I didn't mean to generalize about the RIR breed. I meant that mine behave this way, and are not dual purpose as the original breed was created, as what I have read about their history. I also realize that there is not HRIR, but I used that because I saw it used on this thread and thought it was okay, as a short way to say that mine are not from a hatchery. Mine are the Underwood line, and I'm not saying I am generalizing about that line either, as like you stated, that qualities may be pushed by the breeder.I would be cautious about over stating generalities. There is no one, single, over riding truism, regarding egg laying or broodiness, that can be applied to the Rhode Island Reds. BTW, there is no such thing as a separate breed called "heritage" and another called "regular" Rhode Island Reds. The birds are either bred to the Standard set for them as a breed or they are not. It's that simple. The term "heritage" was used in this thread as a means of getting folks attention, as bait to lure to people in, but that's all it is. There is no breed short-handed with the initials "HRIR".
The Standard written for the breed merely describes the color as "lustrous, rich dark red". The precision of where that color falls on a chip chart is a matter of some debate and the breeder's taste. However, there is much, much more in the Standard for the breed than merely the color. The comb, head, tail, legs and particularly the body shape is unique to the Red. Even if you were to have good color, the body shape is mandatory and I've not seen hatchery stock with anything close to the proper shape (nor color for that matter) Worth spending some time reviewing the Standard, actually. Long, long ago the Reds took a big fork in the road, with some folks pushing for more and more egg laying and "blending into" the Reds, a lot of Brown Leghorn blood to accomplish that goal. Others, kept pursuing the more exotic, rich, dark, lustrous mahogany Red color and true type for their birds. The former dominate the feed store and hatchery kinds of Reds, which the latter are quite rare and only limited number of them exist.
One cannot generalize about broodiness, egg laying nor many other things. Each strain or long established line is unique and may have been pushed by the long time breeder in a certain direction, therefor generalities cannot apply to all RIR. I've have some bred-to-the Standard, exquisite Reds that are outstanding layers, for example.
