The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[Asmorilda]

I have about 5 cockerels and maybe a couple of females

My husband needs females...LOL...that doesn't sound right. But, he does need more female RIRs. I would love to surprise him with a couple of good RIR pullets/hens for Christmas. My friend needs rooster & pullets/hens. I'm guessing you have stopped hatching out any more eggs for the year. May be a crazy question but do you ship? Would this communication work better as a private message? I can PM you, if you like. Thank you so much.

 

[Asmorilda]

Some of my birds will let me handle them and others don't want to be picked up but they are all friendly birds. I do keep a rather large flock. I breed RIR's and RIW's. One of the RIW's (Patty) just loves my husband and when I let them out she goes looking for him. Some of my birds have names but most don't.

This pic of your hen & your husband is too cute. I love it. My husband loves his RIRs. Just loves them. I love all our chickens & I certainly do have a tendency to occasionally pick them up, hold & talk to them....even if I have to chase some of them down to do it. LOL We had some fairly high winds come in this morning & my Blue, the Ameraucana rooster, was almost hysterical. They were all on the roost at 8 o'clock in the morning. Blue had them all being noisy. We went out to see what all the fuss was about & as long as one of us was in the coop with them, they were fine. When we walked out, they got all frightened & loud again. I have never heard those noises coming from him before. He, particularly, wanted one of us to be near. He would fly off the roost onto a table top near me & sit there "talking" to me, tilting his head one way & another. He usually will initially resist my picking him up but this morning, he was all for it.

 

[pathornton]

Opinions please.

 

[cmom]

Opinions please.

I agree with the following posts but I think he is very handsome and as Chris said below, with the right female he could produce some nice chicks.

 

[Matt1616]

Opinions please.

He is pretty nice. He has a few issues but I wouldn't cull him unless I had one better. The comb could definitely be better and he could tuck his wing tighter. He also looks like he isn't finished in the tail but he obviously needs the correct angle on the tail which he may have when he puts the rest in. The surface color and chest look good. I would have to handle him to give you a true evaluation.

Matt

 

[Chris09]

@pathornton,

He's not bad in color but he looks to be light in primary and maybe secondary wing feather color. Also he need more depth of color.
His type is a little off for the breed.
- Tail angle should be higher and less horizontal.
- Back looks a little short for the breed.
- Wings should be carried more horizontal (but there not bad).
- Lower chest should have a little less taper into the legs and more of a 90* angle giving him more of a brick shape.
- Comb is off for the breed.

Put in a breeding pen with a good hen that will correct these faults and you should get some decent offspring.

 

[pathornton]

Thanks to everyone for the comments. Help me out with something. What should i be looking for in the comb?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Thanks to everyone for the comments. Help me out with something. What should i be looking for in the comb?

Pop quiz? Just for fun? How many points, according to the standard?

 

[pathornton]

5. But have been told its only 1/2 point deduction for having 6 so that cant be what everyone is talking about, is it?

 

[Matt1616]

5. But have been told its only 1/2 point deduction for having 6 so that cant be what everyone is talking about, is it?

It is not only the amount of points but the structure of the comb. His comb is irregular in shape and progression. The points should start out with the first one being the shortest and progressing to the last one being the tallest and it should be uniformed in it's progression. It should also have a clean blade free of bumps and serrations. Judges do not judge on the point system any more so that is not really relevant. They comparison judge so if there are 2 birds that are equal but one has a better comb it will win.
The bird in my Avatar has a very good comb other that it could have followed the contour of his head a bit better but you can see the points progressing in a uniformed manner and the blade being pretty clean. These are not major problems but you asked for opinions and the comb is something that could definitely be improved on this bird. It is not terrible but not good either.

Matt