The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[bluebirdnanny]

Hey Jim.  It's hard to explain to folks how tiring it can be trudging through a brutal winter, what with feed and especially hauling water and keep the birds hydrated.  I know you had a tough winter and we're all glad you made it through ok. I think winter is one of the greatest cures for the disease of having just a few too many birds.  

Take care of yourself, Jimmy.   Hope you're feeling a whole lot better soon.

I whole heartedly agree and second this and add a prayer to it too for your health Jimmy.

 

[RedRidge]

Finally got around to sorting my Feb hatched RC chicks. It appears that 16 of the 22 are pullets. That never happens in years when I need more pullets... Go figure! I haven't even looked at the March or April chicks yet. Guess it's time to begin to weed out.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Finally got around to sorting my Feb hatched RC chicks. It appears that 16 of the 22 are pullets. That never happens in years when I need more pullets... Go figure! I haven't even looked at the March or April chicks yet. Guess it's time to begin to weed out.

I think I'll be lucky to have over 20 pullets from this year to choose from. The bright side is our freezer will be full of roosters. I only re-homed one rooster this year. He went to a farm for children. It was nice to be able to give them a friendly rooster.

 

[PluckyClucker99]

I read that for males they should be a brilliant red with a black-purple iridescence...... I plan on showing my 9 week old RIR rooster for 4-H, and am wondering. He already is a bit, but his main sickles aren't grown in yet, so I am wondering if I should swich feeds. Currently I am feeding NatureWise Chick Star mixed with a bag of MannaPro Gamebird/Showbird (the fair is in a few weeks) and just a bit of Feather Fixer NatureWise. Tips?

 

[Rancher3535]

I read that for males they should be a brilliant red with a black-purple iridescence...... I plan on showing my 9 week old RIR rooster for 4-H, and am wondering. He already is a bit, but his main sickles aren't grown in yet, so I am wondering if I should swich feeds. Currently I am feeding NatureWise Chick Star mixed with a bag of MannaPro Gamebird/Showbird (the fair is in a few weeks) and just a bit of Feather Fixer NatureWise. Tips?

Your bird is still really young so you will not see that kind of feathering on him. They go through several feather changes as they grow up. What you are feeding is good. I would not change because you could through the birds into a molt. You can add just a little wheat germ oil and I mean a little to the top of the feed if you have him singled out in a separate pen. That will help put a little gloss or sheen to the feathers. As for showing, a 9 to 12 week old chick is way young to show. I know that 4H allows you to show just about anything at any age...or at least around here. We are trying really hard to teach out 4H kids that a bird needs to be at least 6 months to show and most birds do not really get into show quality until 8 or 9 months depending on the breed of course and if it is a large fowl or bantam.

I wish you luck in your showing and training of your bird.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I read that for males they should be a brilliant red with a black-purple iridescence...... I plan on showing my 9 week old RIR rooster for 4-H, and am wondering. He already is a bit, but his main sickles aren't grown in yet, so I am wondering if I should swich feeds. Currently I am feeding NatureWise Chick Star mixed with a bag of MannaPro Gamebird/Showbird (the fair is in a few weeks) and just a bit of Feather Fixer NatureWise. Tips?

I will also say the rooster should be close to 9 months to have a chance at the fair.
The roosters really get so much prettier and better for showing as they get closer to the 2 yr mark. But that is if they don't lose their comb in the winter.

 

[desertmarcy]

I read that for males they should be a brilliant red with a black-purple iridescence...... I plan on showing my 9 week old RIR rooster for 4-H, and am wondering. He already is a bit, but his main sickles aren't grown in yet, so I am wondering if I should swich feeds. Currently I am feeding NatureWise Chick Star mixed with a bag of MannaPro Gamebird/Showbird (the fair is in a few weeks) and just a bit of Feather Fixer NatureWise. Tips?

Males: "lustrous, rich, deep red" , which to me is a dark red whereas brilliant red brings to mind a lighter red hue. Iridescence should be greenish black, not purple.

 

[PluckyClucker99]

Darn. I guess I'll just show him this year (the fair starts on the 23rd!) and hope to get something good under the cock category. I could post a pic if needed? I guess it is more of a black than purple and it does have a green sheen in the light. He is of good size, and actually tolerates handling better than one of my Barred Rock pullets, so maybe we can pull something. I read that roosters of this breed are known to be aggressive to humans and sometimes hens, also? He is the result of a sexing error, and I was really nervous about him being really aggressive. But he seems actually quite docile, will he develop it later? He has been handled my cousins and sister, who are all under nine, and he seemed fine.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Darn. I guess I'll just show him this year (the fair starts on the 23rd!) and hope to get something good under the cock category. I could post a pic if needed? I guess it is more of a black than purple and it does have a green sheen in the light. He is of good size, and actually tolerates handling better than one of my Barred Rock pullets, so maybe we can pull something. I read that roosters of this breed are known to be aggressive to humans and sometimes hens, also? He is the result of a sexing error, and I was really nervous about him being really aggressive. But he seems actually quite docile, will he develop it later? He has been handled my cousins and sister, who are all under nine, and he seemed fine.

Didn't you post elsewhere that you got your chicks from My Pet Chicken?

Sure, post a photo of him and we'd be glad to see what you have there.

 

[RedRidge]

I currently have nothing available and was contacted by someone from TX wanting some stock. Is there anyone here from TX who raises standard bred Reds?