate all who contribute here.

 

[djohnsonlpc]

There are many people who have very nice Standard Breed Large Fowl in the South. Bobby in North Carolina is the Dist Three Director for the Red Club has nice birds, Steve in Georgia and Matt in Alabama has some great birds. Chris in Louisiana has some great Reds and so many more that I can think of right now. What I would do is get me a note pad and take notes, be patient and go to some shows and see the birds, take video's of them and pictures side ways, over the top to check out width of back in front from the rear shots ect. If you want to show them make sure you get a strain or two that has good type. Most have very good color or dark even color.

I wrote a article on how to get stared with RI Red large fowl on my web site you should read it. This article was written for guys just like you. You can get a good breeding trio or two pair from one strain not cross birds strains and the next year have some nice young show birds to compete with.

Be patient, there is a show in December in Pensacola Fla that will have some nice Reds, then at Lake City in Jan and then the big one in Newnan Georgia in Feb.

I read your article. It was exactly how I was envisioning a conversation might go. I want to read the other articles also. Very informative and interesting. Thanks for the detailed response. It was just what I needed.

 

[Robert Blosl]

We have a new Poultry Club in Pensacola Florida and we have say twenty members ten never been to a chicken show before. In a two year period these beginners have turned out great and so helpful. On area I try to encourage the new beginners to work on is Clerking with a judge. They can learn so much in a few hours with a judge and they want to do it again as they learn so much. So many have told me it has helped them decide what breeds they want to try by being with a judge.

What we need to try to do again as I did three teen years ago is make videos of peoples set ups. Think if we had four thirty minute videos of your set ups on a two hour DVD and people could watch this on a computer. What they could learn would be priceless and also see a show with Reds in it like the Ohio National.

 

[ronniewayne]

Just wanted to say thanks to Bob and the others who have given of their time and good information here. i got some reds from Ron Foggle last year. wound up with 4 hens and two cock s hatched about 60 or so chicks from each cock for 120 total . i am growing them out now will have a few trio's or pullets to sell around oct when it cools down . i am located in the norteast tx area (where ark, la, and tx meet). i do want to weigh in on the egg production..mine started laying later than my production reds at around 7-8 months..but from the start layed a large egg..they averaged 4-5 eggs per week until 3 weeks ago when 3 of them decided to go broody. the cocks that i have are non aggressive towards humans. these birds have a great dispostion and are eye candy ..the dark color the type ..my breeding program is of course a work in progress as i have raised chickens for over 40 years just never bred them for purpose. but the advise i got on here has been solid .start with the best stock you can find. stay within the strain you start with..the first 3 years are the learning curve cull for type first ,,type second ...type 3rd...patience is a virtue...and necessary to become a real chicken breeder...

 

[Alaskan]

Just wanted to say thanks to Bob and the others who have given of their time and good information here.  i got some reds from Ron Foggle last year.  wound up with 4 hens and two cock s hatched about 60 or so chicks from each cock for 120 total . i am growing them out now will have a few trio's or pullets to sell around oct when it cools down . i am located in the norteast tx area (where ark, la, and tx meet).  i do want to weigh in on the egg production..mine started laying later than my production reds at around 7-8 months..but from the start layed a large egg..they averaged 4-5 eggs per week until 3 weeks ago when 3 of them decided to go broody.  the cocks that i have are non aggressive towards humans. these birds have a great dispostion and are eye candy ..the dark color the type ..my breeding program is of course a work in progress as i have raised chickens for over 40 years just never bred them for purpose. but the advise i got on here has been solid .start with  the best stock you can find.   stay within the strain you start with..the first 3 years are the learning curve cull for type first ,,type second ...type 3rd...patience is a virtue...and necessary to become a real chicken breeder...

Great info, thanks, I love knowing that sort of stuff (age of first lay, size and number of eggs, how many go broody, and rooster temperament). After you have had them for a few years, you need to add how many years they laid, and how healthy they were long term. Of course, that is one place that the heritage breeds are supposed to shine.