The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[Fred's Hens]

no I didn't see his but that's ok. I just wanted eggs anyway.

I'm sure they'll lay me some.

That's a good attitude. Those little production red roosters don't often produce much meat and can be ornery. The hens will indeed lay well for you as this is why they are bred. When you're ready for some really nice Reds, come on back and ask around. Late winter is the best time to get eggs or chicks. This time of year, a pair perhaps, is about the best you can hope for.

The biggest issue I see happening on hatchery websites and among BYCers is the misuse of the word "heritage". Sellers are wrongly applying the word, as your seller did, to birds that are not heritage as defined by the ALBC. They do this to hype sales. The breeds themselves have a heritage, but the birds, in 95% of the cases, are not heritage themselves. Hope you understand. Really bugs me when hatcheries do this and many of them are now using the word as marketing hype when the actual birds they are selling would be DQ'd in most cases. Sad thing, but that's marketing for you.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Okay...so I may have a problem, but I'm not really sure how to handle this one. Got a group of 13 LF reds back in Feb. and have grown them out. Cut the group down to 3 cockerels and 4 pullets to keep back for breeding. Removed one more cockerel to create two trios for fall breeding. All the birds we kept look fantastic, however we have now lost two of the pullets. The first was after a single day show, so we just reintroduced her and the cockerel we showed back to the group, and the second cockerel injured her treading her and she ended up passing. Most recently, we had the birds seperated for fair, and when we returned, we put the cockerel that was at the fair in with the three remaining pullets in a completely different coop and just kept the extra cockerel with the layer flock since he is a good protector. We found one of the pullets again dead (susptected broken neck) yesterday and I have a hunch it was the cockerel again violently treading her for breeding. I've never had a roo get overly rough with the girls, so I'm not really sure what to do. He is by far the better type bird, but out of 13, we are down to a single trio to start our breeding flock, and that leaves us just one coop invasion away from having to start over. We spent almost three years finding the right birds and I'm really not up to starting over, so please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with this.

I have 4 extra roosters from the Fogle line (I'm not sure if they are the line you have or not). They are about 2 months younger than yours so maybe the hens would be a touch bit more defensive with them.

 

[RoseMarie1]

That's a good attitude. Those little production red roosters don't often produce much meat and can be ornery. The hens will indeed lay well for you as this is why they are bred. When you're ready for some really nice Reds, come on back and ask around. Late winter is the best time to get eggs or chicks. This time of year, a pair perhaps, is about the best you can hope for.

OK thanx Fred. No he told me the dark ones the old kind but I had no clue what he was referring to since I am new to chickens anyway. I was just going to get sexlinks for eggs and he was telling me how well he liked the RIR breed so I wanted to try them. Actually I like these better than the BA's so far but they're not grown yet either. We'll see...... it was my nephew that I got them from and it doesn't bother me they're not the heritage but maybe one day I'll try those. I think he might have thought they were.
Yeah some of them are hard headed already and some of the BA's are as well. Maybe they're hanging round the wrong crowd?

 

[Robert Blosl]

This male is the best example of a R I White I ever seen on film. It would be neat to see him in a natural one minute video on u tube. This breed has never got off the ground in fifty years so congratulations on your hard work. Mate his daughters back to him and see if you can fix this type and keep the tails fanned out like Matts female should have and you may get some real good show birds next year. bob

 

[fowlman01]

I have found that I don't have problems with them as long as they are kept together. If I separate them then try and put them back together they will then fight.

Matt,
I was hoping that it was just an early molt maybe caused by the heat but was not sure. I just wanted to see what others might have thought!

Thanks,
Chris

Many times the molt starts in the neck.

Walt

 

[Matt1616]

I have found that I don't have problems with them as long as they are kept together. If I separate them then try and put them back together they will then fight.

Matt,
I was hoping that it was just an early molt maybe caused by the heat but was not sure. I just wanted to see what others might have thought!

Thanks,
Chris

Chris, I have a RIR Cock bird that looks just like that right now and he is just molting.

Matt

 

[Chris Herzog]

Chris, I have a RIR Cock bird that looks just like that right now and he is just molting.

Matt

Thanks Matt and Walt,

Chris

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I'm about 30 minutes southwest of Knoxville... if you're ever this way just holler... we'd love to have you.

You plan on going to that show?

 

[RedRidge]

Quote: Hmmm... I don't know.
I will be there personally but I don't know if I'll enter any birds simply because I wouldn't have a clue what I was doing.
I've shown dogs, cattle and sheep, but have never shown poultry - new realm for me.
I figured I'd go and watch and learn.
I haven't a clue what is involved in showing.
But... I'm waffling... I suppose I have nothing to loose, if I can just accumulate enough knowledge between now and then about what is involved.

 

[Robert Blosl]

Should be a good class of Rhode Island Reds there even large fowl. Should be a good Rhode Island Red Club meet there as well.

Heck if I could hire a taxi I might go to this show. bob